----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Here is why I cannot recommend USENET for our library when we start
distributing e-journals.  It REQUIRES the cooperation of computer
centers on campus.  I understand that it takes a lot of overhead
and disk space.  Our computer center would never agree to it.  It
is clumsy and hard to use.  The comands on the news readers I have
tried have nothing in common with other programs that I use on a
daily basis.  The commands are entirely different from mail
commands.  It is practically impossible to make head or tails of
the newsgroup names.

I personnally prefer BITNET listservers because it uses the e-mail
for distribution.  This does not require the cooperation of
computer centers.  I can subscribe directly to e-journals and then
send them to interested library patrons through e-mail, paper, or
on floppy disks.  I could, therefore, better justify the time and or
money spent on e-journals.

If a better interface and structure is developed for USENET I would
not be opposed to its use as an additional alternative to
listservers.

Wilfred Drew (call me "BILL")
Serials/Reference/Computers Librarian
SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology
P.O. Box 902,  Morrisville, NY 13408-0902
Bitnet:  drewwe@snymorva    SUNYNET(DECnet): smorva::drewwe
Voice:   315-684-6055       Fax:  315-684-6115
"On a clear disk you can seek forever."  from PKware BBS.