Gill raises an interesting issue.  For the BMA Library the decision is an easy
one since around 8% of all our enquiries relate directly to the BMJ.  In the
broader context I can think of three reasons for hanging on to paper at least
for now.

1.  Readers expect it , and we should be careful about moving too far away from
what our readers expect of us.

2.  I think the case for electronics-only is much less clear for a subject-wide
journal like the BMJ than it is for specialist journals.  As librarians we maybe
have an exaggerated view of the extent and value of browsing, serendipity and so
on in our readers' lives, but you've only got to watch doctors flicking through
their BMJs to see their preferred style of use, and to know that the current
state of computing falls a long way short of providing properly for this style
of use.

3.  and to me the most important is the assurance of access and control over
archiving that currently only comes with print on paper.  As far as electronic
journals are concerned we are very much like kids newly set loose in the play
centre.  We have no clear idea of how electronic publications will be archived
long-term, ditto how we will manage to translate then from format to format to
match developing technologies - and even if we did know how to do it we don't
know how it will be paid for.

So - contrary to a lot of things I was saying 5 years ago (and also, more to the
point, building into planning assumptions for this library) we will be hanging
on to our paper journals at least until (3) is solved, and will probably keep
the non-specialist ones  for a bit after that.

Tony McSean
BMA Library






"Wareing, Gill" <[log in to unmask]> on 12/09/2000 16:49:02

Please respond to "Wareing, Gill" <[log in to unmask]>

To:   "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
cc:    (bcc: Tony McSean/Secretariat/BMA)

Subject:  Electronic BMJ



Hello everyone

Has anyone taken the step of cancelling their print subscription to BMJ
respect of the fact that it is available free and in full text on the BMJ
website?

I cannot decide what to do for the best. My reasons for cancelling it are I
could use the spare money to subscribe to another journal and enrich our
resources. Reasons against: none really.

If anyone else has had a think about it I would be very grateful in hearing
your thoughts.

Kind regards

Gill

Gill Wareing
Information Officer
SHS International Ltd
100 Wavertree Boulevard
Liverpool
L7 9PT
United Kingdom

tel: +44 (0)151 228 8161
fax: +44(0)151 228 2650
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
web: http://www.shsweb.co.uk




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