Economics of Electronic Information Provision
Abstract
This paper covers the economics of preparing and providing published information. The role of the different players in the publishing chain are examined including authors and their institutions, publishers, reviewers, editors, distributors and users (readers). The costs of acquiring manuscripts, peer review, editing text, and presenting it in an acceptable format will be outlined. The economics of marketing as an aspect of availability will be explored. Different markets will need to be identified and their differing economic relationships to the publisher and the user will be described. These will include libraries, institutions, individuals and groups such as clusters of learners. The role of so-called grey literature is emphasized throughout as an alternative model for making available scientific information in a noncommercial environment. Economic models for providing access will be analyzed including consortia agreements, different publisher models. Examples will be used from Emerald Press, Elsevier Science Publishing, JSTOR and others. The important work of the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) will be emphasized as a useful model for others to follow. The many different contexts in which information has to be delivered will be studied against the models currently available. This will include distance learning, the client-server relationship and the problems of access to information in Third World Countries. The changing role of document delivery will be used to contextualize the issues of pay-per-view or pay-per-use and the whole complex issue of who pays will be put forward as a final challenge to participants.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA432685
Entities
People
- Graham P. Cornish