These savings translate into dollars that could be used for the purchase of information. The most significant savings will accrue to libraries that purchase information only when it is needed. We know that many books remain on the shelf untouched for years, and it is not always possible ascertain which journals are used, let alone which articles are read. In college libraries usage is higher still, but purchasing the right information remains an inexact science. Electronic publishing allows librarians to purchase information at the time of need.
Payment is made after the user selects articles from remote databases.
The cost will be lower, with the information available from a wider pool of journals. The next step toward realizing savings from electronic publishing is more revolutionary. Here, librarians purchase articles from subscription agencies as information futures. A library purchases, for example, a block of 5,000 articles at a standard price. This arrangement allows access to any article from any publication by any publisher who has an agreement with the agency.