NB! - YOUR OPINION IS REQUESTED HERE !!!!!
Dear all,

I like to inform you all about some new developments on my book:
'Handbook of Stable Isotope Analytical Techniques'

It is decided by the Elsevier editor and myself to make this book two
volumes because it has grown to such a size one volume is not practical any
more. Both volumes are aimed to be socalled 'stand-alone' books (with
separate reference lists in both books), which also can be obtained as
separate books, although buying the two volumes in one package will probably
give some reduction. Advantage for the ones with a lower budget (and who
does not have that in science?): the books can be bought separately, with
some time between obtaining the two volumes (if both are desired, of
course).

Since my aim is to continue working at the book (part 3 - aimed as an
encyclopedic review) to add material I could not yet include (choise between
spending far more time on adding as much as I can or publishing the books
within reasonable time while making some concessions on this part 3) and
also for upgrading with new developments, the Elsevier editor made some
proposals to me leading to the following message to you (will be included in
my next upgrade of the WEB-site on the books - I hope the upgrade can be
loaded this evening on our server):

Possibilities for the future:
Publishing in a digital form with on-line access at internet (for
subscribers) is proposed by and discussed with the Elsevier editors.
Eventual other forms of digital on-line publishing are considered, too.
After publishing of the books, I continue to complete and update my
reference work as given in Part 3 of the books. Special for this reason an
on-line presentation can be very effective to have a regular upgrade of this
reference data-base published in a fast way. Libraries of universities or
research institutions might be interested in this form of publishing, giving
them the opportunaty to link to all users on their computer networks to
browse through the contents if desired, without any time restriction of
access, at office or at home.

and added to this:
Also the possibility to publish things on CD-Rom were discussed, but this
medium is already considered a 'passed station' as I was informed by the
Elsevier editor. Prefered is an internet on-line form of publishing.
This on-line way of presentation is thought to include facilities like a
'search machine' and links to other sources (e.g. abstracts of publications
- eventually more then just Elsevier publications are possible here).

PLEASE - I LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION ABOUT THIS. IT IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY
TO KNOW WHAT POTENTIAL USERS THINK AND PREFER FOR SUCH AN ON-LINE
PRESENTATION.
For those who might have any suspision about commercial intersts involved:
This request is made by me personally, and proposed to Elsevier by myself.
Of course Elsevier also is interested to hear about any outcome of this - my
aims are very parallel with Elseviers in this case!
I ask this to present the best possible internet-based presentation in
future, meeting with most requirements of potential users. Simply, doing
this tremendous time-consuming work I like to present it in the best way to
reach as many isotope chemists as I can.....
I thank all those (I hope many) who react very much in advance.
LET HEAR YOURSELF ON THE LIST!!!!!!!

Best wishes to all,
Pier
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Dr. Pier A. de Groot
Economic Geology Research Unit
University of the Witwatersrand
Private Bag 3
2050 Johannesburg
South Africa
Tel. +27 11 717 6582  Fax. +27 11 339 1697
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

WEB-site on "Handbook of Stable Isotope Analytical Techniques (2 volumes)":
http://www.icon.co.za/~pagroot/index.html, or if finding problems:
http://www.icon.co.za/~pagroot/index_1.html
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