This article describes the early work on ACM Press Database and Electronic Products, and plans for the future. The research aspects of this program have been carried forward into Project Envision, and ACM Headquarters and the Publications Board, along with the Electronic Publishing Volunteer Advisory Committee, are coordinating work on a plan that will include an electronic archive and electronic submissions.
Paragraph 1 gives a snapshot of the status, which is amplified at the end of the Introduction. The earlier part of the Introduction describes in general terms what technological and related advances have made digital libraries possible.
The last 3 paragraphs of Vision are important, dealing with collection building, standards, and the main classes of services. The Challenges section calls for more vision and ideas (such as those given in the first paragraph of the Opportunities section), then for focused R&D, and finally for work on economic, social and legal issues. Funding will be needed from ACM SIG's (paragraph 2) and from partnerships (paragraph 3).
The Organization and Acknowledgments sections are not relevant. However, the Proposals section gives important guidance regarding what to look for in developing information products, services, or even multimedia information packages.