Open Access News

I am writing at the suggestion of Deborah Heath [member of the AAA Executive Board] who has indicated that it would be useful to have a statement clarifying the views of the AnthroSource Steering Committee regarding FRPAA to which the AAA staff  expressed opposition by signing a letter from the American Association of Publishers (AAP).   Subsequently the AAA staff prepared a FAQ explaining their opposition to the legislation.  The Steering Committee's views on the legislation itself and the substantive issues raised in the AAP letter and the AAA staff FAQ follow....

The ASSC stands in strong support of FRPAA because this legislation provides strategic infrastructure and impetus for achieving AnthroSource's (and the AAA's) mission regarding "increase[d] visibility of and access to anthropological knowledge."  In addition, by removing barriers to access, FRPAA enables the "development of global communities of interest based on anthropological knowledge."

Of foremost importance, this legislation provides scholars increased access to the research of others so that they can build on that work and achieve greater understanding and better outcomes.  Included among those who gain the most are those working outside major research institutions (for example, those working in small to medium size institutions, practicing anthropologists, and those working in developing countries).  Other significant beneficiaries of interest to anthropologists are the communities of people in whose midst and with whose assent and help anthropologists conduct their studies.

Further FRPAA/OA provides authors increased visibility and impact.... 

With more than a decade of experience, there is no evidence that self-archiving reduces subscription revenue even in disciplines where self-archiving is widely practiced.   In the case of the AAA, the 2005 author's agreement provides all AAA authors the right to self-archive their final peer-reviewed manuscripts in repositories simultaneously with publication. As far as we know, this has not had any negative financial impact....

The AAA has placed itself in clear opposition to the academic community and libraries of all types who have publicly voiced unequivocal support for FRPAA.   The open letter from provosts is particularly noteworthy as it signals the intent to re-direct their budgets for scholarly communication toward institutions that support the principles of FRPAA....

We take exception to the AAP letter, which states that FRPAA "would effectively expropriate the substantial investments in peer review made by professional and scholarly journal publishers" on the grounds that it ignores the fact that publishers themselves profit from the availability of royalty-free, publicly financed research that is enhanced by reviewers who are compensated not by publishers but by the institutions in which they work....

The FAQ reinforces the appearance that AAA has placed commercial interests at the forefront of its publications program....

The FRPAA FAQ prepared by AAA staff indicates that "AAA policy support[s] open access objectives."  We acknowledge that the author agreement and the Executive Board motion to allow complete access to institutions in less developed countries, tribal colleges and selected universities in North America are important moves in support of open access.  However, AAA's opposition to FRPAA and the ten-year embargo on Anthropology News for library subscribers are examples of AAA actions that go against the objectives of open access....   

In accordance with the ASSC's responsibility to advise the CSC and Executive Board we recommend the following actions be taken in support of the AnthroSource vision.

That AAA join ranks with university administrators, librarians and various public interest groups in supporting FRPAA....An effective means to do so would be the development of an AAA resolution in support of FRPAA for consideration at the November meeting.

That AAA position itself to become, through AnthroSource, the repository of choice for anthropologists....

That AAA develop a member-informed policy on open access....

Comment.  For background, see my July 2006  article on the decision by AAA leaders to oppose FRPAA without consulting the AAA membership or even the steering committee of AnthroSource, the association's online resource for disseminating scholarship. 

Kudos to the ASSC for speaking out.  Its defense of FRPAA, its reminder that the association should serve its members, and its recommendations for moving forward are judicious and much needed.  I hope it inspires similar actions at the many other societies whose leaders have signed one or another letter opposing FRPAA without consulting their members.