----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi, Mary,
In theory this is a great idea. It would help get the real "news" out when
it is news, get information to people on time, etc. The big problem is
that there are still many people without computers, let alone the access
to e-mail. Many smaller collections are still in the typewriter age. Some
may have a pc, but their institutions are not into networking. Not
everyone with a pc has a modem. As freenets spread, more people may have
access.  In the meantime, we have to keep these people in mind, and make
sure they can still get the new and information they need on paper, within
a reasonable length of time. The big job will be to identify these people,
set up procedures to take care of them, and keep the mailing list up to
date. If this can be done, and properly maintained, I would say go ahead.
Initially it may mean MUCH MORE WORK, but hopefully everyone will
eventually have access to the network one way or another. There is
probably only one way to find out, and that is to do it. Best wishes, Fran
 
Frances Woodward
University of British Columbia Library
Vancouver, Canada
tel: (604)822-2521  fax: (604) 822-9587  e-mail: [log in to unmask]
 
On Mon, 28 Mar 1994 [log in to unmask]
wrote:
 
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> As the Editor of the Information Bulletin of
> the Western Association of Map Libraries, I'd
> like to request your thoughts and opinions on
> the following.
> Over the past year or so, those of us who
> work on putting the IB together has been
> trying to figure out the best route for
> the IB for the future.  WAML's Publications
> Advisory Committee is working on a report
> on this.  The following statements and
> questions are an effort to find out how
> other persons perceive the situation.
>
> As IB Editor, I read about 5 or so map-libraries
> journals, and in the news-and-notes portions,
> I see considerable overlap (but not complete!).
> It seems to me that it would be sensible if
> the editors of the various journals sent in
> their (non-association-specific*)
> news and notes to a central electronic
> node.   Persons who are on email could
> receive news and notes the same way; persons
> who aren't could receive a laser-printout-
> photocopy.  [Initially, this should be
> done as an experiment; I'm aiming toward the
> Nov.'94 issue of the IB to try it out.] The
> email version of news and notes should be
> free of charge; it's up to the receiving
> person/library whether or not to print off/have
> bound/whatever.  The hardcopy version would
> cost whatever it takes to photocopy, staple,
> and put in mail (time of staff, plus postage).
>  - This would leave the associations free to
> put extra time and effort into journals
> that publish scholarly papers.
>  - The news would really be new.
>  - It would save the various editors some
> very precious time.  This is especially important
> at a time when many (most?) of us are having
> to get more done in less time, and anything
> not part of our primary assignment - running
> a specific spatial-data collection - is
> difficult to get to.
>
> (*keeping in mind that some of this - e.g.,
> conference programs - is of interest to
> all associations)
>
> So - what are your thoughts on this?
> Any other ideas as to how to deal with the
> situations?
> I'll look forward to hearing from you.
> Mary Larsgaard
> Map & Imagery Lab, Library
> University of California
> Santa Barbara CA 93106
> USA
> fax 805/893-8799; 'phone 4049
> [log in to unmask]