| Abstract: | This paper reports on the setting up of the Research Information Network (RIN) and its work since 2005 in relation to scholarly communications and open access. A key aim has been to help in finding ways to ensure that—as the activities, interests and expectations of all who are involved in scholarly communications change in fundamental and disruptive fashion—the UK research base is supported with effective arrangements for handling and communicating the results of research. The RIN has sought to operate in collaboration with all the key groups of stakeholders, from the research, funding, library and publisher communities. The results of studies of funders’ policies, of the available evidence relating to scholarly journal publishing in the United Kingdom, and of researcher behaviour in finding and using open access and other information resources are described. The process leading to the publication of a statement setting out key principles for the scholarly communications process that has been endorsed by the key UK representative bodies for the publishing, the library and information, and the research funding communities is analysed. |
