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The library discussion group, LIBRef-L, discussed this topic recently. See one of the messages at their archives at: http://listserv.kent.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0604C&L=LIBREF-L&P=R193&I=-3&X= 4E55E316624269AF04&Y=rhadden%40gmu.edu Virtual media have their place, but so do traditional media. After all, SOAPBOX=ON a virtual only library is a "pervirted library" and their librarian proponents are all pervirts. ;-) SOAPBOX=OFF Actually, I'm more interested in reading reports of why "virtual only" libraries have failed, and why they most often end up buying books and paper journals as well as electronic media. Alas! Most negative data are not maintained, in either paper or electrons. This topic often comes up since 1995, and I'm curious why. Eventually the virtual library will have to change format (does anyone really believe .pdf and .html will be the major formats twenty years from now?). At that point, all those millions of pages will have to be reformatted again if they want to remain in use. Talk about copyright and budget complications at that point will be interesting. At another research library, I remember with regret a large cabinet filled with 5.25 diskettes that were unusable. Although after much work, a 5.25" diskette reader could be found, much of the data depended upon older software that was no longer available for use, such as WordStar and DBase I. Photocopying the front of the diskette would be about as much use as sending it out on interlibrary loan. The brand new Monterrey College in California was ballyhooed a few years ago, as the president demanded a new library built from scratch that wouldn't have any books at all, because all the students would get all their information online. Didn't last long in the real world, since the annual costs for access to off-site media were phenomenal, and the limitations on what was available virtually were overwhelming. Which brings up an interesting point- much of the business principles of librarianship are cost effective work, since it is cheaper to have one spot on campus where all the books are gather and kept for years, rather than have all the professors and their students purchase what they need individually, and which volumes leave the campus when they do. Unless the library has control over the electronic version on their own site with permission to reformat or copy to new servers as needed, they are at the mercy of the owners increasing costs or denying access or not maintaining the resource at all. At least when it's physically present, there on the library shelf, it is most often a one-time deal, not an annual license (Yeah, yeah, I know, you have a few exceptions and want to argue those exceptions. Get real. You know what I mean.) The computer has turned this message of library cost effectiveness on its head by insisting that the library be based on access, most recently so the library handles the bookkeeping of the electronic media that goes directly to the student's desktop, where ever that is. I would have more respect for this new vision, if the people who are having visions would also cough up the money to pay for their visionary hallucinations. Are they committed to pay over and over again for access to books and journal subscriptions online? The solutions for a virtual only library are all so easy. And cheap. After all, nothing at all is impossible along as someone else pays the bills, does all the work, and maintains all the equipment. Just ask any adolescent. Lee R. Lee Hadden Geospatial Information Library (GIL) Topographic Engineering Center ATTN: CEERD-TO-I (Hadden) 7701 Telegraph Road Alexandria, VA 22315-3864 (703) 428-9206 [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: FEDLIB: Federal Librarians Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Freda McDonald Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 2:17 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Print v. Digital Can I get copy too? Freda McDonald Financial Manager US Sentencing Commission 202-502-4517 (voice) 202-502-4699 (fax) >>> [log in to unmask] 5/11/2006 1:42 PM >>> If anyone has done a study of converting all or part of the library's collection from print to digital, or has actually done so independent of a study, please let me know. Thanks. Daniel May Supervisory Librarian Commodity Futures Trading Commission 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20581 (202) 418-5254