Journal Reviews and Reports

Electronic Green Journal (EGJ)
ISSN 1076-7975
http://egj.lib.uidaho.edu/index.html

Bill Johnson
Science Librarian
Arizona State University East
Library Services
7001 E. Williams Field Rd.
Building 20 Mail Code 0180
Mesa AZ 85212
scilib@asu.edu

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The challenge of finding quality information on environmental topics has become quite problematic as the dawn of the new millennium approaches. Information overload threatens to undermine educational resource utilization of electronic and print media. Though information overload is not a new problem, the need for hassle-free, full-text, quality information on environmental topics is especially relevant today. In light of this situation, the mission of Electronic Green Journal (EGJ) is to provide a well organized source of scholarly articles on international environmental issues. EGJ is particularly well suited to students conducting research on a wide variety of environmental topics.

EGJ offers teachers, students, resource managers, and the educated generalist a freely available source of full-text environmental information in a hypertext format on the World Wide Web. Finding articles which match your interest is easy via either of two routes: full-text searching or browsing the tables of contents for each issue. The international range of topics published reflects the interdisciplinary nature of environmental studies. For example, recent articles have covered the disposal of chemical weapons, the development of digital libraries, the politics of endangered species, ecoregional conservation, alternative energy sources, environmental history, soils, international trade in toxic materials, green marketing, and much more.

Published by the University of Idaho Library since 1992, EGJ went strictly electronic in 1994. In addition to refereed, original research articles, EGJ publishes regular features such as book reviews and a directory of Internet resources related to the environment. A new column is planned beginning with the next issue (Fall 1999) on the intersection of alternative medicine and environmental conservation. EGJ is indexed by the Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). It is also under consideration for indexing by Environmental Knowledgebase, General Science Index, Biological & Agricultural Index, and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. Additionally, the EGJ homepage includes a list of Internet sites which link to EGJ such as ChemWeb, BioMedNet, Infomine, the National Library for the Environment, etc. EGJ is currently issued semiannually.

Among the many other environmental journals published on the World Wide Web (see the National Library for the Environment's list at: http://www.cnie.org/Journals.htm), EGJ is distinctive in its blend of scientific content and literary quality from the perspective of the information professional. The editorial board reflects this orientation, consisting of seasoned academic librarians from across the country. Therefore, the "look and feel" of EGJ is one of professionalism and high impact. The serious-minded individual interested in practical and in-depth information on important environmental topics constitutes the primary audience.

EGJ recently announced a call for papers in honor of Earth Day 2000. The special theme of the spring 2000 issue is one which seeks to address futuristic environmental agendas in answer to a number of vexing ecological questions. This issue will also look back on the historical progress that has been made by conservationists in the recent as well as the ancient past. You are invited to submit an abstract to the editor for possible publication in this special issue or contact the editor via the web site for further details or information.

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