ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries April 1991 / 229 Coalition for Networked Inform ation maps directions By Thomas J . Michalak and Thomas K irk Library D irector College Librarian Camegie-M ellon University Libraries B erea College Scholarly publishing system examined. T he Coalition for Networked Information is evolving into the primary forum for discussing development of a national computer network and capabilities for publishing and sharing information electronically. Although the Gore bill for the National Research and Education Network (NREN) died in the last Congress, the legislation will be reintroduced in the present Congress. The Coalition for Networked Information— a joint project of CAUSE, EDUCOM, and ARL— brings together librarians and computer professionals to address issues and technologies relevant to the proposed network that would link scholars to infor­ mation resources anywhere in the country. Seven working groups have been organized to achieve the Coalition’s objectives. Their assign­ ments are: • Noncommercial publishing (Peter Lyman and Jerome Yavarkovsky): Explore possibilities of noncommercial publishing of information within universities. • Commercial publishing (Karen Hunter and William Arms): Explore cooperation in commer­ cial publishing between Coalition members and publishers. • Architecture and standards (Clifford Lynch and Ron Larsen): Develop standards and protocols for information exchange and delivery in an elec­ tronic environment. • Legislation, codes, policies and practices (Susan Martin and Susan Brynteson): Encourage and track legislation, codes, policies, and practices affecting electronic information, communications, and networking. • Directories and resource information serv­ ices (George H. Brett II, Peggy Seiden, and Robert Heterick): Facilitate networking and information exchange by developing resource directories of services available on networks. • Teaching and learning (Philip Tompkins and Carol Barone): Encourage and facilitate the use of computer networks for teaching and learning at all levels. • Management and professional and user edu­ cation (Sheila Creth, Thomas West, and Nancy Cline): Encourage and establish training for pro­ fessionals in information technology and services as well as users of electronic information and net­ works. When the Coalition Task Force met in Washing­ ton, D.C. last fall, Karen Hunter, vice-president and assistant to the chairman of Elsevier Science Publishers (and formerly acquisitions librarian at Cornell University), invited participants to exam­ ine their assumptions about scholarly publishing. Hunter questioned the distinction between “com­ mercial” and “noncommercial” publishing. The intention to generate revenue in excess of cost is the critical distinction, she said: “It is commercial publishing if there is a desire or intent to make a profit.” Hunter expressed her conviction that universi­ ties and publishers need each other and should cooperate with each other. She said that publishers 230 / C&RL News need to be assured o f access to networks and that the economic issues involved have to be viewed globally. For some time to come, she added, pub­ lishers will be required to maintain two modes of information delivery. If there is no standard and publishers have to custom produce electronic in­ formation for many systems, she warned, costs will escalate, and the system will break down. She also posited a danger that if the scholarly publishing system, which is largely author driven, becomes library driven because of rising costs, the needs of scholars may not be adequately addressed. M. Stuart Lynn, vice-president for information technologies at Cornell University, responded with some ideas on the ownership of scholarly in­ formation in academia and some models for pricing journal information in an academic environment. Higher education, Lynn argued, is losing its intel­ lectual assets because control is relinquished to publishers when authors submit their results to journals. This idea had been raised at the June meeting o f the Coalition by Ann Okerson of the Association o f Research Libraries. Lynn suggested that the higher education community take charge of its intellectual property and work with publishers ACRL College Libraries Section seeks survey compilers/authors ACRL’s College Libraries Section is seeking writers for its College Library Information Packet (CLIP) Note series. The series is designed to provide college and small university libraries with state-of-the-art reviews and current documentation of library policies, practices, and procedures. Compilers develop and distribute surveys on topics of current interest to academic librarians. Survey compilers are being sought for the following topics: staff development, disaster plans, interlibrary loan, and alternative funding sources. Performance appraisal, collection develop­ ment, audiovisual policies, managing student workers, and periodicals are among the topics covered in previous CLIP Notes. Persons interested in developing surveys on the listed or other topics should submit a one- or two-page description of the idea to: Jonathan Lauer, Chairman, C L IP Notes Committee, Murray LRC, Messiah College, Grantham, PA 17027, or Mary Ellen Davis, Director o f Com­ munications, ACRL, 50 E. Huron Street, Chi­ cago, IL 60611. to deñne appropriate economic models for distri­ bution of scholarly information. One model, for example, would allow publishers to recover their fixed costs (editing, layout, design, distribution) by licensing information to franchisers, such as librar­ ies, which would incur the variable costs of index­ ing, storage, and local distribution. Lynn suggested that printing on demand on campus systems would facilitate diffusion of the new technology because people would be comfort­ able with a form of electronic publication which resulted in a printed product, even though they are not comfortable with the concept of electronic journals. The con feren ce’s keynote speaker, Stephen C. Hall, director of the Office o f Informa­ tion Technology at Harvard University, had de­ scribed the CUPID project (Consortium for Uni­ versity Printing and Information Distribution serv­ ing the Community of University Publishers and Information Distributors) in which several univer­ sities are collaborating with Xerox Corporation to develop a network architecture for on-demand printing applications in university environments. Among the other salient points discussed at the conference were the need for standards, standards, standards and a bill o f rights for electronic informa­ tion and citizen use. The Coalition needs more representation from colleges and public institutions. Probably member­ ship will become more affordable, in view of the strong response to the Coalition: there are more than 117 members now. Libraries that want to influence the future o f networks and electronic information should seriously consider becoming members. Ed. note: M ichalak an d Kirk a re A C R L ’s official representatives to the Coalition f o r N etw orked In­ form ation . ■ ■ New undergraduate profile A new publication from the National Center for Education Statistics, Profile o f Undergradu­ ates in Am erican Postsecondary Institutions, can help colleges and universities understand the needs of their students. It reports that in 1986 more women than men were enrolled— 55% versus 45%. Almost one-fourth of the stu­ dent body was 30 years of age or older. Only 62% were enrolled full-time. Half of the stu­ dents came from families with annual incomes o f under $30,000. Only 20% of the students lived on campus; 50% lived on their own, and 30% lived with their parents. The report is available from SUDOCS (#065-000-00422-4) for $10.