[LINK] Creating a Global Knowledge Network

[Stephen Loosley]

Hi all ..

It would be difficult to disagree regarding: http://arxiv.org/

--
Creating a Global Knowledge Network

Paul Ginsparg 
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Invited contribution for Conference, UNESCO HQ, Paris,

(snip) The possibilities offered by a "unified global archive" are suggested
by the e-print arXiv (where "e-print" denotes self-archiving by the author),
which since its inception in 1991 has become a major forum for dissemination
of results in physics and mathematics. (http://arxiv.org/) (http://au.arxiv.org/)

This resource has been entirely scientist driven, and is flexible enough either
to co-exist with the pre-existing publication system, or to help it evolve to
something better optimized for researcher needs. 

The arXiv is an example of a service created by a group of specialists for
their own use: when researchers or professionals create such services, the
results often differ markedly from the services provided by publishers and
libraries. 

It is also important to note that the rapid dissemination it provides is not in
the least inconsistent with concurrent or post facto peer review, and in the
long run offers a possible framework for a more functional archival structuring
of the literature than is provided by current peer review processes. 

As argued by Odlyzko, the current methodology of research dissemination
and validation is premised on a paper medium that was difficult to produce,
difficult to distribute, difficult to archive, and difficult to duplicate -- a medium
that hence required numerous local redistribution points in the form of research
libraries. The electronic medium is opposite in each of the above regards ...
(http://arxiv.org/blurb/pg01unesco.html)
--

Cheers all ..
Stephen Loosley
Melbourne, Australia 

----------
For Link list information see http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/link/