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<div>Many thanks everybody for the useful feedback on electronic
journal publishing. Let me respond to the questions asked and
points raised.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>(i) Right now, you (or anybody else) can only read LT
online if your library has a print plus online subscription (which is
197 Euros, as compared to 171 Euros for print only, and 64 Euros of an
individual-print or 41 Euros of a student-print subscription,
including the ALT membership fee). In the near future (the
technicalities are just being sorted out: we'll keep the
membership informed), ALT members will also get online access, via
ReferenceGlobal, with their individual subscriptions, or at least
online access as an option.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>(ii) Walter de Gruyter, of which Mouton de Gruyter is part,
are committed -- and indeed contractually bound to the Deutsche
Bibliothek (a respectable institution not to be confused with the
Deutsche Bank or the Deutsche Bahn) and the US-based company PORTICO
-- to long-term archiving of their online products. </div>
<div><br></div>
<div>As one of the correspondents wrote on this point, by having its
journal published through Mouton de Gruyter, ALT would seem to be
getting a good deal at very modest expense, namely the full
infrastructure for producing and disseminating a recognised quality
journal. It's not obvious that a better deal could be gotten in
the do-it-yourself mode, concerning effort, cost, and sustainability.
(Even if a smallish and poorish association such as ALT<u> could</u>
go into a DIY mode in this respect.)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>To me, Walter de Gruyter don't look like they're selling out --
not only because shareholder-owned "Equity Funds" Publishing
Houses probably won't be in a buying mood for some time to come.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>(iii) Walter de Gruyter are members of a consortium, INASP,
which provides either print or free access to online publications to
"Economically Deprived Countries".<br>
</div>
<div><br>
Thanks again<br>
Frans<br>
<br>
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