Subject Access through Community Partnerships: A Case Study

Abstract

Innovations in scholarly communication have resulted in changing roles for authors, publishers and libraries. Traditional roles are disappearing and players are actively seeking or reluctantly assuming new roles. Library roles are changing as they become involved in building and indexing electronic (e-) repositories and support new modes of e-research. A library-run service, the SPIRES particle physics databases, has not only weathered, but also lead, many of the transitions that have shaped the landscape of epublishing and e-research. This has been possible through an intense and in-depth partnership with its user community. The strategies used and lessons learned can help other libraries craft cost-effective roles in this new environment.