Our campus uses JSTOR, provides campus remore access and free printing
withing the library: JSTOR is certainly a nice concept/product. We have no
stats yet on JSTOR usage vis a vis paper backfiles of the same titles usage.
However, JSTOR should come with one big caveat: PROBLEM WITH PRINTING. The
plug-ins for printing are a bit arcane especially if your users are not all
Windows 95 or NT compatible ( I won't even touch on MACS as this is a whole
other category that someone else might want to address since we tend to be
more a pc campus than a MAC campus).  Although not a technician, I know
that our systems assistant has had to go around and load the print-out plug
in pc by pc since it is not a run of the mill plug-in such as Adobe
Acrobat.  Additionally, even if you have 95 or NT, it is not something your
average run of the mill user will want to do or even know they have to do
it. Yes, JSTOR does have directions for how to load the plug-in, but it is
mind-numbing reading for us non-techie types.

I might add that our sys.asst. also notes that by loading and doing
whatever one does, it sometimes messes up other applications....
Therefore, to enable use of JSTOR one must also take care to have the
plug-in for printing capability available for all users. How you can ensure
this for your off-site faculty/users is a good question.  Set up
office/dorm visits I guess.  I won't even address users who like to work
from home....

I suppose one can say well, learn to read off the screen, but this is not a
reasonable expectation.

So...I do not mean to malign JSTOR - it is a great idea. Just wish more
thought had been given to what an impact the printing plug-in would create
for run of the mill users.

Makes one realize what a great deal of work and thought must go into any
electronic project such as this, e.g. Project MUSE and many of the programs
being initiated by commercial publishers and societies (e.g. AIP).

***************************************************************************
Helen M. Aiello, Serials Librarian
Wesleyan University
Olin Library
Middletown, CT 06459
Voice: (860) 685-3828
e-mail: HAIELLO@Wesleyan.edu
Fax: (860) 685-2661

At 10:44 AM 10/22/97 -0400, Ed Gil wrote:
>         Hi Serialists,
>
>         Is anyone using the JSTOR product and how do your users
>         like it.  Do you have on Campus remote access?  How about
>         printing (free or charge)?  Have you seen a rise in usage
>         for the back runs of these core titles?
>
>         If you can assist, thanks!
>
>         Ed Gil
>         Serials Librarian
>         Montclair State University
>         gile@saturn.montclair.edu