Digital library and electronic publishing activities of German professional societies

The rate of innovation occuring in the field of digital libraries and electronic publishing has been recognized as an obligation for action by several professional societies in Germany. Six of them have signed an agreement to mutually support each other in managing this transitional process. Several activities have been started in order to inform and to support the respective membership. One such effort is project MeDoc which is led by the German Informatics society (GI). Recently announced technology emphasis programs of the German research council and the federal government also address this area, and will stimulate additional focused research and development activities.