Some Background:
The public has lost free online access to more than a dozen Canadian science journals as a result of the privatization of the National Research Council’s government-owned publishing arm.
Scientists, businesses, consultants, political aides and other people who want to read about new scientific discoveries in the 17 journals published by National Research Council Research Press now either have to pay $10 per article or get access through an institution that has an annual subscription.
The new fees have been in effect since Jan. 1, but their impact will likely only become truly apparent over time as the cost of purchasing what are usually monthly or bi-monthly journals piles up.
Back issues published between the 1950s and December 2010 remain freely accessible online to Canadians.
The remainder of the article includes comments from four of people including Leslie Weir, chair of the Ontario Council of University Libraries and chief librarian at the University of Ottawa.
Others quoted:
+Deb deBruijn, executive director, Canadian Research Knowledge Network
+ Cameron Macdonald, executive director of Canadian Science Publishing
+ Victoria Arbour, a University of Alberta Graduate Student
See Also: NRC Research Press Back Files: Now Open Access for Canadians (January 5, 2011)
About Gary Price
