In the case of electronic journals, at least, the answer is YES. Some journal publishers have decided to make their older issues available for free to anyone who uses the Internet. As time passes, the body of free issues will grow, becoming a huge resource for research and education.
JEFFLINE has now started to include this type of journal on the list of electronic journals in the Cyber Café. Titles for which only back issues are available will be listed with the word ARCHIVE in parentheses. They will also include a note that explains just when issues become available, such as "available 6 months after publication."
Because publishers have the right to determine when they make their issues available for free (if at all), the length of time between print publication and free online availability varies from title to title. Most fall into the range of 6 months to a year.
Some of the free titles added for April include:
Academic Medicine (available 1 year after publication)
Journal of Cell Biology (available 6 months after publication)
Journal of Virology (available 6 months after publication)
Science (available 1 year after publication)
Stem Cells (no delay, all issues available)
We know it's not perfect. There's nothing like having the very most current issues on your desktop. But if we can't afford to buy current subscriptions, at least we'll collect the free versions in a central location that makes it easier for you to find as much as possible in one place.
And, of course, we're grateful to the enlightened publishers, like BMJ, HighWire Press and BioMed Central, who are willing to allow public access to their materials.
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