Societies and online journal models

Abstract

Learned societies often rely on revenues from journal publishing to fund important, long-term activities that support their discipline and community. A minority of societies withhold their journals from the 'big deals' and collections of commercial publishers, which frustrates end-users and irritates librarians. Reasons for exclusion include concerns that: their journal has just moved to the publisher; big deals limit pricing control and growth potential of the journal; they may erode the value of their subscription list, dilute their brand, and undermine a key society membership benefit. Publishers can work with societies to minimize the number of excluded titles, and reduce the turbulence associated with moving titles from publisher to publisher. They can explain what is excluded from collections, and give reasons why. Longer term, publishers should develop business models that reward good publishing, and develop new revenue streams and member benefits to help societies meet their goals.