That said we are also clear that there is a real need to create a sustainable economic model for the digital library. We have also been clear that information should be available in all disciplines and at all levels. We are committed to creating information literate graduates and they require access to the resources they will use when they move into employment. A skilled workforce is crucial to the future of the country. Likewise we believe that the digital library is important in all disciplines and we must guard against allowing the STM publishing model to drive all debate.
Theologians are as important to the universities as chemists.
We have been eager to create a critical mass of content, discipline by discipline. Much digital library experimentation has been to prove concepts. There is general agreement that the real test then comes in scaling up experiments to operational services and in making those services essential scholarly tools rather than experimental toys. Finally we have felt it important to demonstrate value for money. A large evaluation programme has been commissioned.