Management information on electronic journal usage provided by the system will encourage the development of information services truly targeted at the specific needs of information users and maximum efficiency in the use of financial resources. Developments over the next few months will be crucial in determining the extent to which these benefits appear. The latter's technical expertise and the former's long experience as an intermediary between publishers and information professionals has helped to achieve a great deal in a comparatively short space of time. The Managing Agent will be actively encouraging them to participate in the scheme and to offer value for money packages for their electronic journals. Publishers are still considering their options.
Further progress seems likely.