The Institutional Implications of Electronic Information

Electronic information is changing scholarship. Effective change requires leadership. The allocation of resources and the enthusiasm with which senior faculty embrace new forms of information will shape future universities. Leaders must set ambitious but sensible expectations, recognizing that a venture such as an electronic library may take a decade or more. Electronic information is leading to open libraries to which many organizations contribute jointly. This will require changes in the traditions and training of librarians. Librarians will need support from their universities to reallocate resources. Scholarly publishing is under economic pressure. Electronic information both aggravates the problems and offers a glimmer of hope for a solution.