Libraries, copyright and the electronic environment

The new electronic environment is coming like a speeding train or a tidal wave — inevitable and unstoppable. It is coming, but it is not yet here. Hence, the dominant technology has not yet been determined. Publishers have not yet decided which products will be available only in electronic form, which will remain only in print, and which will appear in multiple forms. They are exploring new products and services to determine which their customers prefer. Libraries are also being forced by the electronic environment to make new decisions. They must consider which new media products to add to their collections and in what formats, and the impact on existing holdings. They are concerned about what they can legally do with the products they acquire and what uses can be made of available technology to provide new forms of customer service.