From: Stevan Harnad <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 18:58:12 -0400

If there is a Green OA version on the Web, why would a user be consulting
a librarian at all, in this day and age (except if they want the version of
record)? No mediation required, for Green access.

SH

On 2013-10-05, at 8:41 PM, LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Rick Anderson <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 03:58:00 +0000
>
>> How can a library that has a long tradition of providing the version
>> of record, supply as part of any good faith effort a copy where it is
>> unknowable that an article is "a reasonable facsimile"?
>
> By explaining what Green OA is, asking the requestor whether a Green
> version would be acceptable, and then acting on the response.
>
>> The library can't possibly know what a reasonable facsimile of an
>> article might be absent versioning information.
>
> All the more reason to explain what Green OA is and then ask the requestor
> whether a Green version would be acceptable, rather than making that
> decision on the requestor's behalf.
>
>> You have made no suggestion as to how a library could know which copy
>> is closest to a "reasonable facsimile".
>
> That's correct. I've suggested explaining to the requestor what Green OA
> is and then asking the requestor to say whether a Green version would be
> acceptable.
>
>> Absent that, I don't see you have made a case at all for the library's
>> involvement in green OA provision of articles from the general web.
>
> The library's involvement would come only at the request of the patron,
> who of course always has the option of seeking out the OA version him- or
> herself in the first instance rather than making a request of the library.
>
>> I think you will agree it is not the library's job to even imply one
>> version out on the web is better than another. That is not a judgment
>> the library can make.
>
> Yes, we agree on that. That's why I propose explaining to the requestor
> what Green OA is and then asking the patron whether a Green version would
> be acceptable, rather than presuming to make that judgement on his or her
> behalf.
>
> ---
> Rick Anderson
> Assoc. Dean for Scholarly Resources & Collections
> Marriott Library, University of Utah
> [log in to unmask]