From the Desk of the Executive Director

During the past decade there has been much discussion about the future of print and paper copies of books, journals, textbooks, and other reading materials. Many have predicted that the digital and electronic format of materials will soon overtake the print format and that bound books and journals as we know them will disappear. It is difficult to dispute this prediction since the amount of material available online is increasing rapidly.

Along with this increase in the availability of materials in electronic format, there has been a simultaneous increase in the cost of paper, printing, distribution, and mailing of print materials. The increased cost combined with the increased availability of online materials has resulted in the fact that numerous university libraries have ceased purchasing print copies of books, and especially journals, and are eliminating printed materials from their shelves. It was recently and widely reported that the new Applied Engineering and Technology Library at the University of Texas at San Antonio is completely "bookless." Its entire collection of 425,000 volumes and 18,000 journal articles is available only in online format. Obviously, these changes are also stimulating discussion about the role of university libraries.

The AATSP Executive Council, office staff, and editors of our publications have also been discussing the future of the print versions of our journals and newsletters. As you know, our newsletter Enlace exists only in online format and current and archived issues are available on our website. Current issues of The Portuguese Newsletter are distributed in print format, but past issues are available electronically and archived on the website as well.

Hispania, the official journal of the AATSP, has been undergoing a transition to digital format for some time. Beginning with the March 2009 issue, the announcements and news sections traditionally located in the back of the journal were moved to the AATSP website where they have been archived for the future. These sections include minutes, financial statements, SHH/SHA chapter information, NSE results, and calendar items. This change has resulted in more up-to-date notifications about events, programs, and activities of the AATSP and within the Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian world. The dissertation list will continue to be published in the journal and will also be available online.

Beginning with this March 2011 issue, for the first time individual AATSP members as well as institutional subscribers have had the option to select the paper or electronic version of Hispania. On the 2011 dues forms, we asked all new and returning members to select their preference for the print or the digital version. We know that many members enjoy having the paper version of our journal at their fingertips so there are no plans to eliminate the print version. However, we also know that many members would prefer the digital version.

I am also pleased to announce that now all back issues of Hispania are available digitally online. We recently modified our agreement with JSTOR so that the "moving wall" for digital access to back issues of Hispania has been reduced to one year. Scholars around the world have access to previous issues of Hispania through JSTOR and all AATSP members in good standing, including library and institutional subscribers, can access the issues of the current volume of Hispania online. Thus, we are expanding our outreach to international scholars and providing timely access of research to a wider range of researchers on a global basis.

In conclusion, I would like to state that the AATSP is striving to serve its members and the wider scholarly community well by providing digital access to all current and back issues of Hispania while maintaining the print version of the journal for those who enjoy it.