Dear all,
While cost was certainly one factor among many in our deliberations about Art Documentation, other issues came into play leading to the development of an online version of book reviews.  For instance, we are trying to provide more timely access to book reviews for our members, and we hope that this will be the beginning of a comprehensive electronic publication program within ARLIS/NA.  This is a first step in that direction. We believe that ARLIS/NA as a professional organization can and should be a leader in this area.  
 
As for costs, I am sure that we are far from understanding the costs of electronic publishing and archiving.  For instance, we must deal with archiving issues in all formats; this is an urgent issue.  The costs of electronic publication will likely be considerable, and we need to understand what they are and how they will impact many parts of ARLIS/NA, including our budget.  
 
I am sorry that I was not clear enough about the reasons for these changes.  As you can see, the elephant in the room has company.  
Thanks,
Ann

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ann Baird Whiteside
Head, Rotch Library of Architecture & Planning
MIT
Room 7-238
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-258-5594
[log in to unmask]
http://libraries.mit.edu/
*********************************
President, ARLIS/NA
http://www.arlisna.org/
Editor, Cataloging Cultural Objects 
http://www.vraweb.org/ccoweb/index.html
 

-----Original Message-----
From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kathy Zimon
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 4:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARLIS-L] Necessary changes to Art Doc

ARLIS/NA President Ann Whiteside's explanation to the membership at large about why we are moving the reviews to the AWS glossed over the fact that we simply cannot afford to print the 70+ page issue that would be needed to print the expanded Reviews section.  The Spring 06 issue was 76 pages, and came in well over budget, even with economies realized from lighter weight paper and consequently less expensive postage.  We may be able to afford a 60-page issue twice a year, IF we are very careful about controlling expenses.  Cost is the elephant in the room:  all the good reasons given for moving the Reviews to the AWS apply, but if we could afford to print as before, I'm sure we would have continued to do so.

Kathy Zimon
Co-Editor, Art Documentation
ARLIS/NA

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__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
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Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
        to [log in to unmask]
ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
       http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html
Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask]