Requirements of an electronic edition

1. It should not be a surrogate for print.: It should not use print conventions that are the product of trying to convey complex information on a printed page.; It should not adopt conventions resulting from the financial constraints of print publication.; It should use the potential of the medium.
2. It should as a minimum meet the same intellectual requirements as print editions.: The recognised requirements for discussion of editorial principles, background material etc. should be observed.; Appropriate editorial apparatus should be provided.; The same standards of accuracy and quality should be observed.
3. It should meet the same practical needs as a print edition.: Providing references to all parts of the edition should be straightforward.; It should be presented to the reader in a comprehensible form.; It should be possible to compare the edition with other editions, both electronic and print.; Its accessibility should be comparable or better to that of a printed edition on a library shelf.
4. It should be designed for long-term accessibility.: An electronic edition should be designed to be accessible for as long as a printed book, with appropriate strategies considered for upgrading of both software and hardware.; It should remain accessible in its published form.