Report of the ACRL Task Force on Electronic   Publishing: Introduction

  	
  	
  	
  


	Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship  	Fall 1996  


	DOI:10.5062/F48050MJ


    

Report of the ACRL Task Force on Electronic Publishing:   Introduction
      Norma Kobzina
  Bioscience and Natural Resources Library
  University of California, Berkeley    
      In the Fall 1995, the ACRL Publications Committee established a task  force to look at the status of electronic publications within ACRL. The  charge to the ACRL Task Force on Electronic Publishing read as follows:  To investigate current electronic publishing activity in ACRL; to  identify for the Publications Committee the pertinent issues of policy  and practice in this area; and make whatever recommendations the Task  Force deems fitting.    The Task Force was chaired by Ann Schaffner of Brandeis University; Hugh  Thompson from ACRL and Norma Kobzina from U.C. Berkeley assisted in the  preparation of the report. After several drafts, which were looked at by  the Publications Committee and the various ACRL Editorial Boards as well  as Section and Committee Chairs, the final report was approved at the  Annual Meeting in July 1996.

    Since STS is actively involved in electronic publishing (and ISTL is our  first electronic effort), it seemed appropriate to publish the report in  its entirety. The following is a brief summary of the major issues and  recommendations:

    

ISSUES:
    	
Quality and imprint: Definition of ACRL imprint,   maintaining quality, new problems inherent in electronic publishing, new  organizational structures and roles.    


	
Copyright: Modification of current copyright policies;   authors posting works on pre-print servers of Web sites.    


	
Production/Management/Financial: Will electronic  publishing change our financial base; what new costs will be created; how  do we maintain an archival record; what sorts of materials are appropriate  for electronic publishing?     




CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
    General Recommendations:    

	The goal of ACRL publications is unchanged--it must support ACRL's   services to its members and the academic community.  
	Electronic publication should be encouraged, and existing print   publications should be converted to electronic format on a phased-in   basis.  
	Development of new electronic-only publications should be explored.  


    Quality/Imprint:

  

	Formal peer-review is still essential.  
	Editorial boards and the Publications Committee will retain oversight.  
	ACRL should provide support services such as training, a location for   these publications, and standards and procedures.  


    Copyright:

    

	ACRL should work with ALA to develop new copyright policies.  


    Production/Management/Financial:

  

	Conversion of print publications must be preceded by a finanacial   analysis.  
	ACRL should provide a stable, secure archive of all electronic   publications.    


  
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