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ONLINE FREE & SPONSORED MEMBERSHIPS EXPAND ACCESS TO SCB PUBLICATIONS

On 24 August 2006, SCB announced the availability of free online access to Society publications for members in developing countries. Since then, the number of developing countries that access publications online and the frequency of visits to publications has increased. For example, Conservation Biology has been accessed an average of 23 times per day with a maximum of 56 times in one day. Frequency of use has been especially high in India (53), Mexico (47), Bhutan (38), Hungary (28), Argentina (22), and Ecuador (22). The number of online visits also remains high in developed countries, especially the United States. Between late August and mid October, Biological Conservation was accessed an average of 7 times per day with a maximum of 26 times in one day. Frequency of use was greatest in Chile (83), India (40), Venezuela (22), Mexico (21), Bhutan (19), and Brazil (16). Data concerning online use of Conservation In Practice are still being collected. A formal report on the progress of Online Free access will be available by early 2007.

Online Free access is available to all active SCB members in developing countries. To become a member of SCB or to assist your colleagues in joining SCB, please visit www.conbio.org/join. The US$10 Membership Only option gives residents of developing countries automatic access to online publications. Please contact Kat Powers (kpm@conbio.org) if you are unable to submit payment online; other payment options are available. In addition, sponsored memberships are available for those in need. More information on sponsorship is provided below.

Sponsored Memberships

Thanks to a grant from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), SCB is currently offering two-year sponsored memberships to individuals in developing countries. Sponsored memberships are offered in conjunction with the new Online Free access to publications. TNC and SCB hope that the two programs will enable our colleagues in developing countries to obtain additional resources for conservation science and practice.

Since the initiation of Online Free, SCB has received more than 90 requests for sponsored membership. Many requests already have been met. During the two years of their membership, recipients will have online access to Conservation Biology, Biological Conservation, and Conservation In Practice.

Sponsored memberships primarily have been requested from Africa, Austral and Neotropical America, and Asia. Few requests have been received from Europe, although a considerable number of SCB memberships were purchased at the European Congress of Conservation Biology in August. To date, no applications for sponsored membership have been received from countries in the Australasian region.

Please make your colleagues in developing countries aware of these sponsored memberships. Requests for sponsorship are available at www.conbio.org/Resources/Contact/. Individuals who submit a request will be notified after their application has been reviewed. The Executive Office will continue working with Regional Sections, Working Groups, local chapters, and various partners over the coming months to distribute sponsored memberships equitably among developing countries. Please direct any questions about sponsored memberships to Kat Powers (kpm@conbio.org).

Membership and Subscription Structure

Beginning in late November 2007, SCB will simplify our current membership model, separating subscriptions to publications from membership per se. Four membership packages will be available.

You may add additional items, such as subscriptions to affiliate publications (e.g., Biological Conservation, Pacific Conservation Biology) or contributions to scholarship programs, to your package order.

The geographic pricing structure of subscriptions also will change. Subscription costs no longer will vary as a function of address. Instead, we will charge a flat shipping fee - 20% of the package cost - for locations outside of the United States (the United States is the point of origin for mailing). Discounts of 50% off the price of any package are available to students, members who are retired / emeritus, and residents of developing countries.

Changes to the membership and subscription structure will be reflected on renewal forms as well as new-membership forms. Please send any questions or suggestions regarding these changes to Kat Powers. We greatly appreciate your assistance and patience during this transition.

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