Abstract

Against the background of the recently announced European Commission FP7 post-grant Gold open access pilot, this note addresses the increasingly relevant role that gold open access (OA) is playing in the scholarly communications landscape and argues that the “gold vs green” controversy is of little use for increasing worldwide OA implementation. The text highlights the role played by funding agencies in developing the OA landscape and analyses the role that libraries may play in supporting researchers for managing their article processing charges (APCs) at institutional level. Some challenges posed by the gradual expansion of gold OA are also examined, including the transition in business models that journals are undergoing.

Abstract

The evolution of information sources before and after the Internet also raises the opportunity to discuss the information system and scientific communication. The article presents the possible scenarios for the creation of a megajournal in Information Science, considering its evolution from scientific journals or from the repositories. The possibility of rethinking the number of scientific journals is also considered. This includes the debate about issues such as impact factor, peer review and databases.

Abstract

An analysis of the situation of scientific communication in 2011 highlights some of the more relevant events, news and issues. Topics discussed include: the open access initiative and institutional repositories, semantic interoperability and linked data, use of the internet, right to information, rise of professional and academic profiles on the Web, trends in bibliometric indicators, consolidation of national scientific evaluation tools, trends observed in conferences and congresses, and the race for rankings in scientific publication between the United States, China and Europe.

Abstract

The structure and characteristics of the main products for accessing scientific information are described. The different types of content, the technology used (assignment and harvesting of metadata, full text indexing, or federated search) and their results are analysed. The products are: bibliographic databases, academic journals portals, repositories, academic search engines, academic metasearch engines, and library metasearch engines.

Abstract

The major events in Spain during 2009 in the field of Open access to science are described and contextualized with the international environment. We offer 2009 statistical data and discuss the main achievements in three broad areas: repositories, journals and policies. The report ends with the 2010 prospects for each of the areas.

Abstract

The Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (Fecyt) is a governmental tool for the integration of ministerial activity. With its cross-sectional nature, Fecyt tries to ensure that universities, research centres and companies get the most out of innovation. It also pays great attention to the international impact of Spanish science through journals and repositories. In this article, the Fecyt director responsible for Integrated Management of Scientific Information describes their main objectives and activities.

Abstract

Scientific repositories are playing a significant role in scholarly communication, mostly due to the success of open access initiatives. Quantitative indicators to describe their contents and evaluate their usage and impact have been developed. The Ranking Web of repositories is introduced as a webometrics tool to rank the top 200 academic repositories, including both thematic and institutional ones.

Abstract

Presentation of the main projects and initiatives related to open access conducted during 2014, based on a bibliographical review of published studies and analysis of some activities that occurred that year. It has been divided into four sections: repositories, journals, research data and promotion policies. We found maturity and robustness of the open access movement, which continues to advance on all fronts, with a tendency to broaden the focus to what is called open science.

Abstract

This paper advocates the advantages of centralized repositories against the spread of institutional projects. The continuing emergence of new resources, open archives and digital libraries affects both academia and institutions that house ancient collections. The current “ribbon-cutting culture” should be subject to safeguards for the preservation and provision of good services. This paper lists some cooperative services in the academic world and a concrete example of digitization of an early collection of Spanish journals at the University of Connecticut.

Abstract

Open access to information has brought about a multiplication of data that can be used to carry out statistical analysis on the impact of scientific publications, thus paving the way for new metrics models for scholarly communication. In May 2010 institutional repository Digital.CSIC launched a new statistics model to address CSIC structural complexity as well as requests by CSIC libraries to generate statistical reports by centres. Thanks to these newly developed statistics, it will be possible to undertake both internal follow-up activities and external promotional and advocacy efforts which will show cost-benefit relationship at Digital.CSIC more clearly alongside the impact of CSIC science that is openly available through Digital.CSIC. The article explains the architecture behind statistics a la carte developed by Digital.CSIC and needs and challenges that are to be addressed.