Critical issues in the development of STM journal publishing

Abstract

Access to generations of scientific literature has never been more widespread. The advent of electronic publishing has improved the spread and speed of access while at the same time reducing unit costs. The current 'open access' debate raises interesting questions about the future of publishing and archiving. The declining growth of author-pays titles, however, suggests that innovations that are sustainable long term and do not threaten the quality and integrity of scholarship are likely to be within the framework of the established model.