----- Original Message ----- From: "Fytton Rowland" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 7:15 AM Subject: Re: Etymology of "Eprint"
<snip>. > > But in the USA thirty or so years ago an effort was made to organise a > preprint exchange, which really did distribute paper (photo)copies of > as-yet unaccepted typescripts. It eventually collapsed for two reasons: > many scientists objected to the distribution of non-refereed material as > debasing the currency; and the costs involved, especially postage costs for > pritned materials in large quantity, became too high. I think there was > also a feeling that it created a privileged class of people who were on the > mailing list, leaving others unable to get hold of the material so early. > > Yours, Fytton. > Specifically, this was an activity of NIH to foster communication between grantees working in a common area. As I recall, it failed because it turned out to be politically impossible to keep the distribution to a chosen group.
