IP: Computer Society Digital Library

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

From: melliott () computer org
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 97 14:26:54 est
To: farber () cis upenn edu




  Dave  --  Here's an announcement which may be of interest to many IP.  
  
  The IEEE Computer Society's Digital Library of seventeen (of our 
  nineteen) magazines and transactions is going to be available on the web 
  effective 1 August.  It will initially be freely accessible to anyone.   
  As each periodical issue is completed, the tables of contents, article 
  abstracts, and PDF versions of the individual articles will be posted on 
  the web -- ahead of the mailing of the paper edition.  A little later 
  (we're still trying to compress the time delay) the issue's complete 
  content will be posted in full text searchable HTML form, with math 
  rendered as GIF images, all graphical images as separately manipulable 
  objects, etc.   
  
  The Computer Society Digital Library is distinguished from others 
  currently available as being based on an SGML database that is rendered 
  "on the fly" for display in HTML form.  Subscribers may view the archive 
  for periodicals to which they subscribe with a standard browser without 
  the need of any helper app or plug-in.  We believe this will set a new 
  standard for electronic publishing in our discipline.  
  
  Initially the library archive will include content from 1995 through the 
  current issues.  More issues from the retrospective collection may be 
  added depending on demand (and economics).  
  
  As with any new endeavor, we will likely hit some snags along the way.  
  We plan to use this open access period to iron them out.   All who visit 
  are invited to give us feedback and suggestions, especially on the user 
  interface and any problems they perceive.  Later this year access will be 
  limited to society members, and beginning next year access to individual 
  titles will be controlled on a subscription basis.   Computer Society 
  members will be able to choose traditional paper subscriptions, 
  electronic only subscriptions at reduced prices, or a combination of the 
  paper and electronic subscriptions at an attractive, bundled rate.   (An 
  electronic subscription in this context means access to the electronic 
  archive for the calendar year.)   Details and access to the library will 
  be available on 1 August at the Computer Society's web site, 
  <http://computer.org> .
  
  Thanks,  Michael