Subject: Draft IFLA Manifesto on Open Access (fwd) From: Stevan Harnad <harnad@ecs.soton.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 02:27:56 +0100 (BST) Draft below. Comments in next message. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 17:28:14 +1100 From: Alex Byrne <alex.byrne@uts.edu.au> Subject: Draft IFLA Manifesto on Open Access To: september98-forum@amsci-forum.amsci.org Message-id: <3E83EB7E.1DE848CD@uts.edu.au> Organization: UTS Library I am writing on behalf of the Governing Board of IFLA which is seeking comment on the attached DRAFT IFLA Manifesto on Open Access to Scholarly Literature and Research Documentation. We would very much appreciate your input, preferably by or as soon as possible after 30 April 2003. Any comments may be sent to me at alex.byrne@uts.edu.au or faxed to me at +61 2 9514 3332. -- Alex Byrne IFLA MANIFESTO ON OPEN ACCESS TO SCHOLARLY LITERATURE AND RESEARCH DOCUMENTATION IFLA (the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) is committed to ensuring the widest possible access to information for all peoples in accordance with the principles expressed in the Glasgow Declaration (see http://www.ifla.org). IFLA declares that comprehensive open access to scholarly literature and research documentation is vital to the understanding of our world and to the identification of solutions to global challenges. IFLA acknowledges that the discovery, contention, elaboration and application of research in all fields will enhance human well being, progress and sustainability. The peer reviewed scholarly literature is a vital element in the processes of research and scholarship. It is supported by a range of research documentation which includes preprints, technical reports and records of research data. IFLA notes that the worldwide network of library and information services provides access to past, present and future scholarly literature and research documentation; ensures its preservation; assists users in discovery and use; and educates users to develop appropriate information literacies. IFLA advocates the adoption of the following open access principles by all involved in the recording and dissemination of research =96 including authors, editors, publishers, libraries and institutions =96 in order to ensure the widest possible availability of scholarly literature and research documentation: 1. Acknowledgement and defence of the moral rights of authors, especially the rights of attribution and integrity. 2. Recognition of objective and effective peer review processes to assure the quality of scholarly literature irrespective of mode of publication and without distortion to support extraneous purposes such as confirmation of tenure or promotion of faculty. 3. Promotion of measures to facilitate publication of quality assured scholarly literature and research documentation by researchers and scholars in developing nations, from indigenous peoples and among those otherwise disadvantaged. 4. Protection under copyright of all scholarly literature and research documentation for a strictly limited period determined by law for the benefit of authors followed by succession to the public domain for the benefit of all peoples. 5. Strengthening of fair dealing provisions in international copyright agreements and directives, national laws, and publishing contracts and licences to ensure unhindered access by other researchers and the general public. 6. Assurance of the availability to all peoples of all scholarly literature and research documentation which has been designated by its authors to be made available through preprints, open access journals and archives, or other means. 7. Implementation of affordable mechanisms to enable access to scholarly literature and research documentation by the peoples of developing nations and all who experience information inequality including the disabled and otherwise disadvantaged. 8. Inclusion of provisions in law, contracts and licences to ensure preservation in perpetuity of all scholarly literature and research documentation in libraries and archives in formats and under conditions which will ensure enduring availability and useability. 9. Operation of effective systems by libraries and publishers to ensure the preservation in perpetuity of all scholarly literature and research documentation with authenticity and continuing useability guaranteed. Process for adoption approved by IFLA Governing Board 15 March 2003: 1. Discuss at Governing Board March 2003. 2. Seek comment from IPA and CLM. 3. Seek comments from those with a particular interest in open access issues =96 deadline 30 April 2003. 4. Put draft on IFLANet for comment by other interested parties =96 deadline 30 April 2003. 5. Redraft by 30 May 2003. 6. Governing Board to review and discuss by email by 30 June 2003. 7. Final version to be approved by the Governing Board, August 2003, Berlin, Germany. Comments to be sent to Alex Byrne, Member IFLA Governing Board and Chair IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression, alex.byrne@uts.edu.au by 30 April 2003.