Electronic journals portend tremendous advantages to libraries. Patron access is swift and sure; these journals are never missing from the shelves, and they need not be delayed for technical processing because they can be "sent" to public display and to serials maintenance almost simultaneously. However, how will library users know what journals are available to them? They should be able to find electronic journals through the same means they find information in all other formats—through libraries’ online catalogs. The phrase “mark it and park it” has not lost it relevance in the virtual library environment.

This article is based on a presentation to the LITA/ALCTS Serials Automation Interest Croup, given at the American Library Association's Midwinter meeting, January 26, 1992.