Access to Scholarly Literature: Publishing for an Extended Readership

摘要

Access to scholarship and research has become controversial. It is described in apocalyptic terms as "open"-or good and moral, or "toll-gated"-with the lite-blood of the system ebbing away. The real world is more complex. Publishing is not a homogenous activity, because it reflects the varied needs of scholars. This article will be based on evidence from surveys and from published inquiries. It will pose, and attempt to answer, some questions about the future of publishing scholarly information, including open access, in the context of what publishers are actually doing. It will describe the challenge that faces publishers and librarians in meeting both scholarly and societal needs.