From: Kim Beadle <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:36:41 +0200

STM welcomes the package of measures recommended by the Finch Group on
expanding access to research publications in the UK which are set out
in the Finch Report just released.

STM CEO Michael Mabe said: "Finch demonstrates how the combination of
pragmatic approaches and evidence-based policy development can yield
acceptable outcomes for the UK public, for UK researchers and for the
publishing community. STM hopes that other international discussions
on open access can be informed by this process."

STM believes that the principal recommendations of the Finch Report
will be widely supported by its members. We particularly welcome the
recognition (page 4) of the journal's "key role in the complex ecology
of research" and the acknowledgement by the report: that a transition
to open access will happen over a number of years and incur extra
costs in the interim; that there will be an on-going need for a mixed
economy of licensing, self-archiving and open access publication; and
that this will require close collaboration between government,
funders, universities and publishers.

The Report's recommendations include: setting up workflows for the
APCs (article publishing or processing charges) that will fund open
access models  (whereby publishing is paid for by the author or
funding body); extending existing licences for the universities,
research institutes and the health sector; enabling free walk-in
access via the public libraries network; avoiding undue risk to
valuable journals not funded by APCs.

STM warmly applauds the following recommendations: that sufficient
funds are available via the research councils, the funding councils
and the universities to fund APCs for UK researchers, and that the
budgetary workflows are in place to deliver these to their publishers;
a commitment from the research funders not to require
manuscript-posting embargo periods of less than 12 months when
dedicated funding to support APCs is not provided; and good faith in
negotiating licence extensions in those sectors (primarily the
universities and health sectors) that already enjoy good access.

The UK is a leading nation for both its research outputs (6% of world
articles, 11% of citations driven by R&D investment of 3% of GDP) and
for its intellectual property industries, where the academic and
professional sector is a leading investor in electronic products and
services that provide £1.2 billion of export revenue and employ over
10,000 people in the UK.

The Finch Group arose out of discussions between the UK PA and UK
Science minister David Willets. Working alongside representatives from
the funding agencies, the research councils, universities, libraries,
the learned societies and the UK Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills, terms of reference were agreed, a balanced delegate list
invited, a secretariat appointed, and Dame Janet Finch asked to chair.
The publishing community was represented by three senior executives
from STM member companies, who have kept the publishing community
informed about the work of the group throughout.

ENDS

STM is an international association of over 120 scientific, technical,
medical and scholarly publishers, collectively responsible for more
than 60% of the global annual output of research articles, 55% of the
active research journals and the publication of tens of thousands of
print and electronic books, reference works and databases. We are the
only international trade association equally representing all types of
STM publishers - large and small companies, not for profit
organizations, learned societies, traditional, primary, secondary
publishers and new entrants to global publishing.
www.stm-assoc.org

Contact Kim Beadle for more information - [log in to unmask]

The PA is the leading trade organisation serving book, journal, audio
and electronic publishers in the UK. Membership is comprised of 117
companies from across the trade, academic and education sectors.  Its
core service is representation and lobbying, around copyright, rights
and other matters relevant to members, who represent roughly 80% of
the industry by turnover. www.publishers.org.uk

For further information on accessibility initiatives visit
www.publishers.org.uk/accessibility

LINK TO FINCH REPORT
http://www.researchinfonet.org/publish/wg-expand-access/