I can’t believe it. NRC Research Press has announced that after 8 years of providing free access to NRC Research Press journal titles (such as Canadian Journal of Forest Research and Canadian Geotechnical Journal), this free electronic access will cease soon, likely in 2011. I find this very discouraging. When I spoke with NRC Press representatives approximately 8 years ago (when they first launched the free online versions of their journals), they assured me the plan was to provide this free access forever. When I spoke with them a few years later, they said they hoped they would be able to continue to provide free access … at this point I became worried. Now, a few years later, my fears have been realized. No more free access to these valuable journals for Canadians.
As a librarian I find this disturbing on many fronts, the two main fronts being:
- First, patrons in my library will find their access to vital information is reduced when this change in access is implemented
- Second, as Open Access journals are growing internationally, it is sad that these vital Canadian research journals are moving in the opposite direction.
