Library Groups Offer Some Praise for "DC Principles"

-- Library Journal, 3/29/2004

A list of major library associations offered some praise for the DC Principles, applauding the 48 learned societies for "their commitment to free access to peer-reviewed research literature where they conclude it is feasible." The statement was issued jointly by the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, American Association of Law Libraries, American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, Medical Library Association, and Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Also signing on were the Open Society Institute, Public Knowledge, and ARL's Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC). The groups, however, reiterated their support for a move to an open access model for STM publishing--something not specifically endorsed in the DC Principles. Nevertheless, the statement welcomed bringing nonprofit society publishers further into the debate over the future of STM publishing, citing the publishers' history of moderate prices.