Noodling around Googlespace I’m often brought up short when a published paper is part of JSTOR, because access is restricted to those who can pay for the privilege. ((No matter that your taxes may have already paid for the research.)) Now, via the CAPRi blog, comes news that JSTOR is opening itself up to more developing countries through its Developing Nations Access Initiative. Go ahead and ask, if you may be eligible. Meanwhile, we’ll consider relocating ourselves.
Oh so it’s not just me then.
I suffer constant JSTOR deprivation as I trawl around for plant breeding information, find a tantalising abstract and then can’t view the actual paper. A real frustration for “amateur scientists” like me who don’t have access to an academic institution. As an individual there’s no way I can justify paying the fee to access this material.
I guess opening up to developing countries is a start, but it would be nice if JSTOR would consider not slamming the door in the face of others who seek a bit of edification to help with their own research projects. The restrictive guarding of decades of scientific work is backward and unhelpful.
@Rebsie Fairholm – In the old days, we asked authors for reprints and they posted them to us by snail mail. I’ve had some success with the same approach in the modern era. I do wonder, though, how far that could be taken. Some PDFs I get from authors state they should not be distributed further, but I also understand that there are people quietly organizing their own form of open access library. That is forward-looking and helpful, and deserves support. I’ll try and find out more.