Serials happenings: from dust to digitals

Abstract

The prices of commercial journal publishers have gone up dramatically in the past years forcing libraries to discontinue subscriptions for a growing number of journals. A solution of the problem seems to be the transition to electronic publications but, for several reasons, primarily for the deficiencies in archiving, the libraries cannot give up completely subscriptions for printed journal. The publishers, naturally, refrain from the support of technology change. The HighWire Internet publishing service bureau of Stanford University Library has proved with the electronic edition of high-quality journals that, using advanced information technology, universities and academic associations can face the challenge of the dissemination of scientific information.