Abstract

Characteristics and economic data of the information market come from various sources and are somewhat mixed. Specific aspects and products discussed are the valuation of the global information market, corporate acquisitions, major scientific publishers, publishing markets (countries), cost of WoK and Scopus databases, revaluation of economic information since the 2008 crisis, journal price increases, open access market, evolution of computing costs (Moore’s Law) and major vendors.

Abstract

In 2010 Thomson launched a new citation index devoted to books: the Book citation index. This new database has opened new possibilities for analyzing fields such as the Humanities and Social Sciences from a bibliometric point of view. However we still know little about their coverage and especially about the scientific publishers that have been taken into account in the construction of this citation database. In this paper we analyze the BKCI coverage: countries, languages, concentration of publishers and finally we compare the database with Scholarly publishers indicators (SPI), produced in Spain by CCHS/CSIC. The conclusion is that Thomson is making the same mistakes as before: a clear Anglo-Saxon bias, a large concentration of publishers and an absence of a number of reputable publishers.

Abstract

The current ease of online publishing has led to an excess of e-journals, all struggling to attract manuscripts and to survive, and most often without success. This fragile situation for journals means that when one of them does climb up in the quality rankings it is likely to be absorbed by a large foreign publisher. The article reflects on the academic world's dependence on international commercial databases, and questions the Spanish government's expenditure on subscriptions to them. Finally, a recent campaign conducted against Elsevier is described.

Abstract

The emergence of electronic ink, reading devices with legibility levels comparable to paper books, with capacity to store several thousand books, the increase of digital publishing offerings and their increasing presence in publishers’ catalogues, the iPad success with benefits beyond conventional reading, and the emergence of new business models draw an inexorably digital picture in which the issue of copyright protection is essential for the development of the cultural industry. The success of internet business models depends in large measure on systems of digital rights protection. In this context, the development of DRM (Digital Rights Management) has been fundamental and is allowing the management of electronic rights with a certain confidence. This paper discusses DRM systems, their development, the content in which they are applied, and controversies generated in relation to matters such as the right to privacy.

Abstract

The distribution of electronic books is being transformed from the sale of individual titles to a subscription model, and many subscription services have been created in recent years. The main services are described and compared, detailing their advantages and disadvantages. More than the number of titles offered, their success depends on their ability to retai users, providing value-added services such as customization, recommendations, discovery, and opinion sharing.

Abstract

A set of parameters to analyze business models of scientific publishers, especially those that offer open access to their content for all or some of their journals, is presented and defined. A definition of the term “business model” that exceeds the old conceptual restriction tied to funding sources is given. This more complete view of the business model requires extending the analysis of funding sources to other economic and financial components as well as operational and strategic dimensions of the publisher. This allows a better and more authoritative interpretation and analysis of the various business models of scientific publishers.

Abstract

Publishers of scholarly books about library and information science and communications are analyzed, as well as their publishing processes. The research method was a questionnaire sent to 263 Spanish researchers and teachers in these areas. The survey response rate was 35.5%. Thanks to these responses, main quality indicators for publishers were identified. Researchers’ working habits, opinions and attitudes related to the selection, editing and publishing processes of their books are also examined. Finally, as a more pragmatic result, the most prestigious Spanish and foreign publishers are identified.

Abstract

The current state of the Spanish market of the academic digital books is analyzed. To do this, a set of publishers selected by various experts as the most prestigious within the field of Library and Information Science was chosen. The analyzed parameters focus on digital production percentage in relation to the size of the publisher, existing formats, information offered and the access facilities. Results show that digital publishing is a little significant phenomenon, that has been developed without well defined strategies. This fact translates into a scarce availability of titles and formats, as well as a lack of many of the features that the new medium offers.

Abstract

A survey of 1,280 publishers of Spanish scientific journals (43% response rate; n=561) revealed their experiences with open access in scientific production. Quantitative analysis of the data showed that 72% (n=404) of respondents had experience with open access or were engaged in the conversion process. Of these, about 80% valued their experience in positive or very positive terms. Among the most common difficulties associated with the adoption of open access in their journals were the financial constraints and challenges related to organizational structure.

Abstract

 The entire circuit of the book, both traditional and eBook, has moved into the digital realm. Metadata, recommendation algorithms, and programs to limit and control the reading take on a new importance. Powerful digital intermediaries now control most of the author-reader process.