Re: book prices

On 9 Sep 1998, Bernard Katz <bkatz[_at_]uoguelph.ca> wrote:
>
> At the same time, studies on the impact of journal costs have become
> more sophisticated. To continue the mathematics example, Dr. Rob Kirby
> (Dept. Mathematics, U-Cal-Berkelely) has made extensive examinations of
> prices charged by various publishers of mathematics journals on a per
> page basis.

It turned out that Kirby was promoting the Pacific Journal of Math, which appeared at the top of his list ranked by the peculiar attraction of price per whatever (rather than quality or content). Questions of conflict of interest and dodgy advertising techniques aside, the journal is heavily subsidized by the University of California. This institution apparently can't afford to keep its math library up to date (Kirby's other complaint).

UCal charges over 50% as overhead for research grants. I believe that if such measures were applied to the journal, its prices per whatever would be substantially higher. Kirby neglects to mentions what the cost was in resources for him to prepare his promotion piece?

I think we should ask university managers whether research libraries are a part of research anymore. If they are, why hasn't financial support kept up with research? Why can UC subsidize a journal with below-market prices while choking collection development in its libraries? What is its hidden agenda?

Albert Henderson, Editor, PUBLISHING RESEARCH QUARTERLY <70244.1532[_at_]compuserve.com> Received on Mon Sep 14 1998 - 15:00:14 GMT