[268] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: E-Journals and challenges
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Will Stuivenga)
Fri May 15 15:36:16 1992
Date: Fri, 15 May 1992 14:12:58 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Will Stuivenga <VSGA1001%SMUVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
In-Reply-To: Message of Wed,
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I'm not sure that BAR (common acronymn for above named journal) can be
described as "newly established" since it's been in existence since 1975.
>Anyway, the BAR did much to free the Dead Sea Scrolls (the list can debate if
>that was a good idea), and it is a recent journal that was as much opinion and
>letters to the editor as it was an effort at some sort of scholarship.
While BAR does allow a large amount of space for reader letters, I don't think
the percentage of total space any where near approaches 50%. I don't have
my latest copy near at hand to count pages, but the majority of the space
is devoted to informational articles aimed at a non-expert (in archaeology)
audience, not to the letters and opinion section.
>Bottom line: new, innovate E-Journals can hold the established order's feet
>to the fire. There is a crucial role to be played by easily distributed and
>freely shared scholarship, and it will further our ability to instruct
>students, which _ought_ to be one of the purposes, if not _the_ purpose,
>of these journals _anyway_.
>
BAR is NOT an E-journal, but a normal print journal, so I hardly see how it
supports this thesis. A thesis with which I am generally in agreement, but
not one particularly supported by references to BAR. BAR HAS had a significant
effect on "releasing" the Dead Sea Scrolls, and this is to its credit.
Will Stuivenga <VSGA1001@SMUVM1> or <VSGA1001@VM.CIS.SMU.EDU>
Database Reference Librarian, Fondren Library, Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275 (214) 692-3666 fax (214) 360-0609
