I think that the Westerville (Ohio) Public Library holds the copyright for copyrighted Anti-Saloon League of America published and manuscript materials. If the Standard Encyclopedia goes on line, I recommend that it be on the web site of an institution that will exist for the forseeable future (such as a university, public library, etc.). In any event, this may be something that the officers of the ATHG should investigate. At 09:01 AM 4/20/2001 +0000, you wrote: >David, > >Putting my Librarian hat on and combining it with my temperance >knowledge, here are my thoughts on the reference work- The Standard >Encyclopedia of the Alcohol Problem, 6 vols., E.H. Cherrington >(American Issue, 1925-30). > >I strongly agree that such works have not been superseded by more >recent works. Although I have rarely used the work I have used the >Winskills the UK work, indeed own copies. These reference texts >are, in many ways, ripe for digitaliazation. As far as librarians are >concerned such electronic reference works should be networked to >provide desk top access. This unfortunately can bump up the price. >As I don't know the USA copyright laws, this may also have a >financial consideration: though the work is now about 70 years old!! > >A key consideration for librarian is will an electronic book be cost >effective, how many will use it, how often etc. Here in Britain >university librarian budgets are not as high as in the USA. Indeed, >my own university library is having to make "hard choices"!!. > > >The American market would probably justify electronic publishing of >the work but I suspect the demand in the UK would be slight as drink >and temperance are not as well developed. > >Access to electronic information is increasing being delivered via >the Internet and ip addresses and usernames and passwords required. > >In some ways works like this should be part of a wider programme of >digitalization of ATH core books that would have a wider appeal, or >distributed free on the net > >Hope these thoughts from a wintery Manchester UK are of value. > > >Margaret Barrow > > > > > > > > >Dr Margaret Barrow >Joule Library >UMIST, >P.O. Box 88 >Sackville St., >Manchester M60 1QD > >Tel +44 61 200 4932 >Fax +44 61 200 4941 >email address mailto:[log in to unmask]