About Open Archives, E-print, and Preprint Archives
Various types of web-based archives are evolving rapidly. Preprint archives, e-print archives and open archives are terms used to describe several types of collections of electronic documents. Preprint servers typically collect "article-like" documents which may or may not be later published in print journals. E-prints are sometimes preprints but may also include a variety of document types that may not be intended for print publication. E-prints are sometimes conceived as a form of electronic publishing. The Open Archives Initiative is an international effort to develop standards for electronic archives to enable searching across archives.
A common feature of all of these types of electronic document archives is that they are intended to promote the free access to the documents they collect (no subscription, no fees). Many scholars are excited about the evolution of electronic archives for diverse reasons. The speed of publication for preprints and e-prints is much greater than is possible with print documents. Preprints and e-prints can at least in theory become available to a much wider and more diverse audience than can be reached with traditional publishing mechanisms. Archives can be a much more cost-effective way to share and disseminate research results. Archives can be used to disseminate documents that could not be distributed in paper form for a variety of reasons. Finally, many authors consider electronic archives an effective complement to print publishing during the current transitional stage. Electronic publishing can enhance the awareness of print publishing.
