Thursday 8 December 2011

British Library INCD Licensing Framework - Update

The Publishers Licensing Society (PLS) in the UK has agreed an extension to the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) document delivery agreement with the British Library. This will mirror the framework agreement negotiated by the International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers (STM) in consultation with the Publishers Association (PA) and will particularly assist smaller publishers who may not wish to set up an agreement with the British Library directly.

Publishers who currently mandate PLS will be contacted in the near future regarding this licence extension. If you are not a mandating PLS publisher and wish to know about the services they provide, please contact them at pls@pls.org.uk or +44 (0)20 7299 7730. Further details can be found at: http://www.pls.org.uk/default.aspx

Audrey McCulloch
Executive Director, UK
audrey.mcculloch@alpsp.org

Monday 7 November 2011

ALPSP endorses new British Library INCD Licensing Framework

ALPSP endorses the soon-to-be launched British Library INCD Service for the supply of copies of articles to non-commercial end users via not-for-profit libraries outside the UK. The INCD Service is underpinned by agreements with publishers, for which a framework licence agreement, to be entered into directly between individual publishers and the British Library, has been agreed with the British Library by the International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers (STM) in consultation with the Publishers Association (PA).

ALPSP recommends that its members sign up to licence agreements with the British Library based on this framework before 29th November.

The Framework Licence Agreement
Under these agreements, articles supplied via the new service will only be available to an individual student or lecturer at an educational institution served by an authorized library or a person affiliated to the institution in another manner, for non-commercial research or private study only.

Authorised libraries, defined as non-commercial libraries linked to educational institutions that choose to use the new INCD service, will actively monitor and ensure end users' compliance with the differentiation between commercial and non-commercial use. There will be a cap on the number of deliveries to each authorized library in any calendar year. The cap is set at nine items from each volume of a journal or serial or from the same book.

INCD licence agreements with the British Library could deliver additional sales for publishers by exposing their content to a wide range of potential subscribers. The British Library will supply details about who is ordering copies under the service enabling publishers to target potential customers for subscription, where usage suggests this would be appropriate.

Additional security for publishers is provided by the cap on the number of items that can be ordered by an individual authorised library in each calendar year; once this cap is exceeded, the publisher's set fee will apply.

Fees for the INCD service will be the standard BL supply fee plus the appropriate royalty fee (as set by the publisher). Any order fulfilled using the 24-hour service will attract the full commercial fee.

The new service will start from 1st January 2012.

Next Steps for ALPSP Members
As the British Library will phase out its current non-commercial cross border service in order to start its new INCD Service at the start of 2012, publishers are encouraged to sign the licence agreement as soon as possible so that the new service can be implemented on time.


  • The British Library has already contacted all publishers with which it has subscription agreements.

  • Publishers who have already been contacted are kindly requested to send their signed licence agreements to the British Library by Tuesday 29th November.
    Publishers who have not yet been approached, should contact the British Library for more information and to obtain a copy of the agreement.

If you require more information, need a copy of the agreement, or want to return your signed agreement, please contact: Matthew Bailey, Licensing Manager, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB; Tel. +44 (0) 20 7412 7308; Email: matthew.bailey@bl.uk


Full information on the INCD Service can be found on the British Library's FAQs (pdf).
In order to assist Publishers who wish to enter into the licence agreement, there is also a Toolkit for Publishers (pdf)


Sarah Durrant
Chief Executive
sarah.durrant@alpsp.org +44(0)1728 604204

Friday 28 October 2011

SSP 2011 Fall Seminar Series

The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) presents its 2011 Fall Seminar Series, being held on November 8th and 9th at the American Geophysical Union in Washington, DC.

Attendees are invited to join colleagues and experts from across the industry for these exciting and informative seminars:

Seminar 1 – Tuesday, November 8, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Content and Apps for Mobile Devices: Engaging Users in the Mobile Experience



The increasing popularity and use of mobile devices are transforming the way users access and interact with information. This seminar will feature a detailed case study and presentations by STM and humanities publishers and librarians who will share their perspectives on delivering, providing and accessing content in the mobile arena. With a focus on the user, the following topics will be addressed:



  • How are publishers and libraries engaging the user?


  • What does the user want from the mobile experience?


  • How does the user interact with mobile content?


For more information on the stellar presenters lined up for this seminar – including Jonathan Stark, the mobile app consultant that the Wall Street Journal has called an expert on publishing desktop data to the web – see http://bit.ly/nxhapN.


Seminar 2 – Wednesday, November 9, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Moving to the Online-Only Journal: Breaking Free of Print Constraints

If you are considering moving your publications to an “online-only” format, this full-day seminar will explore the issues that will arise and the opportunities that become available when you break away from the print-based medium. The speakers will address concerns about eliminating print, including:



  • Protecting advertising revenue


  • Converting print subscribers to online readers (including those who receive print as a member benefit)


  • Managing challenges of archiving


  • Developing pricing strategies

The seminar speakers, who represent publishers breaking new ground in the online presentation of content, will provide examples of their features, discuss issues related to continuous publication, and examine the expanded and creative use of linking and videos. For a full list of speakers, see http://bit.ly/nxhapN.

The end of an era

For those of you who don’t already know, long-standing ALPSP member and industry legend, John Cox retires at the end of October after 42 years in the business.

John, who originally trained as a barrister, maintains he was ‘side-tracked’ into publishing! He spent ten years with the Open University before running the UK arm of Scholastic during the 1980s. He then joined BH Blackwell with whom he stayed until 1994 when he joined Carfax - later purchased by Routledge - as MD. When Routledge was sold to Taylor & Francis, John started his consultancy, John Cox Associates.

One of his earliest pieces of consultancy work was developing a set of model journal licences which have proved invaluable for over a decade to publishers and libraries alike, and which will continue to be available through Ringgold. ALPSP members will also be familiar with the ALPSP Scholarly Publishing Practice Surveys which John undertook with his daughter, Laura.

John will remain connected to the industry through his Non-executive Directorships and occasional consultancy projects. He will also continue his life-long work with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. In one guise or another, John was a member of ALPSP for over 20 years and on behalf of ALPSP Council, members and staff, I would like to wish him enjoyment and fulfilment as he begins this next exciting chapter.

Sarah Durrant
Chief Executive

Friday 26 August 2011

Forthcoming events at the Stationers' Hall

On Monday, 12 September at 6.30 pm the Digital Media Group of the Stationers’ Company, in association with the Marketors’ Company, are holding one of their roundtables on "How do you win in today’s Digital World?"

The format will be a keynote speaker, Rory Sutherland, Executive Creative Director Ogilvy Group and a moderator, Venetia Howes, Immediate Past Master of the Marketors’ Company, with a panel who are: Fergus Boyd, Head of e-Business at Virgin Atlantic, Daniel Finkelstein, Executive Editor of The Times and Professor Merlin Stone, IBM Professor of Marketing at Surrey European Mgt School.

Click here for more detail and to book tickets


On Monday, 17 October 2011 at 6.30 pm The Industry Group of the Stationers’ Company, in association with the Freemen’s Association, will host an evening on “The Changing World of Procurement within the Printing and Publishing supply Chain”.

The speakers will describe procurement in the Publishing, Print Management, Printing, Paper Merchanting and Paper industries, addressing key concerns for the future as well as current practices in purchasing and will include: Mark Cruise, Head of Print Management at BSkyB, Tony Palmer, European Procurement Director of Sun Chemical, William Oldham, General Manager of UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd and Nigel Lyons, Managing Director of Pinstripe Print Group.

Click here for more detail and to book tickets

Both these events will take place at Stationers’ Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7DD and will be preceded by a drinks reception and followed by drinks and canapés.

Friday 5 August 2011

National Occupational Standards for Publishing

Skillset is updating the National Occupational Standards for Publishing to include journals and the latest digital developments and they want to know what you think.

This important project comes at a critical time for the industry, when digital developments provide both threats and opportunities. As a result, ALPSP is fully supporting the project and we urge all members to take part.

Skillset are organising a series of focus groups
for publishing professionals to discuss and develop the standards:

  • London, Tuesday 13th September, 10:00 - 12:00
  • London, Wednesday 21st September, 14:00 - 16:00
  • Edinburgh, Wednesday 21st September, 13:00 - 15:00
  • Belfast, Thursday 22nd September, 10:00 - 12:00
  • Cardiff, Wednesday 28th September, 11:00 - 13:00
  • Oxford, Thursday 29th September, 10:30 - 12:30
Visit the Skillset blog to register.

If you can't get to one of the focus groups, you can also contribute through telephone interview or by completing a questionnaire please contact Debbie Warren (email) no later than Wednesday 7 September.

If you know someone else who may be interested please let them know about this. Each focus group lasts up to 2 hrs and refreshments will be provided. Skillset can also assist with travel expenses.

Monday 4 July 2011

PLS 30th Anniversary

The Publishers Licensing Society (PLS) is 30 years old and will be celebrating at its Open Day on Tuesday 12 July. The Open Day will take place at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA, Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD) from 2pm and a full programme can be found on the PLS website. The Open Day will be followed by a drinks reception.

To confirm your free place, contact Imogen Forbes at PLS (020 7299 7732 or email).

Monday 13 June 2011

ALPSP seeks part time Events & Database Administrator

The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) has a vacancy for a part-time Events and Database Administrator (30 hours/4 days per week), to assist with the organisation of its UK events programme and management of its information services. (Full details: http://bit.ly/k6Wmok)

Reporting to the Senior Coordinator, Events and Information Systems, you will assist in the organisation of UK events, management of our database and website systems, coordinate ALPSP presence at exhibitions and other conferences and administer the supply and storage of publicity materials.

ALPSP staff are home-workers so you will be expected to work under minimal supervision, but in close liaison with other members of the team. This is a customer-facing role, therefore you will need exceptional communication skills combined with good time management and organisational skills. Experience of event/exhibition organisation is essential. Good computer skills are highly desirable and familiarity with database administration would be advantageous.

ALPSP UK events are primarily organised in and around the London area, so the ability to travel easily to London is essential. The ALPSP International Conference will also involve overnight stays.

The salary for this position is circa £25,000, pro rata, depending on experience.

If you would like to find out more, contact Lesley Ogg (email events@alpsp.org; telephone 01245 260571). To be considered for this post, please send a CV with covering letter outlining your suitability for this position by email to events@alpsp.org.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 30 June 2011 and interviews will be held on Wednesday 20 July (in central London).

Monday 4 April 2011

SAGE announces library travel grant for ALPSP International Conference

SAGE has supported the ALPSP International Conference as silver sponsor since the first meeting in 2008. This new travel grant will offer a free place at the conference for a librarian or information professional, including entry to the ALPSP awards dinner, travel within the UK and accommodation for one person. This year's conference will be held at Heythrop Park near Oxford UK from 14-16 September.

SAGE will be running a competition to win the sponsored place, with entries submitted either via Twitter or email. To enter, librarians must answer the following question in 140 characters or less:

Question: Why should librarians be talking to publishers in 2011?

Completed answers should be sent to @SAGElibraryNews tagged with #SAGEALPSP or email to events@sagepub.co.uk by 27 May 2011. Further terms and conditions can be found at www.sagepub.co.uk/alpsp2011.

Monday 28 March 2011

ALPSP Seminars - tell us what you think

As part of its professional development activities, ALPSP organises seminars for its members and others in the scholarly publishing and information world. We endeavour to make these as relevant and useful as we can but would value your feedback. Please let us know how we're doing and how you think we might improve the seminars by completing this short survey.

If you complete the survey before 21 April you'll have the chance to win one of two places on an ALPSP seminar, webinar, training course or eLearning course of your choice.

Please encourage your colleagues to complete the survey too - it will only take a few minutes.

Monday 24 January 2011

HERE AND NOW: The Digital and Ebook Market 2011

Half day seminar organised by the Publishers Association on the current ebook market
Wednesday 9th February

Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London

8.30am for registration and breakfast
9.00am – 12.30pm : Seminar

Chaired by David Roth-Ey, Digital Director at HarperCollins, the seminar will reveal the very latest research on device and ebook buying habits in the UK. Speakers will include from the US Michael Tamblyn, Kobo, Peter Balis, John Wiley & Sons, and Theresa Horner, Barnes & Noble. Richard Mollet, CEO of the Publishers Association will give the keynote, followed by an overview of the UK and US markets by Jo Henry, BML. We then see 2 expert panels led by Sara Lloyd, Digital Director, Pan Macmillan and Fionnuala Duggan, Digital Director of Random House profiling the US ebook market and looking ahead at the international and UK ebook markets.

This is a very this low cost and content rich seminar over a half a day, and one not to be missed if you are involved or interested in the ebook market.

To register please go to www.publishers.org.uk/events

Thursday 13 January 2011

Renew Training

Technology has removed the barriers between production, editorial, marketing, sales, customer services and most importantly – the customers. Renew Training’s Understanding E-Journal Technology course is aimed at anyone in working in these departments and will help them connect with their customers and better understand their requirements.

Many publishing companies routinely send all their customer facing staff on Renew Training’s courses and 100% of course delegates have said they would recommend this course to others in their organisations.

Delegates will gain a business-level grounding in e-journal delivery technologies, gain greater insight into customers' technical and business requirements and better understand the role technology plays in e-journal deployment and discoverability. The course will educate attendees about key issues affecting the delivery of e-journals and how these affect licensing, customer service and even pricing. Participants will also learn what necessitated technological change in libraries and publishers and how to solve some of the key problems posed by library technologies such as link servers, A-Z lists, federated search, web scale discovery, DOIs, OpenURL, Athens and Shibboleth

Courses will be held in London on Tuesday 15th February, 2011, Washington DC on 14th March and Philadelphia on 16th March.

Visit http://www.renewtraining.com/schedule.htm for more information and to book a place. Members of ALPSP, ASA, and SSP are eligible for affiliate discounts.