From: Sandy Thatcher <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 23:25:37 -0600

Has any study been done to assess how this burden of paying APCs might
become more concentrated on fewer universities since research output
is probably more concentrated in a smaller number of universities than
library subscriptions are? In other words, what is the distribution of
faculty productivity across universities compared with the
distribution of subscriptions?

Sandy Thatcher





From: Ann Shumelda Okerson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 21:59:50 -0500

Berlin 12 Conference Focuses on Proposal to Flip Subscription Journals
to Open Access

Reporte by Kathleen Shearer. Association of Research Libraries
Partnership Consultant

"On December 8 and 9, 2015, representatives from several regions
(Asia, Europe, and North America) met in Berlin, Germany, to discuss a
proposal to flip subscription-based journals to open access models.
The initiative is being led by the Max Planck Society, the organizer
and host of the invitation-only Berlin 12 Open Access Conference. The
rationale for the initiative is based on an analysis undertaken by Max
Planck Digital Library (MPDL), which found that a flip to open access
would be possible at no financial risk, "maybe even at lower overall
costs" to the system.

"The objective of the conference was to build a consensus for an
internationally coordinated effort to shift libraries' journal budgets
away from subscriptions and towards article processing costs (APCs).
The meeting was attended by 96 participants from 19 countries, with
several US and Canadian representatives. The major point of discussion
was an expression of interest (EOI) that would form the basis for
gaining support and moving forward with the initiative. Once
published, organizations will be invited to sign the EOI and it will
be used to galvanize interest in the initiative around the world."

Ms. Shearer's full report is found at:

http://www.arl.org/storage/documents/publications/2015.12.18-Berlin12Report.pdf

Interesting to read about what may be be an underlying difference
between the US and other countries on the matter of conversion to open
access.  At least some US representatives seek a transition in which
there are real reductions in the costs of the scholarly publications
system and assert that a key to success is greater competition in that
system.  The Max Planck proposal appears to be more straightforward --
a swap (flip) of subscription payments for models that assure open access.