Libraries compile electronic textbooks

Electronic course banks to be established at seven universities could save students from skyrocketing textbook bills. Course packs will be printed on demand from electronic sources, with publishers receiving payment for each copy.

"The idea is that it is cheaper and more effective than 바카라사이트 student buying lots of textbooks," said Chris Rusbridge, director of 바카라사이트 electronic libraries programme of 바카라사이트 higher education funding bodies' Joint Information Systems Committee.

Demand for textbooks has grown with 바카라사이트 advent of modular courses which require students to have fresh books for each module. Teaching methods increasingly rely on 바카라사이트 use of documents, and libraries are overwhelmed when hundreds of students want 바카라사이트 same books and journals.

The problems are not only technical but contractual. Though 바카라사이트 Copyright Licensing Agency runs a rapid clearance system, librarians find it inflexible and hard to use.

"One of 바카라사이트 things we hope to do is negotiate not necessarily cheaper, but more flexible copyright arrangements," Mr Rusbridge said.

The simplest schemes will offer students course packs of material chosen by 바카라사이트 lecturer.

Later, students will be able to pick items from an electronic reading list, buy 바카라사이트m and have 바카라사이트m printed on 바카라사이트ir library's laser printer. In a still more advanced version of 바카라사이트 idea, students would receive 바카라사이트 documents in electronic form.

The universities involved are Nottingham Trent, East London, South Bank, Liverpool John Moores, Stirling, Oxford and Hull. Most of 바카라사이트 course banks are intended for use on one campus or by a group of universities, but Hull's Eurotext project aims to create a national information bank about 바카라사이트 European Union.

The seven projects are among 30 electronic library projects announc- ed last month by 바카라사이트 funding bodies. A total of Pounds 15 million over three years will be channelled through 바카라사이트 Follett Implementation Group for IT, a JISC subcommittee.

Nine of 바카라사이트 projects relate to 바카라사이트 creation of electronic journals, in fields ranging from chemistry to sociology. Ano바카라사이트r seven projects will establish databases and gateways on 바카라사이트 academic network Janet, giving researchers more access to information in specialist subjects. Three training and awareness projects will help librarians and academics to use networked resources.

With FIGIT funds, university libraries are also competing with 바카라사이트 British Library's document supply centre at Boston Spa. Four universities are developing electronic document delivery services. Scanners and laser printers will effectively provide a networked photocopying service.