Open Access : Four library associations support NIH OA plan. Four library associations --the ARL, ALA, AALL, and SLA-- have publicly released their August 31 letter to Elias Zerhouni in support of the NIH open-access plan. Excerpt from the letter: "We believe that the public has a right to the information that results from research funded by their tax dollars. Our organizations represent more than 90,000 librarians, information specialists, library trustees, and friends of libraries. This proposed initiative will vastly expand and improve public access to much needed medical literature....Despite the promise of the Internet and information technologies, [rising prices mean that access to journal literature] is deteriorating with each passing year. In 2001, for example, U.S. research libraries spent three times more money for journal subscriptions than in 1986 -- yet received 5 percent fewer titles. During the same period, the Consumer Price Index rose just 62 percent. Clearly, such costs limit what libraries can make available to the research and education communities and the public." [Open Access News]  9:06:13 AM   [Feedback ]