The Internet is awash with medical information. But the most reliable medical information on the web-the contents of peer-reviewed medical journals-is hidden from the public and most of the world’s physicians. Although most medical journals are available online, their publishers limit access to those who choose, and can afford, to pay for access.
Unlike traditional medical journals, which limit access to maximize subscription revenue, the Public Library of Science’s journal PLoS Medicine is a free, open-source, peer-reviewed medical journal. The journal, launched in October 2004, is an international, multidisciplinary medical journal. It publishes studies designed to enhance the understanding of human health and disease and help physicians translate clinical research findings into clinical practice.
Because PLoS believes that medical research is an international public resource, its articles can be downloaded and distributed without restriction as long as the author is given proper credit. Publishing costs are offset by a publication fee charged to authors. PLoS waives the fee for authors with insufficient funds. The ability to pay is not known by the editors, and never affects the decision whether to publish an article....
Posted by
Peter Suber at 6/04/2006 08:28:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
