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The problem of translations is one that, sooner or later, besets most special librarians. For a small library, in particular, where no member of the staff can be spared to undertake the work even if qualified to do so, translations are expensive though often necessary. It is all the more frustrating, therefore, when it is later discovered that the article in question has already been translated elsewhere and would have been accessible. Hence the repeated demand, ‘Cannot something be done to avoid this duplication of effort?’ The problem of translations is, however, deceptive. It looks simple. Let there be a central index and ask anyone who makes a translation to register it; then everyone else will know that a translation of that particular article has already been made. So runs the argument. But there are hidden difficulties. It was to describe some of these difficulties and to consider possible remedies that the London Winter Meeting of Aslib held on 17th January, 1955, was devoted to a discussion of the translation of scientific material, under the Chairmanship of Mr. E. B. Uvarov.

The author of a paper entitled ‘The Scientist as Information Officer’ might reasonably be expected to define the terms ‘scientist’ and ‘information officer’. The tentative working definitions I will offer are for the sole purpose of limiting the scope of the paper, and I am well aware that they are most unlikely to be universally accepted.

The Chairman, Mr. E. B. Uvarov, Head of the Technical Information Bureau of Courtaulds, Ltd., Coventry, introduced the first speaker, Miss H. Thornton, of T.M.M. (Research), Ltd. He said that she was a welcome newcomer to the ranks of Aslib speakers, but no stranger to the members of the Aslib Textile Group, who knew her as the Group's very efficient and persistent Secretary, who prodded them into activity with skill and tact, and with a great measure of success. One of the more valuable results of such activity was the Group's work on translations, which present rather special problems in the textile field. The Chairman then invited Miss Thornton to speak on this subject.

It has been a great pleasure to have listened to Mr. Mathys' most interesting paper on the patent specification as a source of information, and I have the added pleasure of having been asked by Mr. Mathys to explain how a seeker after information contained in English patent specifications can track down the specifications he wishes to read. Mr. Mathys suggested that I should explain some of the principles of the Patent Office classification and some of the practical results obtained. However, I propose to alter to some extent this logical order of presentation. After reviewing three lines of attack for locating a specification, I shall briefly review the historical development of the Classification key, that is the book in which the scheme of classification is disclosed, then I will show how a hypothetical Mr. X can locate specifications that disclose inventions relating to frying‐pans, and finally I will give a short resume of the principles underlying the scheme of and method of classifying patent specifications. I have adopted this inverted form of presentation because more people wish to use a classification system to find some specific item, than wish to study such a system as an abstract entity. No difficulty arises for a person who knows the patent number of a particular specification he wishes to read. He merely enters the Patent Office Library or one of the several provincial libraries that are supplied with copies of specifications, and quickly finds what he wants amidst an orderly numbered sequence. Alternatively, he can send 2s. 8d. to the Sale Branch of the Patent Office and obtain a copy by post.

The nucleus of a ‘Textile Group’ of Aslib had been in existence for some years. The British Standards Institution Panel, OC/20/4/17—TEXTILES, which some time ago was engaged on a revision of Section 677 of the U.D.C., consisted principally of people fundamentally interested in textile documentation problems; a large proportion were Aslib members, and the meetings of the Panel, therefore, in some sense, fore‐shadowed the formation of the new subject group.

This paper is not intended to be either a full description of all work of the Technical Information Bureau of Courtaulds, Ltd., or to offer ready solutions to problems which have worried librarians and information officers from the keepers of the Assyrian clay tablets to speakers at Aslib Conferences. Its aim is to describe some of our ad hoc methods of dealing with certain of these problems and to offer our experience to others who may be facing them.

ASLIB has been concerned with education in the field of special librarianship from the first conference of 1924, when the subject was among those discussed. At that date there were two qualifications available in librarianship, the Fellowship of the Library Association and the Diploma of the University of London School of Librarianship. For the Library Association's examinations it was possible to study by correspondence, at summer schools, and in a very few places at part‐time classes. The School of Librarianship offered a one‐year post‐graduate and a two‐year undergraduate full‐time course, and while some of the Diplomates entered public libraries, others went into private libraries, university and college libraries and industrial firms. Latin was a compulsory subject for entrance to the School, however, and this was a deterrent to science graduates who wished to train for the profession.

FROM 5th to 8th October, 1951, Aslib was fortunate in holding its Annual Conference again at Ashorne Hill, near Leamington Spa, and our thanks are due for the third time to Colonel and Mrs. J. H. Alexander and their staff for the excellence of the catering and domestic arrangements. The weather also co‐operated and sunshine displayed all the autumn beauties of the garden and countryside.

The papers in this issue were given at the 25th Annual Conference, held at Bristol University from 22nd to 25th September, 1950. Some 230 delegates from the British Isles, the Commonwealth and Europe were welcomed to dinner on Friday evening by Sir Philip Morris, C.B.E., M.A., Vice‐Chancellor of the University, and Lady Morris. No papers were given on Friday evening, Mr. J. E. Wright arranging an informal dance after dinner.

Sir Raymond Streat, C.B.E., Director of The Cotton Board, Manchester, accompanied by Lady Streat. A Vice‐President: F. C. Francis, M.A., F.S.A., Keeper of the Department of Printed Books, British Museum. Honorary Treasurer: J. E. Wright, Institution of Electrical Engineers. Honorary Secretary: Mrs. J. Lancaster‐Jones, B.Sc., Science Librarian, British Council. Chairman of Council: Miss Barbara Kyle, Research Worker, Social Sciences Documentation. Director: Leslie Wilson, M.A.