Symposium "Towards the Reform of Scholarly Information Distribution 3 : Search for an ideal way of the electronic journal contract" held

The Japan Association of National University Libraries held a symposium "Towards the Reform of Scholarly Information Distribution 3 : Search for an ideal way of the electronic journal contract" in the University of Tokyo on December 24, 2009. This was the third part of this symposium series. About 130 senior administrators of the national university libraries participated.

After the opening address by President Furuta Motoo (University Librarian of University of Tokyo Library), Prof. Ueda Ken'ichi (Director of Institute of Laser Science, University of Electro-Communications) made a lecture. He spoke his activity of electronic journal and the future image of the provision and use of scholarly papers from the viewpoint of the academic journal publisher. His lecture gave the participants valuable suggestions as to library services.

Next, a panel discussion was held with Prof. Yata Toshifumi (University Librarian of Niigata University Library) as the chairperson, Prof. Uematsu Sadao (University Librarian of Tsukuba University Library), President Furuta, Prof. Kato Kenji (University Librarian of Shizuoka University Library) and Prof. Ueda as the panelists. The beginning of the discussion, Prof. Kato reported the result of study at the Committee established in the JANUL and then the participants made the active exchange of opinions. Many participants complained the difficulty in getting enough budget for the e-journals. Some insisted that libraries had to ask their faculties to get involved actively as the suppliers and consumers of information in addition to the library's continual activities for the reform of the scholarly information distribution. Moreover it was confirmed that the more close cooperation between university libraries was essential when the universities and the JANAL prepared a feasible scheme keeping the change of the e-journal contract method in mind.