[AAACE-NLA]Opposing proposed changes to ERIC

[Thomas Sticht]

When I read the new statement of work for the ERIC system I did not see
that the system is being done away with. Instead, the functions of 16
clearning houses are being consolidated into a central site because of the
advances in technology made since ERIC was initiated in the mid-1960s.

A considerable benefit of the new system will be the ability to download
full text documents, which one cannot do under the present system.Also,
there will be links to various journals, publishers, and others that will
permit full text documents to be downloaded.

There will still be peer-reviewed screeing of documents and content
experts  will work on this activity. There will be maintenance of all past
documents and many may be converted to full text documents for
downloading, otherwise they will continue to be available as now. So the
database of the last fourty years will not disappear. It should become
even easier to access if all goes as the statement of work suggests. 
Special publications such as ERIC briefs etc may be resumed as the work of
the continuous improvement component of the new contract gets going. So
from my reading of the statement of work I did not see a lot to be
concerned about. Just better use of newer technology seems to moving ERIC
in a new direction.
Tom Sticht