On demand printing...

[B. J. Tindall]

...and adding to what Gail E. Kampmeier wrote:
If we rely one on-line publishing then we usually have to the right to
access the server. If a library does not order the printed version what
happens when the subscription expires? At present subscription to a journal
is usually coupled with getting the printed version, which the library can
store. However, if one only has an on-line version then one would have to
download the journal and store it on electronic media or print on demand.
While I do not oppose new technology I have already made progress on the
computer level, with all those older DOS based programs I bought being
obsolete, some of them won't run under higher DOS versions, some do not
like high speed Pentiums, and some of the add on boards strike when the
motherboard operates at too high a bus frequency - and that is all within
the last 10 years. So what will happen to all this electronic publishing
when they make a drastic change in format? The question is not whether we
can accept electronic publishing, but rather can publishing houses
guarantee the longterm survival of the electronic printed word which is
central to our work? While a well kept book may last for centuries, how
long will CD-ROMS last? When was the last time you found that your hard
disk was deteriorating?
Brian

>>But on demand printing is printing on paper.  I think the problems/issues
>>here are far more insidious than most of us realize.  I would predict that
>>those journals controlled by the big commercial publishing houses (who are
>>consolidating all the time)  will move towards a format where you or your
>>library will only print copies of individual journal articles "on demand"
>>to any journal that the library or you subscribed to. Paper copies might
>>exist, but I bet my library will save the $$ and space and choose as needed
>>versions.
>
>I recently talked with our librarian about on-line vs. printed versions of
>publications, and she indicated that libraries that view themselves as
>"repositories of knowledge", will take the printed versions of journals,
>even if they also purchase on-line versions of journals for the convenience
>of patrons.  They are certainly hoping that adding on-line versions will
>not significantly raise the price if they already take the printed version.
>Indeed, it was recently pointed out to me that most of the cost of a
>journal is getting it to that first copy stage, and not in its reproduction
>and distribution, a fact that surprised me perhaps more than it should.
>
>While this view of the printed medium by "repository" libraries may change
>as budgets get ever tighter, I thought this was an interesting concept that
>not all libraries would consider this to be their responsibility. Perhaps
>in the future, such libraries will need to be even more selective about
>what is contained in their printed repositories, and here the taxonomic
>community should make sure it is heard.
>
>Cheers!
>Gail
>=======
>Gail E. Kampmeier, Research Entomologist, Illinois Natural History Survey,
>Box 5 NSRC, MC-637, 1101 W. Peabody, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
>ph. 217-333-2824; fax 217-333-6784; email: gkamp at uiuc.edu
>http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cee/therevid/
>=======
>
>


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