[Zoobank-list] ZooBank as solution for electronic publications

[Neal Evenhuis]

At 5:54 PM -0600 6/19/08, <Frank.Krell at dmns.org> wrote:
>Dear Commissioners et al.,
>
>I am sure that Thomas's "Yes, definitely" for "robust" electronic
>archiving as an alternative to durability of physical copies is NOT
>shared by everybody which is dangerous and might be fatal for the ICZN.
>If we don't accept electronic publications, we are in danger to be
>considered irrelevant not so far in the future - at least by donors and
>funding agencies. Electronic publication is or soon will be mainstream.
>At the same time, electronic publications are NOT archival independently
>(because they need a technical interface to be human-readable).

If Frank's prophesy about a lack of change to allow electronic 
publication as the potential make the ICZN irrelevant is true, then 
one could also project that same prophesy to the ICBN and botany.

Since the botanists change their Code much more frequently than 
zoologists, yet still have not accepted electronic publication, a 
query to those closely associated with their next edition might be in 
order to see what they are thinking along these lines. no doubt 
discussion has taken place among botanists.
Electronic publication is taxonomy is not just a zoological thing.

Not that we need to follow what the botanists are doing, but what 
they are thinking along these lines could be of value in discussions 
toward a new edition of the Code.

-Neal


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