YOUR FEB. 19 editorial "Open access to brilliant insights" declared that the "Internet offers the means to free knowledge." Emphatically yes, if the word "free" means unfettered. But unfortunately no if it means costless.
Though scientists naturally share enthusiasm for open access to scholarly publications, in scientific publishing it's vital also to recognize the large investments required to maintain the enterprise.
At the American Institute of Physics, we publish many of the most highly cited journals in our field. All appear online. About half of our institutional subscribers also purchase the print versions.
Most of our editorial and archiving processes, and the entire enterprise of managing peer review by tens of thousands of referees, are already entirely electronic. Those costs would not decrease under open access. Nor would staff costs, including the Ph.D. physicists who serve indispensably as editors.
One of our newest journals is helping to pioneer fully open access online. Reader access is free, but authors pay fees.
Open access will improve the exchange and promulgation of ideas and knowledge only if a sensible economic model evolves to support it, involving shared costs among all who benefit: authors, subscribers, and readers.
H. FREDERICK DYLLA
Executive director and CEO
American Institute of Physics, College Park, Md.
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