Action Alert

We are asking all supporters of public access in select states-including librarians, library patrons, faculty, students, researchers, research institutions, consumers, patients, and the public-to please contact their Senators.

If your senator is:

Daniel Akaka (D-HI)

Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Roland Burris (D-IL)

Thomas R. Carper (D-DE)

Tom Coburn (R-OK)

Susan M. Collins (R-ME)

Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)

John Ensign (R-NV)

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Carl Levin (D-MI)

John McCain (R-AZ)

Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Mark Pryor (D-AR)

Jon Tester, (D-MT)

George V. Voinovich (R-OH)

This much anticipated bill (previously introduced in 2006) would ensure free, timely, online access to the published results of research funded by 11 U.S. federal agencies. S. 1373 was introduced on June 25, 2009, by Senators Lieberman (I-CT) and Cornyn (R-TX) and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. According to the bill, its purpose is, “to provide for Federal agencies to develop public access policies relating to research conducted by employees of that agency or from funds administered by that agency.” The text of the bill is available online via THOMAS.

S. 1373 requires Federal agencies and departments with annual extramural research budgets of over $100 million to make available via the Internet the final articles resulting from research funded by U.S. taxpayers (the public) no later than six months after publication in peer-reviewed journal.  The manuscripts would be maintained and preserved in a digital archive, ensuring the research is available to the public.

Essentially, the bill would advance and expand the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy, which requires public access to taxpayer-funded research, to an additional 11 agencies. The ability to search and access the archive of non-classified research of these agencies and departments-from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce to the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation-would provide open online access to research. Undoubtedly, such an archive would allow librarians the ability to better assist library patrons with their information and research needs as well as allow the direct access by the public.

Without the passage of bill S. 1373, taxpayer-funded research will continue to be inaccessible (without a fee) to those already funding it-the public. Additional information about bill S. 1373 (FRPAA) is available on the ALA Web site.

Why are we asking you to contact key members of Congress now?

The ALA strongly supports S. 1373, and this summer the ALA Council adopted a resolution in support of it (reaffirming its support from 2006). The resolution has been faxed to the Senators listed above. Your messages will reinforce this support.

Additionally, scholars and faculty who write these articles, together with higher education administrators, supported the bill in 2006. They are continuing to support the reintroduced S. 1373, as demonstrated in this open letter from 57 presidents of liberal arts colleges.

Librarians can explain, from a different viewpoint, how this bill will improve the lives of members of our communities by extensively increasing access to information.