1 Helping Level the Playing Field: The Impact of Digital Technologies on Large and Small Publishers ASEE 2001 Conference & Exhibition “E-Journals—Impacts & Possibilities” Monday, June 25 Albuquerque, New Mexico

2 What’s Leveling the Playing Field? In the long run, technology is driving -Diversification -Decentralization -Democratization -Decline of monoculture, gigantism, and information control

3 What’s Not Leveling the Field? At least in the short term, publishing both print & online means higher costs We can’t offer the “Big Deal” Just as librarians find it difficult to work with a large number of publishers to establish electronic access (especially those outside consortia), small publishers find it very difficult as well -Learning curve -Lack of field sales staff -Lean staffs and resources

4 AIChE’s Early Steps AIChE Journal on ScienceDirect ( pressure from volunteers, no AIP or IEEE options at the time, nonexclusive; contract ends this year) Developed a dynamic web site and a strong user community -For March, 2002, an average of more than 3,400 user sessions a day -These sessions lasted an average of more than 19 minutes Digitized all periodicals

5 AIChE’s Next Steps Offer an online version of our print “package plan” Through our E-Advisory Committee, work on archiving, priorities for digitizing the back file, etc. (We need LIBRARIAN representation!) Decide between the IEEE Xplore model (the kitchen sink) and the ACS ChemCenter model (peer- reviewed journals and edited magazines) Integrate features (news, discussion forums, software demos) of an inherited commercial site Consider the best way of structuring digital journals

6 How Will Tomorrow’s E-Journal Look? What Do Members Want? As soon as publishable (members rate last) Hot links to citations (moderate to low interest) Searchable archives (members rate first) Enhanced graphics—zoomable figures, animations, and video (moderate to low interest)graphics Working equations (very high interest) Layers—short “traditional” abstract, extended abstract clickable to more detailed information (similar to the traditional journal paper), details & other supplementary material (high interest)Layers

7 What We Plan to Offer Information gateway Aggregator of our own material (by topic) Sophisticated search Self-service, 24/7 Implications - Shifts in staffing - Need new database and fulfillment operations

8 Changing Relationships We need to better understand and act on the new relationship between librarians and journal publishers created by digitization… -licensing and access control -consortia -archiving (publisher, library, third party) - pricing implications from infrastructure costs Is there a trend toward greater cooperation and partnerships among association publishers? Between librarians and publishers?

9 AIChE & SPARC An ASEE ELD session in 1998 was the “spark” that crystallized thinking about commercial journal pricing Mel DeSart & Kate Thomes led an ELD Work Group, that gathered data which convinced AIChE we should consider working with SPARC on journal development We’ve had the lesson of ACS/SPARC experience with Organic Letters

10 AIChE & SPARC Productive discussions and planning that could result in the launch a rapid communications journal in chemical engineering by January build on strength of the AIChE Journal… - provide an affordable alternative…...While better serving our members and the library community

11 In Conclusion E-journals are leveling the playing field long-term, while redefining that playing field Pricing models, archiving models, licensing practices, and access issues will continue to evolve—there are no silver bullets and no pat answers We must share information—you can help us learn from our mistakes

12 In Conclusion “In heaven, there are many mansions and in hell there are many houses— all of them publishing.” - A. L. Kennedy