Igniting change in scholarly communication: a progress from SPARC

Abstract

The Past decade has seen the high cost of supporting access to journals strain libraries around the globe. Today in North America, for example, research libraries spend almost three times more on serials acquisitions than they did in 1986, yet this buys them six percent fewer titles. Libraries have tried various approaches to addressing the problem, but only when scholars, libraries, and their institutions get involved can progress be made. This presentation looks at the efforts of SPARC to create change in the scholarly publishing marketplace and to develop education and advocacy programs aimed at the stakeholders. The presentation also will introduce SPARC Europe, an initiative of LIBER and various national organizations in Europe, and discuss the potential for involvement of meeting participants in SPARC Europe. SPARC Europe will facilitate competition in the European scientific journals marketplace and introduce advocacy initiatives tailored to the European research and library communitiesSeveral national organizations and institutions in Europe are joining with LIBER to sponsor the startup of SPARC Europe, including: the Consortium of University Research Libraries (CURL) in the UK; the joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) in the UK; the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) of the UK and Ireland; and UKB, the Netherlands cooperative of research libraries, in collaboration with IWI, the SURF Foundation program for innovation in scientific information supply. Support of additional national and pan-European organizations is being sought by SPARC Europe. SPARC Europe will collaborate with the international SPARC organization based in Washington, DC, and will develop Europe-focused initiatives under the direction of a European managing board and a Europe-based program officer. A European membership base, including a number of current SPARC members, will support this work. Membership in SPARC Europe is open to national and academic libraries, library organizations and research institutions in the region