From: Jan Velterop <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2011 09:57:53 +0000 Thanks, John, for pointing out where my metaphor breaks down. Pricing would indeed be as you indicate, if there was a market mechanism. Unfortunately, the subscription model simply doesn't allow that with regard to non-rivalrous (i.e. monopoloid) information such as scientific articles. Jan Velterop – – • • • • • • – – ************************************** Drs Johannes (Jan) Velterop, CEO Academic Concept Knowledge Ltd. (AQnowledge) +44 7525 026 991 (mobile) +44 1483 579 525 (landline UK) +31 70 75 33 789 (landline NL) Skype: Villavelius Email: [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] aqnowledge.com On 7 Dec 2011, at 01:27, LIBLICENSE wrote: From: "John P. Abbott" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 09:40:26 -0500 Jan- No problem with the edifice, only price the portions accordingly: The strong foundation of mediocre journals priced like earthen fill and crushed rock; and the few curlicues at the turret tops priced as artisans' works. John John P. Abbott, MS MSLS Associate Professor& Coordinator, Collection Management University Library Appalachian State University ASU Box 32026 218 College Street Boone, NC 28608 828-262-2821 (vox) 828-262-2773 (fax) [log in to unmask] On 12/5/2011 7:20 PM, LIBLICENSE wrote: From: Jan Velterop<[log in to unmask]> Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2011 09:05:58 +0000 In defence of mediocre journals, let me delight you with a quote from José Ortega y Gasset's 'The Revolt of the Masses': "Experimental science has progressed – thanks in great part to the work of men astoundingly mediocre, and even less than mediocre." (The Ortega hypothesis) To which Lewis Wolpert in his book 'The Unnatural Nature of Science' (required reading, in my view – ISBN 0-571-16490-0): "Science accommodates and even needs the intellectually commonplace." To which I would add my assumption that none of that mediocre and commonplace, but necessary, science is published in 'prestige' journals. It follows then that the mediocre and even less than mediocre journals in which that material is presumably published, are necessary too. I see science publications as an edifice, with turrets and curlicues at the top (articles published in the likes of Nature and Science), solid walls (consisting of articles in the better journals), and a strong foundation of hard core (consisting of articles in mediocre and less than mediocre journals). Without this foundation, the edifice would collapse. Jan Velterop