Too Soon To Ditch Print.

MICHIGAN; DETROIT (Mich.); WASHINGTON (D.C.); UNITED States

WAYNE State University ; LIBRARY of Congress

Anyone concerned about the fate of the printed word might have thought that the writing was on the wall had they attended the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Conference last month in Charlotte, North Carolina. The journal, especially in the sciences, has landed firmly in the electronic database, and the rush is on to cancel print titles as electronic use soars. One confirmation came from Lynn Sutton, associate dean, Wayne State University (WSU) Libraries, Detroit, who reported on a study of journal (Science Direct) and e-book (netLibrary) use at WSU. In the brave new electronic world, it is much easier for users to influence purchase. While backing the idea of patron-driven selection (a notion commonly ascribed to in public libraries), Sutton's survey points to potentially new electronic pricing and distribution models, including unbundling collections to the article and book level.Another report on e-use on campus libraries, this one from Amy Friedlander at the Library of Congress, supports the notion that e-use is much higher among faculty and upper-division and graduate students than among those new to academe. The diversity of studies of e-use, and the models they suggest, many of which are being implemented by companies like ebrary, Knovel, and netLibrary, are encouraging. Ultimately, they will result in a real shift that provides more electronic access while preserving the mix of formats that only libraries can deliver so well.