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An Exchange with Karen Hunter, Award-winning Pioneer in Electronic Delivery of Scholarly Communication
Karen Hunter
In February, Karen received the 2006 CSA/Ulrich's Serials Librarianship Award recognizing her leadership in the collaborative development of electronic delivery of scholarly information. Noted Marilyn Geller, chair of the award committee, "[Karen's] ability to represent the views of the library world to the publishing world and the views of publishers to librarians … continues to have a profound and positive influence within our industry. Electronic journals as we know them today, and indeed, the electronic delivery of scholarly communication has been shaped by Ms. Hunter's thoughts and deeds."
http://infomotions.com/serials/acqflash/06/0054.shtml
How exactly were you involved in efforts leading to online publishing of STM journals?
Since 1976, I’ve been with Elsevier and the idea of electronic journals was there almost from the start. After trying to make CD-ROMs work for journals, I set up in 1991 the TULIP (The University Licensing Program) experiment — the first really large network test of online STM journals. With nine universities involved, we started with about 40 journals and ramped up to over 80. This was before Web browsers, and the journals were loaded at each university for distribution over campus networks. In the four years of the experiment we learned an enormous amount about technical issues and ways students and researchers would use online journals.
Did you initially realize how momentous the achievement — electronic publishing of STM journals — was?
By the end of the TULIP experiment it was clear there was no turning back. The introduction of the first robust Web browser (Mosaic) in 1993 in mid-experiment was a critical piece of the puzzle; Mosaic made it clear that online access from a central host was the next step. That's when we started developing ScienceDirect. Everyone knew this was a huge and essential change for journal publishers.
I've heard that e-publishing of STM journals was started by people sitting around a table who said, "Let's just do it."
As an industry it was much more evolutionary than that. When CD-ROMs showed their flaws and the power on the desktop and speed of networks increased, many publishers were looking at how to move journals online. Within Elsevier we started with getting all our journals into a "media neutral" database and storing them in our "electronic warehouse." Once that infrastructure was in place, we quickly knew we needed a distribution system to make best use of emerging technologies. At that point then Elsevier Chairman Herman Spruijt decided to go ahead with what became ScienceDirect and told me to find the best six people in the company and make it happen!
Why did you join Elsevier?
From 1967 to 1972, I was in technical services at the Cornell library and particularly liked the business aspects of the job. I then moved to Baker & Taylor for four years and during that time I also got my master’s in business from Columbia. By 1976, it was time to leave B&T and Elsevier was looking for a new MBA to do what we now call strategic planning for the New York office. It was a great opportunity and the office was right across the street from my commuter train station, which sealed the decision.
How has your education benefited your career?
Good question. The College of Wooster, where I earned my BA, taught me how to think, ask questions and take on challenging projects. My graduate history experience, when I earned an MA from Cornell, basically taught me I didn't want a PhD and didn't want to be an academic. I went to work in the library and found that a good fit, hence the library union card (my MLIS from Syracuse). When I moved further into the business side at B&T, I thought I also needed my MBA. Getting that degree was the hardest work of any, but it has more than paid off at Elsevier, particularly in the early years. In time your experience is what counts, though, not your degrees.
Why did you become an academic librarian?
I was working as a library assistant at Cornell and liked what I was doing. Working in technical services, everything was new and I knew so little, I just blundered ahead, learning new things hand over fist. Cornell had a program with Syracuse to encourage staff to go to library school, so off I went.
Besides your involvement in the development of online publishing, what do you regard as highlights of your career?
Relationships I have had with academic librarians. I didn't intentionally leave academic libraries; I just took a good job offer at B&T. That I have been able to continue to work with such great people — friends — has been a highlight for sure.
What is your role at Elsevier now?
My position is that of senior vice president. I spend a lot of time on issues with strategic effects on our relationships with libraries. I work on issues including pricing models, post-termination access and article posting by authors, and public access and public policy. I am also on the boards of CrossRef and the Copyright Clearance Center.
What advice do you want to offer colleagues aiming at making a lasting difference?
Don't be afraid to take risks. Think big, think boldly and don't worry too much about those who tell you why something is not going to work. 
