EDITOR'S NOTES
Staying Up-to-Date
by Kathy Dempsey
This is the issue of CIL that keeps us all up-to-date
on so many things: vendor mergers and addresses, products
and services, hardware and software, new area codes and
URLs. You'll want to keep it handy!
The library and information industry has never been
a stagnant one, and the last few years have seen more
upheaval than usual. But change is good, they say.
And reporting change is what this Computers in Libraries
Buyer's Guide and Consultants Directory is all
about.
As always, inside you'll find reliable information
on companies and consultants and everything they offer
to libraries. Even more broad than the tech spectrum
of our usual CIL issues, we expand the Buyer's
Guide to cover all the "extras" that you need to
run your business: shelving, cables, furniture, library
cards, etc. And if you'd like a little help putting
it all together, check out our Consultants Directory.
What's that, you say? You'd like to hire one of these
consultants, but you don't know how to begin? Say no
more—we've got the answers for you right here.
This year's insightful feature is by consultants, about
consultants. It gives you the inside scoop on how to
find them, what traits to look for, and what questions
to ask. We hope you'll find it really useful.
To make room for our directory listings, in this
issue we don't run our regular departments or columns.
Sorry if you're missing your favorite pundits, but
they need their summer breaks just like the rest of
us do! Don't worry, they'll be back in September.
Also in September, keep an eye out for something
important—our list of new themes for 2004. I know
that many of you who've written for CIL already
or who have sent in queries are eagerly awaiting these
themes. To those of you who haven't submitted article
ideas yet, please join us! Any working librarian is
qualified to write for us; you don't have to be a famous
person running a spectacular project. If you're a regular
subscriber who already reads our features, you'll know
what we're looking for: We want people to tell their
tech stories, to reveal what they've tried and what
they've learned. The idea is to share your experiences
with your colleagues so you're not all out there reinventing
the same wheels.
If
I've enticed you, check our Web site. In the CIL section
you'll see "How to Contribute," which includes FAQs.
By mid-August we plan to have the 2004 themes posted
online, and you'll see themprinted in September. Sharing
your experiences is doing your part to keep all your
peers on top of all the latest technologies and tips.
So to achieve fame and fortune, find our Online Query
Form and send in your ideas! We can all help each other
stay up-to-date.
 Kathleen L. Dempsey is the Editor
of Computers in Libraries. Her email address
is: kdempsey@infotoday.com |
