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The information industry is changing very rapidly. Traditional borders are replaced by new forms of
cooperation, aimed at providing fast and convenient access to different types of information. These
changes also affect the way access is given to unique primary sources, spread all over the world.
The traditional model in which libraries provide access to tangible (copies of these) sources is no
longer the only format. Many different forms of cooperation between libraries, publishers,
service providers, governmental organizations are being tested or used in different projects and
services, on a national as well as an international scale. Many projects that have been carried out during the past years have shown that, in order to ensure continuity, a commercial approach, especially in the digital world, is inevitable. A project always has a certain ending date. Continuation of the results of a project, for example, an online resource, will result in ongoing costs for, amongst others, server capacity, connection and further investments in updates and conversion to new standards. Working for almost fifty years with the principle that investments are only justified if a certain return is foreseen, IDC can contribute to safeguarding the results of many efforts, made by libraries and institutions in digitizing parts of their holdings and making them available for a wider audience. Combining the best of both worlds to create sustainable information services, based upon the world's cultural heritage. IDC is increasingly involved in projects in close cooperation with commercial and non-profit organizations in order to enable projects with a special scope or character. Sustainability is an important issue and we are highly motivated to define together with institutions with specific holdings the necessary requirement that have to be met to ensure that these holdings will survive and be accessible in the future. Online projects need a long-term publishing vision in which content development, addition of functionality and the relation with the market are carefully planned Such plans often exceed the interests and possibilities of local holdings. Especially if public funding is insufficient and not continually available IDC Publishers is interested in developing sustainable and appropriate economic models in close cooperation with all parties involved. IDC is familiar with working for highly specialized user groups. We know what they need and how it should be made available to them, taking into account the low volume of the "markets". |