Tony McSean

Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of the new year’s Library Connect. If you find a certain relentlessly upbeat tone, then it’s probably because it is going to press just as spring is finally asserting itself in the Northern Hemisphere. Two weeks ago in London we were clearing snow and ice from our cars, yesterday evening we were embarrassing our children again by going about the neighborhood in shorts.

This issue’s theme looks at what constitutes a successful library, and in the following pages you can read several different takes on the subject. In my own experience library directors can be faced with two different sets of criteria for success, sets which are rarely 100% overlapping and which can sometimes be in serious conflict.

Tony Ferguson’s interview brings out very well what we might call the external success factor — the extent to which the library service provides for the needs of its users and serves the aims and priorities of its parent organization. Sometimes this can be complex: balancing the demands of genuinely needy but humble users with those of the noisily influential can be difficult. Tony rightly highlights that measuring and demonstrating quality in service delivery is an increasing crucial issue for research librarians, and much more difficult than our traditional (and easily accomplished) event-measuring and user surveys.

If we are looking for evidence that good staff and effective leadership can make a difference, there are plenty of examples in this issue, but none better than the report of our anniversary book donation program on page 7. Ten research libraries in developing countries will each receive a substantial donation of current Elsevier textbooks. As one of the panel who selected these libraries, I was stunned by the quality of service that good librarians can conjure from the most limited resources.

Two more items in this issue to highlight: Page 14 has an interview with Herman van Campenhout, Elsevier’s new Science and Technology Chief Exec. Herman is very serious about wanting to hear what our customers have to say, so if you are visiting a library exhibition and see a very cheerful and very, very tall man on the Elsevier booth — he is there to be spoken to and will be pleased to hear what is on your mind. And finally, this issue sees the launch of Full Moon (full.moon@elsevier.com), a regular column of stuff too unreliable to be included in the proper parts of LC and to which I hope many of you will contribute in time and enjoy the rewards on offer for doing so.

Tony McSeán, Director of Library Relations, Elsevier, Oxford, UK

LC Publications Now Available in Print and Online

From April 2005, Library Connect newsletter issues and practical assistance pamphlets will be published in HTML, as well as in print and PDF.

We know, because you have told us, that many of you still prefer to receive a print copy of Library Connect and that’s OK, as we don’t have plans to go e-only, yet! Other readers have let us know that they would prefer to browse the newsletter online in HTML, and benefit from the increased interactivity this format can provide.

We are pleased to supply multiple print copies of our pamphlets, for personal, classroom or conference use. You can request copies by dropping a line to libraryconnect@elsevier.com. Copies are always on display at our upcoming events.

www.elsevier.com/libraryconnect