The Public Library of Science (PloS), a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians dedicated to open access journal publishing, is ready to debut its first journal. This new initiative uses a publishing model in which journal articles are freely available to read and use through the Internet. The driving force behind this new business model are the high cost of journal subscriptions and access issues. PloS recovers its costs for publication not from the usual method of subscription fees, which limit information access and use, but through fees paid by the authors, many times paid as part of a grant. PloS is just one of many open access initiatives using alternative publishing methods.

PloS Biology, debuting Monday, October 13, 2003, is a monthly peer-reviewed journal featuring research of exceptional quality. The first issue covers such wide topics as the conservation of elephants in Borneo to the transcriptome of the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. PloS Biology is truly a groundbreaking journal that is getting worldwide media press. Use the URL below to access this exciting and groundbreaking journal. Click here to visit the journal homepage: http://www.plos.org

For more information:
Melanie Cedrone, Biology/BGS Liaison Librarian