Acquiring and accessing serials information – the electronic intermediary Available to Purchase

Intermediaries of various sorts have been key players in helping libraries in access to, and the acquisition of, serials. Subscription agents have been prominent, with a strong tradition in the print environment. They have developed additional services for libraries that focus on using automation to meet this objective, starting with serials management software and links to their databases in the 1980s, through to electronic journal services today. Intermediaries have a wider role in providing services in the area of electronic journals, to publishers as well as libraries. Current trends in scholarly publishing include the growth of alternative publishing initiatives. A key development at present is the growth of linking, including reference linking between publishers and the linking activities of intermediaries. The recent growth of library consortia in various countries has had an impact on library purchasing methods, and hence on the role and services of subscription agents. In this respect Swets Blackwell has been active as the managing agent in the UK NESLI Project.