Xref: utzoo comp.object:1740 comp.lang.c++:9395 comp.lang.eiffel:1084 comp.lang.smalltalk:2215 comp.software-eng:4142 Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!occrsh!uokmax!apple!usc!samsung!uunet!mcsun!i2unix!inria!imag!mururoa!carnot!macrakis From: macrakis@osf.fr (Stavros Macrakis) Newsgroups: comp.object,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.eiffel,comp.lang.smalltalk,comp.software-eng Subject: Re: TOOLS '91 (March 4-8) - Call for Papers Message-ID: Date: 4 Sep 90 03:28:51 GMT References: <402@eiffel.UUCP> <1990Sep2.193720.17672@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> <1990Sep2.230249.7858@ecn.purdue.edu> Sender: news@imag.fr Followup-To: comp.object Organization: OSF Research Institute--Grenoble Lines: 30 In-reply-to: sean@ms.uky.edu's message of 3 Sep 90 01:00:37 GMT This is ridiculous. 1) Most Calls for Papers are published by non-profit organizations which try to make a good deal with their printers or publishers (depending on how they organize things); part of the proceedings cost probably goes towards the conference expenses. Siggraph proceedings (in particular) are expensive because they have a small press run, they are well produced (good paper, high resolution, etc.), and include many photographs, of which many in color. 2) I don't have any specifics about the Tools conference. Do you have any reason to believe that its proceedings will be particularly expensive? 3) Libraries should indeed systematically collect works of general value, such as major conference proceedings (assuming of course that your institution does related work). If your library does not have the budget for this, you should complain. This is a very legitimate complaint. You will probably be supported in your complaint by your professors. 4) Libraries do not buy textbooks for several reasons: 1) it is presumed more effective to have each student have his/her own copy 2) new editions come out often 3) they don't have the budget 4) students are presumed to want to keep their textbooks as references 5) textbooks (like skin magazines) are often stolen. 5) The exchange of information on conferences, proceedings, books, etc. is an important function of the net. Let's enhance this function, not stifle it!