Re: paleonet The threat of the Publishing Crises to Paleontology

[Peter Paul Smolka <smolka@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 11 Apr 2005, Jere H. Lipps wrote:

> Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:49:37 -0700
> From: Jere H. Lipps <jlipps@berkeley.edu>
> Reply-To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
> To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
> Subject: paleonet The threat of the Publishing Crises to Paleontology
>
> Paleonetters:
>
> Here's a problem for discussion on PaleoNet:  The crises in academic
> publishing.  It is a a very great threat to our profession of and interest
> in paleontology.   Many professionals are not aware of this problem (on all
> the Univ. California campuses, only 40% of all scholars knew of this

( ... )

> extent over those.  Many universities and librarians make the following
> sorts of recommendations (paraphrased here):
>

( ... )
>
> 4.  Don't cite papers in their journals.
>

While the other recommendations fall, expressed respecfully, in the
category of opinions administrations/libraries might have, above
point (4) has the potential to work against progress.

If a method is published in a journal, whichever it is, it should
be taken (and cited) freely.

I personally think that anything might be cited within the context
of a publication (used methods, used data, state of the art,
ongoing controversies etc.).

Regarding Elsevier: What counts are not the revenues but, if there is
any, the profit made after this. As I personally know economic
calculations (applied paleoclimatology), I am aware that from
annual revenues in the seven digit range (EUR) only a very
small amount remains.

If Journals of Geology (incl. Paleo) might be, which has to be tested,
expensive to make, then prices might be accordingly.


Best regards


Peter

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Dr. Peter P. Smolka
University Muenster
Geological Institute
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