AARL

Preface

The State and Territory Libraries collect Australia's documentary heritage, provide reference and research services, and support the provision of public library services through more than 1600 service points across the country. Individually and collectively, these organisations are involved in a wide range of projects and initiatives for the advancement of the information industry. They are developing and supporting new approaches to library services, building partnerships across the cultural, education and business landscape, and contributing to the national debate on the future of information provision. The Council of Australian State Libraries, which also includes the National Library of Australia, is their collective voice to foster collaborative opportunities and to create leverage in negotiations with government and other sectors.

Taken together, the articles in this issue give a broad perspective on the concerns and strategies of these major libraries in the current cultural and fiscal environment, as well as providing historical context for issues and trends.

Dagmar Schmidmaier
Chair, Council of Australian State Libraries

Changes to the AARL editorial team

With this issue, we say farewell to associate editor and book reviews editor Mandy Lupton, who is moving to Brisbane to undertake a PhD in information literacy at QUT. Mandy is handing over to Kay Barney, who works at the Australian Bureau of Statistics Library and is in the final stages of a Masters in Library and Information Management at the University of Canberra.

Jos&weacute; Beattie has stepped down as editorial assistant and her place has been taken by Guy Olding. Peter Clayton and Sue Fraser continue as the old hands.

Warren Horton

AARL notes with sadness the death of Warren Horton, director general of the National Library from 1985 until his retirement in 1999. An obituary will appear in our March 2004 issue.