Developments in National services for Academic libraries in the UK

For many years academic libraries in the UK have co-operated in the purchase of access to electronic information services. In 1999, however, this co-operation reached a new phase with the announcement of the Distributed National Electronic Resource (DNER), which will provide sophisticated services and co-ordinated access to a very large number of electronic content providers - bibliographic databases, electronic journals, research data, video, audio and other media. Part of the DNER development involves the creation of subject-based portals which will allow academic staff and students to access quality-assured information in their subject discipline. These services will be based on the subject gateways which were developed as part of the Electronic Libraries Programme. The authors describe this development and the major evaluation project ¬EDNER - which is advising on the DNER's development and assessing its progress. EDNER is examining how electronic services are used in practice and how they can be designed tip fit closely with learning, teaching and research. Many of the issues raised have relevance to other countries which may be developing similar services and seeking ways to share the costs, and the benefits, of electronic library services.