Humanistic research, information resources and electronic communication

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate in what ways electronic communication, and the useof information in the humanities, differs from the practice of “hard” sciences, and to identifyissues and problems that need to be tackled in that respect. It argues that the humanities forma challenging and potentially rewarding field for electronic communication, with requirementsthat are directly dependent upon the methodologies, intellectual traditions and practicesof its constituent disciplines. It benefits from the views expressed in several recent reports,summarising the effects of information technology on arts and humanities research, and reflectingthe urgency of establishing priorities in this field