RE: "Open Access" at Cambridge University Press

["Andrew A. Farke" <andyfarke@hotmail.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu [mailto:owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu] On Behalf Of
> Phillip Bigelow
> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 6:32 AM
> To: dinosaur@usc.edu
> Subject: Re: "Open Access" at Cambridge University Press
<snip>

> Furthermore, most manuscripts are now submitted electronically.
> Therefore, the cost to Cambridge University Press to transfer the article
> into PDF format is essentially zero.  A dude does some pointing and
> clicking with a mouse for about 3 minutes, and the PDF is ready.

If only it were that easy. . .it takes a decent bit of time to take a
manuscript as submitted by an author and turn it into the published product
as you see in JVP, Proceedings B, or another journal. First, an editor goes
through and makes sure everything is in line with the style of the journal -
spelling, capitalization, section headings, references, etc. Even in a
carefully prepared manuscript by a conscientious author, there are bound to
be a few inconsistencies.

Next, a layout person organizes the text so that it fits pleasingly into the
allotted space. This means that all columns of text on a page line up, the
last page of text lines up neatly and evenly, words are hyphenated in
appropriate places, etc. You also have to make sure graphics (which
invariably *aren't* submitted quite at exactly publication specs) are the
right size, and that they fit in with the text in a logical and
aesthetically-pleasing way. You don't want any orphaned lines of text at the
end of a page, or below a figure. Etc., etc., etc. Even though computers
have made this easier than the old days of retype, cut, and paste, it still
takes awhile to get everything together!

*Then* it's made into a PDF or printed out, and the page proofs are sent
back to the author. If the journal is lucky, the author sends these back in
a timely fashion. Then, it's ready to be turned into the final PDF.

So, the bottom line is it's not quite as easy as it sounds. I think the
journals have a right to recoup some of the costs of their efforts. Whether
or not it's worth $2,700 is another question altogether (and it certainly
excludes students, many paleontologists on small budgets, and scientists in
developing countries or countries with little financial support for paleo).

So to tie this in to dinosaurs. . .there *are* a lot of freely available
dinosaur publications out there. Palaeontologia Electronica, Acta
Palaeontologia Polonica, and many other major journals have freely available
electronic archives. Many folks (myself included) have PDFs of their work
available on their webpage. *And* you get electronic access to JVP with a
membership in the society.

My two cents,

Andy