Alternative Low-Cost Journals

Another avenue to enhance access in scholarly communication is the publication of low-cost journals. A major player in this effort is the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), an alliance of universities, academic libraries, and research institutions. Its goal is to help augment the non-profit sector's share of scholarly publishing so that academic journals are more affordable and accessible.

For example, through its Publisher Partnership Program, SPARC and the American Chemical Society created Crystal Growth & Design ($2,185 in 2005) as an alternative to Elsevier's Journal of Crystal Growth ($11,109 in 2005). The low cost of the journal helps boost the subscription, which translates into wider accessibility. At the same time, the journal as a SPARC-partnered publication enjoys the purchase commitment made in principle by SPARC's member institutions. That also contributes to its accessibility.

Other organizations that offer low-cost journals include include BioOne, Project Euclid, and Project Muse.