E-journals on the Internet

Abstract

The most important information sources for professionals are perodicals, containing much more recent results, news, etc. than books published years later. However, the regular processing of the periodicals to reveal their contents is a time and labour consuming task. That is why emerging electronic information systems are promising for the future, offering new possibilities in information services. The electronic version of periodicals means nothing mysterious, though it means more than a simple transfer of the classical paper form onto another medium. There are different types of electronic publishing, each intended to meet some special requirements. Users need much more than simple reproduction of the hard copy form on a computer screen, there are additional features that make the electronical form attractive. The author's intention is to give a picture of the types of electronic periodicals, their advantages and drawbacks, to outline the search methods, additional services, and to summarize the present situation internationally and in Hungary.