An online directory of 350 scientific and academic journals that are freely available on the Internet was launched this week.

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), which was developed by the Lund University Libraries in Sweden, aims to increase the visibility and accessibility of open access electronic journals.

"For the researcher, DOAJ will mean simplified access to relevant information," says Lars Björnshauge, director of Lund University Libraries. "The directory will give open access journals a simple method to register their existence, and a means to dramatically enhance their visibility."

The directory, which can be accessed at www.doaj.org, is supported by the Open Society Institute and the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition.