Currently, the world’s research knowledge base is incomplete. Research carried out in the developing world is little known and under-used.

A joint initiative between the Centre for Environmental Research Information in Brazil and the University of Toronto Scarborough, Bioline International has as its main goal the global exchange of essential research information published in developing countries, thereby improving the South to North and South to South flow of research knowledge. To this end, it is launching a major drive towards sustainability by inviting international Membership and Sponsorship by organizations and individuals supporting its aims.

Bioline currently provides access to 70 journals from 15 countries published in the developing world. Subject areas focus on issues of global importance, including medical research, emerging infectious diseases, global public health, climate change, food security and biodiversity. In 2007, a further 70 new journals applied to join Bioline International in order to take advantage of open access to their publications. These publishers have taken note of the greatly increased usage of existing journals on the system – 3.5 million full text downloads were recorded in 2007.

In order to meet this high demand for Bioline’s services, Bioline must now establish a long-term, sustainable funding model which includes support from the worldwide community. “ Too often we think of scientific knowledge and the developing countries in terms of what ‘we’ can do for ‘them’, ” says Lynn Copeland, Dean of Library Services and University Librarian, Simon Fraser University Library, Canada. “We need to nurture the organizations and initiatives that challenge this limiting point of view, enriching the international scholarly community with important research and neglected perspectives from the developing world.”

By participating in the new Bioline Membership and Sponsorship program, libraries and research organizations can express their support for the publication of open access journals, ensure continued access to valuable and unique content, and help bring new titles to the Bioline International website. As no charges are made to publishers, all fees and donations are used directly to support the website and document enhancement costs.

Institutional membership fees are set at the modest level of $500/year to enable widespread support. Foundation and special sponsorship fees may be negotiated on an individual basis.

For more information about the Membership and Sponsorship drive, to learn more about Bioline, or to see which organizations have already committed to support Bioline, please visit the Bioline International website:
http://www.bioline.org.br/.

Contact: Leslie Chan, Director, Bioline International
chan@utsc.utoronto.ca