From: Klaus Graf <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2020 23:42:30 +0200

"JSTOR’s paywall is still alive, but it’s trying to score brownie points
during a pandemic", wrote Rachel John on March 21 at

https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/jstors-paywall-is-still-alive-but-its-trying-to-score-brownie-points-during-a-pandemic/385085/


I agree. Here are some facts, results of a test some days ago with
different library accounts. My keyword was "Renaissance".

From 520,936 matches (in Journals: 445, 626) only 4 % (19,307) are free for
all. For comparison: MUSE makes today 29 K. from 67 K. "Renaissance"
matches free for all, around 43 %.

https://archivalia.hypotheses.org/121737

Only public health and COVID-19 related resources have been opened in JSTOR for
the general public: https://about.jstor.org/covid19/

Only 365 K. from the 521 K. matches are available in the "Read Online"
program. JSTOR has not increased the number of 6 free items during the
crisis.

A German university library and some state libraries (Landesbibliotheken)
have access to 475 K. "Renaissance" matches, one library (WLB Stuttgart)
only to 434 K., one university and state library only to 471 K. This means
that the maximum is 91 % of all JSTOR content.

US Highschool: 441 K., UK library 379 K. (= only 73 %).

It is true that JSTOR has expanded its offering to licensees. But the
differences between them persist even now in the crisis.

In a just world, JSTOR would have to open its entire archive now!

Klaus Graf