SPARC Open Access Newsletter | Main | BBC radio show on Scientific Publishing
December 09, 2004
Optics Express Partners with SPARC
Optics Express, published by the Optical Society of America has been selected as a SPARC "Leading Edge" partner. Ranked in the top ten optics journals by ISI, Optics Express was among the first peer-reviewed open-access journals in the marketplace and has played an increasingly important role for OSA since the journal’s founding in 1997.
SPARC reports that from the beginning, OSA designed Optics Express to be an “author-centric” journal. Its online peer-review process and rapid turnaround from submission to publication -- averaging 47 days -- were groundbreaking steps. After an examination of new technologies and market needs, OSA elected to make access to articles free and recover costs through a publication fee. This has proven not to be a barrier to submission, and the journal never refuses a worthy article because the author cannot afford the fees. By 2002, Optics Express broke even, with revenue covering staffing, overhead and development costs, and this year, OSA will generate a modest net surplus. Optics Express receives its total revenue from publication charges, which are $450 for articles six pages and under, and $800 for articles over six pages.
The Optical Society of America (OSA) brings together an international network of the industry’s preeminent optics and photonics scientists, engineers, educators, technicians and business leaders. Representing more than 15,000 members from approximately 100 different countries, OSA promotes the worldwide generation, application and dissemination of optics and photonics knowledge through its meetings, events and journals. Since its founding in 1916, OSA member benefits, programming, publications, products and services have set the industry’s standard of excellence.
SPARC and SPARC Europe are initiatives of universities, research libraries, and library organizations that support increased competition in scholarly publishing. SPARC publishing partnerships and educational activities encourage expanded dissemination of research and reduced financial pressure on libraries. Worldwide membership currently includes over 300 institutions and organizations.
Posted by at December 9, 2004 12:35 PM