Yes, there are wide ranging changes taking place in the scholarly publication cycle, from authoring to publishing to marketing, purchasing, and accessing information. Difficult choices will have to be made in consultation with users and vigorous planning is currently underway at the UNM General Library. We believe that we are participating in the shift from the paradigm of a research library based only on printed information to the paradigm of a library also encompassing electronic information never to be published in print. This shift is already apparent in the many electronic services we provide at or through the libraries.
Electronic products cost the same or more as their print versions and are expensive to implement.
Computer and networking hardware and software are expensive and quickly become obsolete. Electronic licensing is complex and often restrictive, e.g. only a limited number of simultaneous users may be allowed. We are proud of these innovative additions to library services, but realize that they might make the budget appear less comparable to those of other libraries. Because library orders are not automatically received and completed in the same financial year, funds are often committed to unreceived orders at the end of each fiscal year. Departments throughout the university use these accounting practices.