Switching to electronic (SUMMARY) Heinrich C. Kuhn 27 Jul 1995 14:39 UTC
Dear Listmembers, on Friday 14th I reported on this list about inten- tions of one of our libraries to stop subscriptions to some bibliographic and other serials and offer instead access to databases and EDD to its patrons. Here is the summary of the answers (lots of thanks to Linwood Delong, Ann Ercelawn, Conny Foster, Irene Jarrett, Jane Wang, Otto Weipert!!!) I received to this request and a similar one on LIB-L (in some cases I add some comments of my own bet- ween double parentheses): A) The library on behalf of which I sent the request is not alone: There are several other libraries, who think about "switching to electronic" as well. B) There are several libraries, that already made that switch. None of them did experience adverse reactions from their patrons. Switching to elec- tronic has helped these libraries to reduce costs. C) There are worries about "dependence on vendors for 'access'" and about copyright-charges for EDD rising in future. ((I think it might be indeed unwise to cancel subscriptions to serials one is the only known library to have. Concerning copy- right charges I think we are living in a phase of transition: They will probably rise indeed, but then completely vanish, as ejournals financed the "Stevan-Harnad-way" will take over.)) D) A member of an organisation offering biblio- graphical information both on paper and via online-hosts argued in favour of keeping the printed version in order to permit browsing, and to avoid incalculable cost for online searches, in order not to have to train many patrons for those searches etc.. She advised us, to use a future CD-ROM-version of her product instead of online access. ((I know very few patrons wishing to browse in bibliographical serials of the size of the one in question. With the rest of the problems I think we can cope, as we offer "guided" researches by specialists for online- searches. I'm still waiting for further infor- mation on the CD-ROM-product in question.)) Thanks again to all who responded! If additional answers should arrive, I'd try to summarise again. Thanks for the help! Heinrich C. Kuhn ************************************************************* * Dr. Heinrich C. Kuhn Max-Planck-Gesellschaft /GV IIb3 * Postfach 101062 (P.B.) Koeniginstr. 19 (street) * D-80084 Muenchen (P.B.) D-80539 Muenchen (street addr.) * * eMail: * hck@ipp-garching.mpg.de or * kuhn@mpg-gv.mpg.de * * voice: +49-89-2108 1563 Fax: +49-89-2108 1565