Beginning
July 1, AAPG members will have access digitally to the AAPG BULLETIN
(1917-2001) as a service included with the payment of dues.
Think of
it! Around the world, our members can access the entire digital
BULLETIN archive (more than 150,000 pages) using "any word" searches
to locate publications critical to their exploration, their research,
their geologic studies and their continuing curiosity about geology.
This will
undoubtedly make much better scientists and professionals the world
over
and this
move strongly emphasizes AAPG's commitment to "advance the science
of geology." I believe this is one of the most phenomenal and useful
member services we could possibly provide.
And we
don't want to stop there.
Only one
thing would be better, and that would be for a geologist to sit
down and be able to "any word" access ALL geological publications
worldwide.
As far-fetched,
expensive, logistically and philosophically impossible as that may
seem, AAPG is vigorously exploring the possibility of an aggregate
with other key geologic associations, including the Geological Society
of America, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Society for
Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) and many others.
AAPG took
major steps almost 10 years ago to seize the digital future. We
decided to engage an outside company, DataPages, to digitize all
of our BULLETINs and publications. This process, including the development
of online availability, cost about $1.5 million and took eight years
to complete. The product, because it is "any word" searchable, is
the highest quality digital library possible.
Three years
ago, AAPG decided to buy Datapages, so that this fine product could
become more accessible as an "extraordinary" member service.
We are
continuing to develop our digital services and products. One aspect
has been to work with affiliated societies and other related publishers
to digitize their publications in the same/similar manner (currently
completed are the publications from SEPM, GCAGS and the Journal
of Petroleum Geology).
Again,
the goal is that someday geologists will be able to perform comprehensive
worldwide library searches with their very fingertips. If your affiliated
society is interested in working with AAPG and other societies to
digitize your historical publications and work toward an aggregate
to facilitate the publication of geology, please contact us.
(This is
a new benefit through payment of AAPG dues and does not take the
place of corporate subscriptions. Corporate subscriptions include
all of the many Datapages products including special reports and
derived and focused products on specific geologic subjects and areas.)