J. Unsworth, ELECTRONIC SCHOLARSHIP - OR, SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING AND THE PUBLIC (REPRINTED FROM THE LITERARY TEXT IN THE DIGITAL AGE, PG 233, 1996), Journal of scholarly publishing, 28(1), 1996, pp. 3-12
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Information Science & Library Science","Art & Humanities General
In order to understand the real importance of electronic scholarly edi
tions, we must see electronic scholarship in its larger cultural conte
xt. Many in the academy resist the change introduced by new technologi
es, a stance that serves the interests of those who would like to see
the least possible alteration of the property system or the role of th
e consumer. This resistance is clearly voiced by academic Sven Birkert
s, whose criticisms of the digital world foreground fear of depersonal
ization, inauthenticity, subjugation to the mechanical, and the substi
tution of quantity for quality. Electronic scholarly editions will alt
er the course of the academic profession, but will also open new oppor
tunities for redefining scholarly inquiry and communication. Already,
communication over the networks, in a variety of modes, enhances colla
boration, connection, and initiative. Primary materials are made avail
able to a broader audience. Most important, we have an opportunity to
alter how we, as scholars, structure our relation to the general publi
c - although this restructuring, if it proceeds too slowly, may not pr
oduce a real difference.