Statement Concerning the Decision by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to Discontinue its Relationship with JSTOR October 30, 2007

INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF LIBRARY CONSORTIA (ICOLC)

Statement Concerning the Decision by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to Discontinue its Relationship with JSTOR

October 30, 2007

With the endorsement of 75 consortia from around the world (see list page 2), this document reflects the ICOLC’s position concerning the recent decision by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to discontinue its participation in JSTOR.

The ICOLC strongly objects to the recent decision by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to discontinue its participation in JSTOR, including withholding future issues of its premier publication, Science, from the JSTOR archive and prohibiting JSTOR from making issues of Science currently held in the archive available to new JSTOR participants.

JSTOR has been a singular success in meeting the needs of students, scholars, librarians, and publishers. JSTOR offers a robust platform for cross-disciplinary discovery and integration of content that extends the multi-disciplinary reach of Science to students and faculty, including those in non-scientific disciplines. In addition, JSTOR offers to publishers a moving wall policy that protects their ability to obtain current subscription revenue to support ongoing publication.

Science is an outstanding source of high-quality, vetted information covering all areas of science, the inclusion of which enhances the value, breadth, and quality of the JSTOR archive. The decision to discontinue participation in JSTOR is in conflict with AAAS’ mission, as a non-profit, membership-based organization, of advancing science and serving society. Withholding future issues of Science from JSTOR, and prohibiting JSTOR from making previously archived Science content available to future JSTOR participants, is an action which diminishes the value and contribution of both AAAS and JSTOR to the international community of researchers, the academy, and society.

The undersigned members of the International Coalition of Library Consortia express to AAAS their strong disapproval of the decision to discontinue participation of Science in JSTOR, and emphatically urge AAAS to reconsider its decision in light of the damage such action would bring to the mission and purpose of AAAS.

Adopters of This Statement

This statement is adopted in principle by member representatives of the "International Coalition of Library Consortia" (ICOLC) whose consortia are listed below.

As of December 10, 2007

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS STATEMENT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Ivy Anderson, Director, Collections, California Digital Library, University of California, Office of the President, (510) 987-0334, ivy.anderson@ucop.edu

Ann Okerson, NERL Coordinator, NERL, 203-432-1764, ann.okerson@yale.edu

Diane Costello, Executive Officer, CAUL (Council of Australian University Librarians),

+61 2 6125 2990, diane.costello@caul.edu.au

About the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC)

The International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) has been in existence since 1996. The Coalition is an international, informal group currently comprising approximately 200 library consortia in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. The member consortia serve all types and sizes of libraries. ICOLC facilitates discussion among consortia on issues of common interest, and conducts one meeting per year in North America and one meeting per year in Europe. The organization is dedicated to keeping its members informed about electronic information resources, pricing practices of electronic publishers and vendors, and other issues of importance to consortium directors and governing boards. The Coalition also meets with the information provider community to discuss product offerings and issues of mutual concern.

More information about ICOLC can be found at http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia or contact Tom Sanville, Executive Director, OhioLINK, Suite 300, 2455 North Star Road, Columbus, OH 43221, Phone: 614-728-3600, ext. 322; tom@ohiolink.edu