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Background
There are a multitude of sub-issues to consider when engaging with
the topic of changes in scholarly communication. The following links and
statements are provided to give some idea of the scope of these issues.
Commodification
Over the past two decades, large numbers of scholarly publications
have moved from being owned by scholars, i.e. by scholarly and professional
societies, to being owned by private publishers and corporations. We have
moved from a public goods model to one of scholarship as commodity.
Monopolization
The past two decades have also seen much consolidation within the
publishing industry, creating virtual monopolies on the dissemination of
scholarship within certain disciplines. Click here
for an illustration of this phenomenon.
Impact of Serial
Costs on Library Collections
The University Press Angle
Ownership vs. Access
As we embrace the digital environment, for it's promise of convenience,
timeliness, and ease of use - scholars should be aware that in many cases,
libraries now pay annual 'access' fees to content that in a print environment,
we would own. When subscriptions end, often content that has been 'leased'
in the past is no longer available to the community that we serve. This
is a large area of concern and is being addressed through more pro-active
licensing agreements - but it is a problem that is not completely solved.
Open Access
Open Access represents both an idea, that the results of publicly
funded research be freely available, and a movement, characterized by various
initiatives to make published scholarly literature freely available on the
web. Click here for more depth and examples
of open access initiatives.
Tenure and Promotion
The landscape of scholarly communication has changed. Faculty evaluation
is largely based on recognition of scholarship. Does the culture of faculty
evaluation need to adapt to this changing landscape?
PSU Carnegie Conversation Presentation, December 2004
Modern Language Association
Report on Evaluating Scholarship for Tenure and Promotion
Copyright and Intellectual Property
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