Michael Mabe

WELCOME

Dear Colleagues,

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this issue of Library Connect, writing in late May from my Oxford office where, outside the window, February and June weather seem to be competing for dominance with intermittent gales wreaking havoc on the tree blossom. All in all a typical British spring!

If the seasons are telling us that change is in the air, publishers and librarians can be in no doubt that change has been the order of the day for a number of years. This forms one of the main themes of this issue of Library Connect. Bas Savenije of Utrecht University looks at the changing role of libraries and librarians in the increasingly digital universe, while Celestine Lau embraces some revolutionary technological and cultural changes in her Singapore Republic Polytechnic Library where encouraging readers to talk means saying “Shhh!” is a thing of the past. At times of great change we all yearn for direction and guidance, so it seems entirely appropriate that the other theme of this issue is on leadership in the library world, with a fascinating article by Peter Hernon of Simmons College, Boston.

Although most of my time at Elsevier is devoted to dialogue with scholars, their research funders and institutions, I also attend conferences in Europe and the US where librarians, publishers, vendors and scholars meet on common ground. My main interest as a researcher and commentator is in encouraging a deeper and wider understanding by all involved parties of the forces that govern scholarly communication. Many of you may have heard me speak (or read articles I've written) about these matters at the Charleston Library Conference, our own Library Connect seminars or other occasions. What strikes me above all is the continuing need for communication whether it be face-to-face, electronically or in print. I hope you will feel as I do that the Library Connect program and these newsletters are a major contribution to furthering that essential dialogue.

As E. M. Forster wrote in Howard’s End (although probably not with us in mind):

“Connect, . . . only connect.”

Best Wishes,

Michael A. Mabe
Director of Academic Relations, Elsevier, Oxford, UK
Visiting Professor, Information Science, City University, London, UK

LIBRARY CONNECT PRACTICAL ASSITANCE PAMPHLETS

www.elsevier.com/libraryconnect

1. 15 Ways to Promote Effective Use of Online Resources
2. How to Get Published in LIS journals: A Practical Guide
3. 15 Ways to Support Your Authors
4. Ways to Use Journal Articles Published by Elsevier
5. How to Design Library Web Sites to Maximize Usability
6. How Libraries Are Training Users on E-resources: Best Practices
7. What Counts and What Doesn't? An Insider's Guide to Usage Reports
   
   Coming Soon!
   
8. Library Marketing Resources: An Annotated Bibliography

Library Connect pamphlets are available online or in print from the Elsevier booth at upcoming conferences and Library Connect events.