Table of ContentsThe Journal of Information Science and Technology
Association
(Johono Kagaku to Gijutsu)
Vol. 53 （2003） , No.9
Special feature : Publishing Role in the Scholarly Communication
General review : Meaning of Scholarly Publishing
Shigeo MINOWA
(Professor Emeritus, Kanagawa University (5-20-16, Den-enchofu, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-0071))
Abstract : Scholarly publishing is a series of social or technical processes which are constituted of numerous elements interrelated each other. It is therefore necessary to get an allover view of the processes if one wishes to interpret scholarly publishing. At the same time pinpoint specification of issues is vital if any effective discussion of scholarly publishing to be achieved. Five element groups are identified in the present article ; processes, functions, environments, participants, and media.
Another reason of making scholarly publishing difficult to understand lies in duality of its major concepts. For example it is not proper to treat scholarly publishing simply as transfer of information. Hidden motivations of authers, such as acquiring academic prestige or satisfaction of demonstrating their achievement are more crucial. Rest of the article handles a few practical issues considered of their duality in concepts.
Keywords : scholarly publishing / monograph / academic journal / information transfer / academic prestige / monetary reward / copyright / book distribution / foreign language publications / social costs
Can the university presses show its raison d'etre?
Through consideration of the effofrts of Kyoto University Press
Tetsuya SUZUKI
(Kyoto University Press (Kyodai-Kaikan (Kyoto Univ. Hall), 15-9 Yoshida-Kawaramachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-city, Kyoto 606-8233))
Abstract : Despite publication depression, university presses seem to take an active part in Japan. Of course, behind this, there is a competition situation over ten years in scientific research in proposal for “university reform". However, academic scholars are irritated at the fact that “true public presentation of research results" has been neglected. Now, university preses are demanded to be “the Media with high Impact Factor". In this paper, I want to introduce the activities of university presses in order to meet such demands, mainly taking up our efforts of the publication of books in English and practical use of the new technology in Kyoto University Press. And I make a proposal that the efforts which position the university press as a core of “circulation of scientific information" will be taken.
Keywords : Publication in English / Crisis in Scholarly publishing / editing / Impact Factor / New
technology / Planning / Proofreading / University press
Dispatch of Japanese scientific research seen in SPARC/JAPAN and University Library
Jun ADACHI, Masamitsu NEGISHI, Shun TSUCHIYA, Kazunobu KONISHI, Takashi OBA, Sayuri OKUMURA
(National Institute of Informatics (2-1-2, Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8430))
Abstract : Nowadays more Japanese researches are drain off to appear in the foreign journals. Whereas, the number of titles of the foreign journals which a domestic university library purchases is decreasing sharply. We see changes on scholarly communication ; in U.S.A. and Europe has organized alliance movement of research libraries SPARC, in Japan appears some consortium contracts on electronic journals. Nevertheless, the action of Japanese academic associations toward the electronic publishing and worldwide access of own journals is inadequate, we have underdeveloped business models on electronic distribution. In order to improve such conditions, National Institute of Informatics launched a project named SPARC/JAPAN, in cooperation with the Japan Science and Technology Corporation and the university libraries in and outside the country.
Keywords : Japanese research / university library / electronic journal / scholarly communication / business model / National Institute of Informatics (NII) / Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST) / SPARC/JAPAN / International Scholarly Communication Initiative
Trends of electronic publishing : electronic books for the academic community
Takashi NAGATSUKA
(G-Search Limited, (Loop-X Bldg. 9-F, 3-9-15, Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0022))
Abstract : Some astonishing ebook growth rates were predicted several years ago, but it is now apparent that the ebook revolution has fizzled. Many players fell by the way, but ebooks are not dead. Some ebook market segments, such as Academic and scholarly fields, appear to be stirring to life. Players of ebooks may be divided into five major groups : academic projects, academic publishers, aggregation services, commercial publishers and software publishers. It is a new trend of ebook that aggregation services and academic publishers are actively expanding their business. The future directions in the development of ebooks are investigated from a point of view such as the combination of original books, the function of information retrieval and the link with other sources.
Keywords : ebook / electronic publishing / database / aggregation service / reader software
Recent Development and Prospect of e-journals of the Chemical Society of Japan
Kazuhiro HAYASHI, Tsukasa MONJO
(The Chemical Society of Japan (1-5, Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8307))
Abstract : Recent development and prospect of e-journals of CSJ is described with historical background. An effective use of J-STAGE from 2002 has enabled standard e-journal services including linking to other journals and databases, resulting in more than half a million accesses worldwide. The successful CSJ e-journalization has established a realistic business model for Japanese scientific e-journal service. Envisaged issues associated with billing systems and procedures for e-journals are discussed.
Keywords : E-journal / J-STAGE / ChemPort / Electronic Submission / journal publication model in Japan