Diane Eidelman, Masako Yukawa and Estelle Herskovitz
In April, 1981, the Depository Library Council to the Public Printer, an advisory body appointed by the United States Assistant Public Printer, recommended that the Superintendent…
Abstract
In April, 1981, the Depository Library Council to the Public Printer, an advisory body appointed by the United States Assistant Public Printer, recommended that the Superintendent of Documents encourage each state to develop a statewide plan for federal documents depository coordination. With the increase in documents distribution to depository libraries and the growing problems experienced by regional depositories in handling their responsibilities, a cooperative plan was deemed necessary “to bolster the regional depositories' capabilities to serve their state missions in order to assure that federal documents are available throughout the United States on an equal and expeditious basis.” The Superintendent of Documents agreed, and in October, 1981 he officially recommended the development of state plans.
The migration to electronic information strains tight budgets for public and academic libraries. The unfunded mandate by the United States federal government to provide free…
Abstract
The migration to electronic information strains tight budgets for public and academic libraries. The unfunded mandate by the United States federal government to provide free access to electronic information requires patience, creativity and a new way of thinking about information delivery in the transition to networked information environments. The example of one federal government depository library, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and the writer’s personal experience as a government documents online researcher at Congressional Quarterly Inc., US News & World Report and as an independent contractor, provides a microcosmic example for library managers to consider to plan for the transition from print materials to electronic information for patrons.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to encourage caution when considering plans to migrate from physical materials to e‐materials.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to encourage caution when considering plans to migrate from physical materials to e‐materials.
Design/methodology/approach
The author's argument to encourage caution when considering plans to migrate from physical materials to e‐materials is based on published statistics and personal observation.
Findings
When considering current usage of e‐books in comparison to physical materials, the usage of e‐books is statistically insignificant.
Originality/value
Offers statistical evidence that e‐books will not supplant, now or in the foreseen future, the demand for physical materials.