The British Medical Journal Group has signed a three year nationwide licensing agreement with the Bavarian State Library on behalf of the German research foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG,) to provide BMJ Journals’ content to universities and other publicly financed research institutions across Germany.
The deal will mean that 124 universities, medical schools, research institutes and academic libraries throughout Germany, will be able to access the online archive of the BMJ, which has been available in Germany since January this year.
The BMJ Group publishes the British Medical Journal and over 20 specialist journals, including BMJ Clinical Evidence and BMJ Best Treatments.
Dr Johannes Fournier, programme director of the scientific library services and information systems division of DFG, said: “We are very pleased with the constructive manner in which the library and publishing communities worked together and helped us provide a valuable resource for all German medical and life scientists.”
Stella Dutton, CEO of the BMJ Group said: “These contracts emphasise the increasing international presence of the BMJ Group. Currently, over half of our products and services are used by doctors and patients overseas”.
The BMJ has also reached a deal with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP), which has purchased a customised online version of BMJ Learning.
Under the initiative over 3000 New Zealand GPs are provided with access to online learning resources based on peer reviewed evidence.
The site will provide a wide range of learning resources that deal with everyday issues in primary care, general practice and hospital medicine, including interactive case histories to test consultation skills and up to date clinical information on common conditions.
BMJ Learning currently offers over 400 evidence-based learning modules with another 200 to be added in 2008. The site will be customised with the College adding New Zealand specific assessment and curriculum modules.
Dr Jonathan Fox, president of the college, said: “Every GP is committed to lifelong learning, but the pace of life is now so intense that the chance to access such quality medical education from your desk, or from home, is compelling.”
Link