----------------------------Original message---------------------------- On Mon, 26 Aug 96 John Shanton wrote: Yes the New Pubs. List is now on the net. The hard copy was getting out of hand cost and publication numbers wise. Try the www.usgs.gov. Hopefully with it being put on line it is closer to real time than the previous 3 to 4 months to get them published as before. John Shanton ESIC Reston * * * * * * * * * * * * * Not meaning to take unfair advantage of Mr. Shanton, who was kind enough to reply, as do other members of USGS who are on the list, but I find it hard to resist the opportunity to ask a question with regards to New Pub now being available only on the net. What about people who use New Pubs who do not have "The Net" available to them?? How are they supposed to access this information? What about the idea that it is public funds, i.e., your taxes and mine, which pay for this and now it is only available to those fortunate enough to have a computer? Sure, lots of people have access to computers, but it is very easy to forget, once you've got your computer, that not everyone has one. And I'm afraid I won't find acceptable the answer "Just go to your public library." When I visited the public library where my family lives in June, a regional reference library in northern New Jersey, they certainly didn't have access to the WWW. I'm afraid I tend to get on a soapbox about this. I certainly don't mind marching ahead into the future, but these unilateral decisions by government agencies that everyone is expected to be up to their speed when they say so...well, if Frank Capra was still making movies... Am I way off on this? What do other people think? ********************************************************************** April Carlucci [log in to unmask] The British Library Voice +44 171 412 7000x4167 Map Library +44 171 412 7703 Great Russell Street Fax +44 171 412 7780 London WC1B 3DG United Kingdom "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" **********************************************************************