H-Net and the Budapest Open Access Initiative
by Robert Cherny, President-Elect of H-Net

H-Net was one of the first to join the organizational signatories of the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI), http://www.soros.org/openaccess, which went public on February 14, 2002. The BOAI states that "The literature that should be freely accessible online is that which scholars give to the world without expectation of payment." Two complementary strategies are recommended: scholars should deposit their refereed journal articles in open electronic archives, and launch electronic journals committed to open access. H-Net is among the organizations seeking to implement these goals by providing scholars with the needed technical infrastructure. For the latest information on H-Net's plans, contact Jim Niessen, Vice President for Research & Publications, at vp-publications@MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU.

About the Author
Robert Cherny, President-Elect of H-Net, is at San Francisco State University and is also List Editor for H-California, Advisory Board Member for H-Labor, List Editor for H-SHGAPE, Advisory Board Member for H-West.