-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Electronic back issues? -- Karen Warren
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 22:45:15 -0500
From: David Goodman <dgoodman@phoenix.princeton.edu>

Science, PNAS, and many similar publications are  available back to
v.1 from JStor. Nature is not yet so available. This is the way to go,
not
because of the instability of CDs, but the superiority of direct online
access. I think it overwhelmingly likely that all major scientific
journals will be so available within the next 3 to 5 years, along with
major newspapers and similar material. Smaller journals, especially in
the
humanities, will probably take many years longer to be fully available.

Professionally produced CDs have a half life of much greater than 5 yrs.
It is debatable whether they have a lifetime as great as
archival microfilm properly handled. The lifetime of microfilm subject
to heavy use as handled by patrons in a typical library is not very
great.

David Goodman, Princeton University Biology Library
dgoodman@princeton.edu            609-258-3235

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: Electronic back issues? (Anne Frohlich)
> Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 13:34:06 +1300
> From: Karen Warren <Karen.Warren@vuw.ac.nz>
>
>
> Dear Anne,
>
> I wonder if it is too late to respond to this.
>
> I read in a reputable magazine not too long ago a report that suggested
> CD's
> may only last 5-10 years instead of the indefinite lifespan they were
> originally attributed.
> (it may have been Science, New Scientist, or Scientific American. I'm
> sorry
> I can't pinpoint the article for you better)
> While the CD's would defintely be of use for issuing/use where fragile
> print
> volumes are concerned, I don't know about the long term benefits of
> turfing
> the relative print runs (Storage can be costly though I know). And then
> you'd have to ensure that there are enough systems available to access
> the
> CD's if more than one patron wants to use the same CD.
>
> Of course these are just my personal opinions.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Karen Warren
> Serials Assistant
> Victoria University of Wellington Library
>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 11:35:45 -0600
> From: Anne Frohlich <frohlich@MAIL.MCNEESE.EDU>
> Subject: Electronic back issues?
>
> My director suggested to me that we look into acquiring CD's for back
> issues of journals like Newsweek, Time, Science, etc.  We have volumes
> back
> into the 1920's.  We have replaced some volumes with microfilm, but
> patrons
> prefer electronic access.
>
> I am concerned that CD's are a dying technology and digital inforomation
> may not last.
>
> But I would also like to know if there is a source for such journals in
> electronic form.
>
> Anne Frohlich, Serials Librarian
> McNeese State University Library
> Box 91445
> Lake Charles, LA 70609
> Phone: 337-475-5741
> 1-800-622-3352 x5741
> Fax:     337-475-5719
> http://www.mcneese.edu/library/
>