-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Scholarly Publishing Principles -- Albert Henderson
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 15:23:11 -0400
From: Fred Jenkins <Fred.Jenkins@notes.udayton.edu>

Mr. Henderson raises some dubious propositions in his latest.  Among
other
things, as I understand his arguments, libraries should be a transfer
agent
providing operating subsidies to learned societies.  Regardless of the
theoretical correctness of his assertions, which are debatable, this is
really a fruitless argument.  Librarians are pretty much restricted to
maximizing limited funds.  Higher administrations have numerous
competing
demands for funds aside from research support, many of which are
mandated
by government agencies or the people who pay tuition and taxes to
support
higher education.  Most people outside of higher education (at least in
my
experience) are much more concerned with the quality and affordability
of
undergraduate education; they tend to regard research as secondary
unless
they see it leading directly to economic development in their region.
If
colleges and universities were to follow Mr. Henderson's admonitions, I
suspect we would soon be called to account by those who ultimately pay
the
bills.  I find it difficult to explain five- and six-figure journal
subscription prices to parents and students who are piling up large
debts
to pay tuition.

By the way,  I never knew that Vannevar Bush had been fully empowered to
set the agenda for higher education for generations to come.  Thanks for
enlightening me.

Fred W. Jenkins
Acting Dean of Libraries
Head of Collection Management
  & Associate Professor
University of Dayton Library

Roesch Library 105F
300 College Park
Dayton, OH 45469-1360

(937) 229-4272
(937) 229-4590 (fax)