EDITORIAL

Electronic publishing in veterinary practice

1 YOU might think that electronic publishing has nothing to offer you as a member of the veterinary profession; after all, most people say they prefer to pick up and thumb through a book or journal com- pared to looking at text on a computer screen. I, too, like holding and reading a good book and I don’t believe that electronic publishing will replace the written word and printed image on paper - well, not for at least 10 years. However, electronic publishing does have significant advantages over conventional publishing methods -but you have to see it in action to appreciate its superiority.

Colour

Colour printing is expensive and in this edition of the ]SAP the editorial team will probably have had to decide which pages and images are repro- duced in colour and which are in black and white. With electronic publishing the difference in cost between using a black and white or colour image is negligible. Very high quality, high resolution colour images can now be achieved on computer screens - certainly as good as mass produced printed images, and far better than VHS video.

Moving images Authors need not be limited to one-dimension-

a1 images to illustrate their papers. With electron- ic publishing out goes the need to draw graphics to illustrate a complex concept and in come com- puter-generated two- or three-dimensional still or moving graphics, or even video sequences. Just think how much easier it will be for readers when authors can show a video clip of their new surgical technique, or a piece of moving footage of a lame animal, or dynamic images from an ultrasound scan. Dynamic images can’t be fully demonstrated in paper publications.

Cost of distribution The cost of electronic distribution is a fraction

of that for the postage and packaging of a journal or book, and electronic publishing and delivery also saves on the use of basic resources such as energy and trees.

Reference database

Having scanned through this issue of the JSAP what will you do with it next? Some people may discard it, or never look at it again! Most people create disorganised piles of journals on desks, shelves, floors and on the top of filing cabinets. More organised people file them in a sensible way, usually in chronological order. Very organ- ised people cut out the individual articles and file them in their own filing system by subject, organ system, disease, etc. Whatever you do, it is still likely that when you actually want to locate a specific article that you remember reading, or one that is recommended in a reference list - you have forgotten the date or you can’t find the nec- essary index. However well organised you are the issue that you need may be missing, lost, mis- filed or ‘borrowed’ by a colleague - never to be seen again!

With electronic publishing articles can be saved in a database which occupies very little space locally, or which can be made available on- line. Information contained in back issues can be accessed rapidly and efficiently through a menu structure or by a key word search for author or subject, or it is possible to search for an illustra- tion or moving graphic. In some cases you will be able to download to print a hard copy or, better still, to disk to create your own personal elec- tronic reference library. Even colour images and video can be stored for future reference.

Meeting the needs of veterinary surgeons in practice

The most important benefit of electronic pub- lishing is its ability to meet the day-to-day needs of practising veterinary surgeons. When do you want or need access to information about drugs, or poisoning, or an up-to-date review of a condi- tion, or guidance on the interpretation of clinical data, or information about exotic species? The answer for most of us is in, or near, the consult- ing room when the case is being examined. In other words, what we need is rapid (preferably immediate) access to up-to-date information from our workplace.

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With electronically published material held centrally and available on-line, the information can be updated daily and this solves the perenni- al problem of some sections in reference books being out of date soon after they are published. The lead-in time for books and journals nowa- days can be as long as two years.

IVIC

The International Veterinary Information Cen- tre (IVIC)* is a multimedia network designed to improve communication and facilitate access to information and education for veterinary sur- geons, veterinary nurses and practice clients. Rapid access to many sources of information through IVIC is achieved using ISDNt technology - and an integral part of IVIC is the delivery of electronically published material. ‘The Veteri- nary Formulary’, published by The Royal

Pharmaceutical Society, is the first book to be published electronically through IVIC, and others are in the pipeline.

Three years ago few publishers were interested in electronically publishing their books or peri- odicals. Indeed, some still go to print using the traditional methods of photo-ready copy and cut and paste proofs, but most are now reconsidering their position. One leading publishing house, having seen a demonstration of IVIC, proclaimed that they could immediately see the reason why they should publish their books and journals electronically. The electronic publishing revolu- tion is happening now and it does have benefits to offer to you. If not - I shall delete my words!

MIKE DAVIES

*IVIC is a joint project between the Royal Veterinary College, University of London and GTi Veterinary Systems of Salisbury tISDN is British Telecom’s Integrated Services Digital Network

BSAVA PUBLICATIONS

MEMBERS’ INFORMATION

SERVICE The BSAVA has embarked upoii a new series of thon publications with the collective title of the ‘BSAVA Members’ Infomiation Service’. T h w booklets are considered to be of such general intcrot that thc first two, naniely the ‘BSAVA Policy Strtemcnts’ and the ‘BSAVA Scientific lnfonnation Documents’ arc being distributcd frcc of chargc to all menibcrs of the association.

The third publication, entitled ‘BSAVA Guides to Local Health 8; Sdety Rules’, is a series ofteniplates for usc by nieiiibcr\ iii prdctice to hclp them in the onerous task of compiling their own Health and Safcty rules. A number of illustrated summary sheets, which arc ready for photocopying and posting at appropriate sites within your practice. li,ive been included.

A special nng binder, to go alongside the ‘BSAVA Practicc I<c\ource Manual’ has been produccd and this, plus the Health and Safety nikq guidc, is available for purchase from BSAVA Publications a t Cheltenhrrii.

Several single sheets of important infomiation will be distributed coon for inclusion in the general section of the bindcr, a i d thcrc ic rooiii ior booklets on further subjects a, and when they are written for the inembership.

MEMBERS’ INFORMATION SERVICE BINDER Price: Members k6.00 Non-Members k8.00

GUIDES TO LOCAL HEALTH & SAFETY RULES Price: Members k3.50 Non-Members k4.50

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