[WEB4LIB] RE: Questia: who is behind it?

[Suzanne Reymer]

2/1/01 11:47:28 AM, "Steve Duffy" <duffy at storm.simpson.edu> wrote:

>Why?  Maybe the rationale for libraries largely depends on books being 
>physical objects that have to be located someplace.  And that rationale 
>weakens once books become digital.  That's not a pleasant thought for 
>librarians but we ought to look it in the face and think about it.

That's not the problem as far as I'm concerned.  After all, most of us have adapted fairly well to the concept of digital libraries.  What concerns me is the prospect of 
universities taking fees to promote commercial ventures such as Questia.  Some search engines give prominent placement to websites based on fees.  As universities 
look for new alternatives to become profit centers, what's to stop them from providing links directly from on-line syllabi to Questia or Amazon, for example, and getting 
their referral fees.  What if these companies pressure the university to take actions such as eliminating course reserves via the library because they cut into their profit 
margin?  I don't think that prospect is too far-fetched.

Suzanne

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Suzanne Reymer
Statewide Technology Librarian
Montana State Library
c/o Parmly Billings Library
510 N. Broadway
Billings, MT   59101
MT Toll free: (888) 826-0837
Phone: (406) 255-0729
Fax: (406) 255-0732
Email: sreymer at uswest.net
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