SPARC Wins ALPSP Award Service to Not-for-Profit Publishing Award Recognizes SPARC Alternative Publishing Programs, Advocacy Initiatives 13 Sept 2001 -- SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) was last night honored with the Service to Not-for-Profit Publishing Award from the Association for Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP). ALPSP is based in the United Kingdom and represents nearly 200 society and other not-for-profit publishers, and organizations which provide publishing services to the not-for-profit sector. SPARC and SPARC Europe, the affiliate launched in July 2001, are alliances of research institutions, libraries and organizations that encourage competition in the scholarly communications marketplace. In conferring the award on SPARC, ALPSP Secretary-General Sally Morris noted that "SPARC has, through its various initiatives, prompted us all to re-examine our traditional approaches to publishing and generated worthwhile debate and experimentation." "SPARC is honored to be recognized by ALPSP for its work with not-for-profit publishers," said Rick Johnson, SPARC Enterprise Director. "The shared values of libraries and not-for-profit publishers are a strong basis for cooperative action to create positive change in the scholarly publishing marketplace. We are happy to have played a supporting role in a number of publishing success stories, and we look forward to being involved in still more initiatives motivated first and foremost by the needs of scientists." ALPSP's Service to Not-for-Profit Publishing Award, judged by a panel of independent experts who evaluated nominations, was created to recognize the organization or individual deemed to have made the greatest contribution to the not-for-profit publishing sector. The contribution may have been made through representation of the not-for-profit cause; through pilot projects which benefit not-for-profit publishers; or through the provision of particularly beneficial services to the sector. The awards are international and open to all eligible publishers and others. --- Founded in 1972, ALPSP is the only organization which represents not-for-profit publishers of all kinds; its mission is to serve, represent and strengthen the community of not-for-profit publishers and those who work with them to disseminate academic and professional information. ALPSP aims to help to shape the way learned and professional publishing develops through pioneering research and innovative projects. ALPSP represents the interests of its members to the wider world, and provides education, training, development and information to help them thrive in the changing publishing environment. Its nearly 200 members include learned societies, professional institutions and associations, university presses and charities - large and small, from all over the world. For more information: http://www.alpsp.org.