Professional paper
Online Electronic Serials
Jasenka Zajec
Abstract
The specific characteristics of the electronic medium have brought about significant
changes in the production, distribution, usage, cataloguing and storage of serial
publications. Online serials available on the Internet have a special importance in the
interactive exchange of information. Definitions of the new types of publications are
given. The development of serials and specifically the development of electronic serials
are presented. The basic characteristics of print and electronic serials are compared,
and their advantages and disadvantages enumerated. The changes in libraries that have
occurred due to electronic serials are described. These serials have changed the traditional
definitions and cataloguing rules used for their description and identification.
Several new projects dealing with online serials in libraries all over the world are reviewed.
In addition to a short description of the development of online serials in Croatia,
the present situation is described and illustrated with examples. The importance
of identification of online serials in the large body of unorganised information on the
Internet is stressed, and the most important identification systems are presented. A
number of open questions faced by authors, editors, publishers and readers alike are
outlined. Online serials are still under development; thus it is envisaged that in the future
print and online editions will develop as complementary editions.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
23364
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2001.
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