Activity Progress Report of the SPARC JAPAN Project Team (as of October 30, 2003)

1. Progress after the General Assembly

• 1st SPARC/JAPAN Board meeting was held (June 25, NII).
  • The operational plans and the application guidelines were determined.
• Project meeting was held (June 26, Omiya Sonic City).
  • Discussed on how to support SPARC/JAPAN and contents of Japanese version of "Create change".
• SPARC/JAPAN Explanatory meeting was held (July 2, Japan Education Center).
  • Hosted by NII. 153 people of 128 organizations were attended. The application guidelines, etc. were explained.
• Notifying the public application for academic journals participating SPARC/JAPAN (July 14).
  • Sent notifications to 2145 academic societies and associations, 668 university libraries and so on in Japan. The deadline of the application was September 3.
• 1st SPARC/JAPAN Steering Committee meeting was held (August 1, NII).
  • The selection guidelines for adopting journals was determined and the selection team was established.
• Project meeting was held (August 28, University of Tokyo Library)
  • Discussed on contents of the Japanese version of the "Create Change".
• Closing the application (September 3).
  • 51 journals of 40 academic societies and associations applied for.
• 2nd SPARC/JAPAN Steering Committee meeting was held (September 11, NII)
  • 21 journals of 16 academic societies and associations for adopting were selected.
• 2nd SPARC/JAPAN Board meeting was held (September 17, NII)
  • The adoption of 21 journals of 16 academic society and associations was determined.
• Plenary meeting of working groups was held (October 8, NII)
  • Discussed on how to advance in the future and established sectoral working groups.

2. Main activities of the Project Team

(1) Making a leaflet for advocacy of SPARC/JAPAN, Japanese version of the "Create Change".

The Project Team made a leaflet written the background, purposes and significance of SPARC in Europe and the United States and SPARC/JAPAN, and the role of ANUL supporting these activities, in order to seek approval of SPARC/JAPAN and collaboration with us to researchers and librarians in universities. There are two kinds of leaflet, one for researchers and the other for librarians. Each is double-sided leaflet on A4 paper and used in the form of three-fold. The number of printing sets were 5,000 for researchers and 2,400 for librarians. These were sent to universities on October 16.

(2) Taking a survey of the subscription state of the scholarly journals supported by SPARC/JAPAN and SPARC in Europe and the United States.

In the response to a request of NII to survey the subscription state of the adopted journals mentioned above, the Project Team is now taking a survey in cooperation with the Taskforce on Electronic Journals. The method of survey of the subscription state of the journal supported by SPARC in Europe and the United States are now in investigation.

3. Future Schedules

(1) Library Fair & Forum 2003 "SPARC/JAPAN: Revolution of International Scholarly Communication in Japan" (November 5, Tokyo International Forum)

Panelists from SPARC in Europe and the United States, NII, academic societies and associations, (national and private) university libraries are planned to make speeches and discuss with the audience.

(2) Discussion with the working groups on business models

Discussing on the business models including pricing with the working groups and the Taskforce on Electronic Journals.

(3) Other advocacy activities

• Lecture in the Training Course for university library staffs: "Purpose and outline of SPARC/JAPAN"
  
  • Western Japan: November 14, Osaka University Library
  • Eastern Japan: November 21, University of Tokyo Library

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