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.
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
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:
1 ABM-utvikling (The Norwegian Archive. Library and Museum Authority) Norway
2 ALI (Academic Libraries of Indiana) USA
3 ALICE (Adventist Library Information Cooperative) USA
4 AMICAL (American International Consortium of Academic Libraries) International
5 Amigos Library Services USA
6 Arizona Universities Library Consortium (AULC) USA
7 ASERL (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries) USA
8 Bayern-Konsortium Germany
9 Bibliographical Center for Research (BCR) USA
10 BIBSAM Sweden
11 Boston Library Consortium, Inc. USA
12 Califa Library Group USA
13 California Digital Library (CDL) USA
14 CARLI (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois) USA
15 CAUL (Council of Australian University Librarians) Australia
16 CBUC-Consorci de Biblioteques Universitàries de Catalunya / Consortium of Academic Libraries of Catalonia Spain
17 College Center for Library Automation USA
18 Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries USA
19 Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) USA
20 CONCERT - CONsortium on Core Electronic Resources in Taiwan Taiwan
21 Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec(Conference of Rectors and Principals of Universities of Quebec) - CREPUQ Canada
22 Connect New York (CNY) USA
23 Consortium of Dutch University Libraries and the National Library (UKB) Netherlands
24 Consortium of Slovenian Electronic Collections Slovenia
25 CONZUL (Council of New Zealand University Librarians) New Zealand
26 Cooperating Libraries in Consortium (CLIC) USA
27 Coordinamento Interuniversitario Basi dati & Editoria in Rete (CIBER) Italy
28 COPPUL (Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries) Canada
29 Council of Atlantic University Libraries Canada
30 COUPERIN (Consortium universitaire des publications numériques) France
31 CSU-SEIR, The California State University – Systemwide Electronic Information Resources USA
32 Denmarks Electronic Research Library, DEFF Denmark
33 FinELib Finland
34 Florida Center for Library Automation USA
35 Friedrich-Althoff-Konsortium (FAK) Germany
36 GALILEO USA
37 Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA) USA
38 HEAL-Link (HELLENIC ACADEMIC LIBRARIES Link) Greece
39 Lebanese Academic Library Consortium (LALC) Lebanon
40 Lithuanian Research Library Consortium Lithuania
41 LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network USA
42 Maine InfoNet USA
43 Michigan Library Consortium USA
44 MINITEX Library Information Network USA
45 Missouri Library Network Corporation (MLNC) USA
46 MOBIUS Consortium (Missouri) USA
47 NEICON Russia
48 NELINET USA
49 NELLCO USA
50 NERL (NorthEast Research Libraries Consortium) USA
51 Network of Alabama Academic Libraries USA
52 Nevada Academic Library Consortium USA
53 Northeast Florida Library Information Network (NEFLIN) USA
54 Nylink USA
55 OhioLINK (Ohio Library and Information Network) USA
56 OHIONET USA
57 Ontario Council of University Libraries Canada
58 Orbis Cascade Alliance USA
59 PALINET USA
60 PALNI (Private Academic Library Network of Indiana) USA
61 PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries) USA
62 Pennsylvania Academic Library Consorium, Inc. (PALCI) USA
63 Pioneer, Utah's Online Library USA
64 Poznan Foundation of Scientific Libraries Poland
65 SCELC, the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium USA
66 SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) UK
67 SOLINET USA
68 Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN) USA
69 Tri-College Library Consortium USA
70 UALC, the Utah Academic Library Consortium USA
71 University of Missouri Library System USA
72 University of Texas System Digital Library USA
73 Virtual Academic Library Environment of New Jersey (VALE) USA
74 VIVA (The Virtual Library of Virginia) USA
75 Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) USA
The International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) is an informal, self-organized 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 has been in existence since 1996.
ICOLC supports participating consortia by facilitating discussion on issues of common interest. Twice per year ICOLC conducts meetings dedicated to keeping participating consortia informed about new electronic information resources, pricing practices of electronic information providers and vendors, and other issues of importance to directors, governing boards, and libaries of consortia. From time to time ICOLC also issues statements regarding topics which affect libraries and library consortia.