Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994 19:02:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ann Okerson <ann@cni.org>
Subject: ARL SPEC Kits on E-Journals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information, please contact
Annette C. Verna
Association of Resarch Libraries
Department #0692
Publications Program Assistant
Washington, DC 20073-0692
Telephone (202)296-8656
Fax (202)872-0884

New SPEC Kits Describe Access to and Management of Electronic Journals in
ARL Libraries

The ARL Office of Management Services Systems and Procedures Exchange
Center announces the publication of SPEC Kits #201 and #202, Electronic
Journals in ARL Libraries: Policies and Procedures, and Electronic
Journals in ARL Libraries: Issues and Trends.

As scholarly publishing undergoes the transition from paper to
electronic format, ARL libraries are pioneering in the areas of access
and management.  Early in 1994, a SPEC survey was sent to ARL members to
determine their policies and practices for selecting, acquiring and
providing access to electronic journals.  The results showed a
significant number of ARL libraries are either investigating or offering
local and remote access to electronic journals.  Electronic Journals in
ARL Libraries: Policies and Procedures features information on how ARL
libraries are handling acquisitions, cataloging, public access, staffing
and training, and preservation.  The policies and procedures developed
by ARL libraries can be used as models or guides for other libraries as
they make decisions regarding these operations.  SPEC Kit #202,
Electronic Journals in ARL Libraries: Issues and Trends presents several
important task force reports that identify critical issues and
strategies for determining how a library should handle electronic
journals.  Both kits include the tabulated results of the survey and a
substantial bibliography for further reading.

Electronic Journals in ARL Libraries: Policies and Procedures and
Electronic Journals in ARL Libraries: Issues and Trends were compiled by
Elizabeth Parang, Head Serials Librarian, and Laverna Saunders,
Assistant University Librarian for Technical Services, University of
Nevada-Las Vegas, as part of the OMS Collaborative Research/Writing
Program.

The Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) program was
established in 1973 to identify expertise and encourage its exchange
among library staff through an on-going survey and review process.
Originally established as an information source for ARL member
libraries, the SPEC program has grown to serve the needs of the library
community world-wide.  The ARL Office of Management Services has served
the library community for over twenty years with programs and
publications geared toward improving performance in library management.

Electronic Journals in ARL Libraries:  Policies and Procedures
Book:  $40 pbk. ($25 ARL members) 124p. ISSN 0160-3582 August 1994

Electronic Journals in ARL Libraries:  Issues and Trends
Book:  $40 pbk. ($25 ARL members) 175p.  ISSN 0160-3582 August 1994