Press Release: Joint IFLA/IPA statement on open access

["Okerson, Ann" <ann.okerson@yale.edu>]

Of possible interest.  Ann Okerson
********

From: Louis Takacs [mailto:louis.takacs@ifla.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:31 PM
To: ifla-l@infoserv.inist.fr
Subject: [IFLA-L] Press Release: Joint IFLA/IPA statement on open 
access

International Publishers and Librarians Agree to Enhance The 
Debate on Open Access

Geneva/The Hague 20 May 2009 - For immediate release

A joint statement released today by the International Publishers 
Association, the International Association of Scientific 
Technical and Medical (STM) Publishers, and the International 
Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) calls 
for a more rational, evidence based debate on open access. It 
encourages experimentation and piloting of new concepts and 
ideas, whilst acknowledging that the differences in the different 
academic disciplines and publishing traditions may lead to 
differentiated approaches and business models in support of 
authors.

The joint statement is intended to move the oftentimes heated and 
polarised debate about open access as a model for scholarly 
communication towards a more measured and nuanced discourse.

Says IPA President Herman P. Spruijt "The debate about open 
access is important and publishers welcome it. Publishing is 
never at a standstill and we should not fear change. Now that 
more experience has been gained with open access publishing and 
now that data is available on its success, the open access debate 
should be able to move away from emotional accusations and 
oversimplification. Our discussions with IFLA on this topic are 
always spirited, but have become more insightful and less 
polarised as we moved towards facts, evidence and differentiated 
arguments. There is a lesson here to be learned for the public 
debate on this issue."

Says IFLA Working Group co-chairman Ingrid Parent: "IFLA is 
pleased to announce the joint declaration on open access with 
IPA. This statement shows that both our associations share the 
important objective of providing the broadest possible access to 
information. IFLA and IPA believe publishers and librarians have 
a lot to gain by supporting innovation, experimentation and pilot 
projects in developing open access to scholarly publications."

Notes for Editors:

The full text of the statement is available at:
www.internationalpublishers.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=96&Itemid=251

More about IPA:

The International Publishers Association (IPA) is an 
international industry federation representing all aspects of 
book and journal publishing. Established in 1896, IPA's mission 
is to promote and protect publishing and to raise awareness for 
publishing as a force for economic, cultural and political 
development. Around the world IPA actively fights against 
censorship and promotes copyright, literacy and freedom to 
publish.

More about IFLA:

The International Federation of Library Associations and 
Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body 
representing the interests of library and information services 
and their users. It is the global voice of the library and 
information profession.  IFLA promotes the principles of freedom 
of access to information, ideas and works of imagination and 
freedom of expression. The delivery of high quality and equitable 
library and information services helps guarantee that access and 
improve the social, educational, cultural, democratic and 
economic well-being of those communities and organizations 
libraries serve. IFLA has 1600 Members in approximately 150 
countries around the world.

Secretariat
International Publishers Association
3, avenue de Miremont
CH - 1206 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 704 18 20
Fax: +41 22 704 18 21
www.internationalpublishers.org