EDITORIAL

The question of communication within the IT industry and society in general is a topic of eternal fascination to me. Recent news reports in the local press suggest that communication within the corporate world is becoming fragmented and lacking focus with sinister suggestions that the new "elite" are those that control the jargon. Many of the words used are superficial and laden with euphemism, the classic of the last decade being "right sizing" to mean sacking workers. Don Watson in an article in the February issue of the Australian's Review of Books rightly takes the Australian bureaucracy to task for the lack of clarity of expression in many of its key documents, which after all is the main way the government communicates with the people. It has been said many times before but clear, concise and succinct communication is one of the corner stones of democracy. If the people cannot understand what government is saying, where does that leave us all. Interestingly there is an under current of discontent with this form of "newspeak" and fun is being poked at the high priests of this distinctly unclear form of communication which surely is good for us all!

IN THIS ISSUE

Colin Webb and Ross Coleman my erstwhile companions on the Australian Co-operative Digitisation Project 1840-45 give their final report on the first major joint project of this nature in Australia. I would like to record my appreciation of the efforts of all those who have been involved in this project, but particularly Ross as Project Leader and Colin who did much of the hard work when the going got tough! Thanks go to Professors Elizabeth Webby and Ian Jack from the University of Sydney who gave the project their whole hearted support in our initial Australian Research Council grant application. Special mention should be made of Tony Wheeler and Bob Wahl at W & F Pascoe, Martin Shub of Discovery Media, Andrew Heath and Rebecca Thomas at the State Library of New South Wales, not to forget the contribution of Alan Howell before he took up his position at the State Library of Victoria. At the National Library of Australia Lawrie Salter, Kevin Bradley and Deirdre Burgess Judith Pearce , at the University of Sydney Library Julie Price and Creagh Cole and finally Robert Stafford from Monash University. All were involved in the Ferguson (as it was colloquially known) , some from its inception, some only at the end. We have all learned a great deal from the project and standards and procedures are now in place for those that follow in our footsteps. Visit the ACDP web site at http://www.nla.gov.au/acdp/

Mary Anne Kennan from the Australian Graduate School of Management Library gives a systematic, step by step account of the process and procedures of acquiring a new library system. A must for all newcomers or "newbies" (to use some more jargon) in this area.

Paul Brennan great raconteur and maker of wonderful jarrah rotating book cases, based on the originals owned by David Scott Mitchell (The State Library of New South Wales' greatest benefactor), gives us a wonderful historical overview of copyright and the problems which have always been associated with it.

Paul Brennan great raconteur and maker of wonderful jarrah rotating book cases, based on the originals owned by David Scott Mitchell (The State Library of New South Wales' greatest benefactor), gives us a wonderful historical overview of copyright and the problems which have always been associated with it.

Professor Albrecht Classen argues cogently for the recognition of the work that goes into book reviews and I heartily agree with his conclusions and finally Rosalinda Bishop covers the history and development of computerised searching.

Please let your colleagues know about the Maguire Medal and the prize of A$1000 associated with it. The details are at the end of this issue of LASIE and the closing date for entries is 29 September 2000.