Treffer: THE BIONIC LIBRARY.

This article focuses on the concept of bionic libraries. The growing distance between the quantity of literature produced and the capability of academic libraries to acquire it affirms that the battle for collection comprehensiveness has already been lost. To some scholars, the concept of an electronic library is paradigm at hand; to others, it is absolutely frightening. During the past 15 years, information resources have been illuminated by our networked utilities so that access to millions of titles is rapidly available to our information nets. But this access is chiefly biographic, not textual. Technology offers not only improved access but new means of delivery and presentation. Using the simple commands of a Hyperfile transfer protocol system, one can bring image and full-text files over the Internet to one's desktop. Information flow is becoming increasingly complex, the process consists of the creation of information by authors, publishers, sponsors, composers, artists, and a host of others. The dynamics of information flow and its technology may be of less significance in solving the information crisis than its economics. It is important to identify the agencies involved, identify the currency of exchange and most importantly identify the exchange points where resource transactions are made to propel information through the flow. Appropriate consideration must be given to intellectual property rights, not only to compensate the rights holder and protect the integrity of work, but to promote scholarship and knowledge. The foundations of copyright and the publishing process are at issue here.