The High Cost of Science Journals: A Case Study and Discussion

Abstract

Like many libraries, Seton Hall University Libraries has suffered budget cuts that forced a reduction in serial subscriptions. As science librarian, I report on my efforts to streamline subscriptions and to address the question "Why are science journals so expensive?" Our science journals are significantly more expensive than journals in other areas. Our commercially published science journals are 25% more expensive than those from non-profit publishers, although the difference is not statistically significant. I discuss the reasons for the high cost of science journals, which involve a complex interaction between supply and demand and academic culture.3

Are Print Books Dead? An Investigation of Book Circulation at a Mid-Sized Academic Library

“…As academic libraries increasingly invest in electronic resources, investment in print books and print book circulation have typically declined (Carlson, 2001;Martell, 2008;Anderson, 2011;Bullis & Smith, 2011;Kolowich, 2011;Rose-Wiles, 2011;Stewart, 2011a).…”

Current market rates for scholarly publishing services

“…The affordability problem of scholarly publishing, i.e., the supra-inflationary price increases with stagnating library budgets, has been discussed for decades (see, e.g., [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In recent years, perhaps precipitated by some so-called 'gold' open access (OA) journals charging article-processing charges (APCs; fees usually charged to authors or their institutions upon acceptance for publishing an article and making it openly available), the average cost of an article has emerged as a useful measure with which to compare different business models (but see 8 for a critique).…”

Assessing the size of the affordability problem in scholarly publishing

“…The affordability problem of scholarly publishing, i.e., the hyperinflationary price increases with stagnating library budgets, has been discussed for decades (see, e.g., Chan 2004;Harnad et al 2004;Douglas 1990;Fisher 2008;Houghton 2001;Tananbaum 2003;Rose-Wiles 2011). In recent years, perhaps precipitated by some so-called 'gold' open access (OA) journals charging article-processing charges (APCs; fees usually charged to authors or their institutions upon acceptance for publishing an article and making it openly available), the average cost of an article has emerged as a useful measure with which to compare different business models.…”