Electronic Resources: Are Basic Criteria for the Selection of Materials Changing?

Abstract

Electronic resources are revolutionizing academic libraries. Many librarians believe that these resources have changed the principles of selection radically; some believe that they will virtually eliminate selection. Although it is true that the art of selection is undergoing profound change, the selection of materials is still crucial for libraries. The four basic criteria for selection-quality, library relevancy, aesthetic and technical aspects, and cost-remain the same in the electronic era of information. What they mean and how they are used has changed. But even quality and cost, the two most controversial criteria, carry great importance for the responsible selection of electronic resources. The cases of TexShare, IDEAL, Project Muse, PEAK and ScienceDirect, LEXIS-NEXIS, netLibrary are described