WHO PAYS FOR JOURNAL PUBLISHING - THE USERS POINT-OF-VIEW

Scientists are users of science journals in two senses-to enter their own work and to learn of others-but are rarely the direct purchaser of them. The health of research is inextricably bound up with the learne d journal. Much is contributed by scientists to their journals in invi sible ways, such as refereeing and editing. The creation of an archive of information is the primary service the journal supplies. Libraries pay for its entry into the system; research organizations and univers ity faculties must recognize that this cost has to be met. The views e xpressed here are those of a publisher as well as of a user.