The Roquade project: an infrastructure for new models of academic publishing.

Abstract

Due to a number of problems the traditional scientific journal has become an obstacle for efficient scientific communication. Many initiatives have been started for realising alternative ways of scientific publishing thereby using information technology. In various disciplines, however, a relatively large number of scientists are still reluctant to make use of completely new ways of publishing. The extraordinary aspect of the Roquade project is marked by the fact that it offers a variety of possibilities. Together they constitute an expeditious way for gradually changing the publication behaviour of scientists. This project, initiated by the university libraries of the Dutch universities of Delft and Utrecht, aims at creating an infrastructure that encompasses the swiftness of publication which hitherto could only be realised by grey publishing, with quality judgement without the serious delay of the traditional review procedures. Roquade offers a wide number of facilities to a broad audience, based on a common organisational and technical infrastructure. So far already 18 journals and other types of scientific work have been published within the Roquade infrastructure, whereas the project continues until 2002,

In the paper, both project philosophy and organisation are described, as well as the preliminary results, experiences and best practices, technical XML based choices, web marketing and of course the needs and demands of authors and readers. The advantages of co-operation and the role of the university library in facilitating scientific communication are dealt with too. An outline of the Roquade business model after the project stage will also be presented.