Library scholarly communication programs: Legal and ethical considerations (Chandos Information Professional Series)

摘要

Based on recent library job sites that have increased their population of positions available for scholarly communications librarians, and the introduction of publications such as the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication, the library industry appears keen to expand its knowledge and remit in this area. Lest librarians feel that the library as publisher is a new-fangled concept, Gilman introduces his book with a 1979 quotation about one future of libraries lying with 'publisher-like' functions. Gilman is in fact the co-founding editor of the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication and is well placed to write this book. In the preface he notes that traditionally publishers took care of ethical and legal concerns, but with this shift to the library as publisher, whether via a repository or production of an open access journal or more formally such as being responsible for a university press, the library now needs to assume that role. Gilman notes that publishers and distributors have obligations to participants in research and that if research fails to be ethical, then it should not be published. Library publishers need to understand the accountabilities and the complex nature of such responsibilities with these newer roles.