'official' versions of university documents

[Karen G. Schneider]

>Gary had a good point about an "official university catalogs."  If you are
>on a web committee, remind your guys that most universities have a rule
>that a student's graduation requirements are based on those stated in the
>official catalog when the student *started* a program.  I'd say that offical
>paper copies with dates on them are ABSOLUTELY essential.
 ^^^^^
 ^^^^^
>
>Ilene Frank, Reference Dept.

Ilene, though I think your reiteration of the value of preserving older
catalogs is well-taken, and others' comments about the problems of old
links, etc. are valid, but why is paper the canonical, "official" medium?
And regardless of the reason, is this specified in policy--which should
also help 20 years hence when librarians are trying to remember "which was
the preserved format, paper or electronic?"

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