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It has often been said that a great part of the strength of Aslib lies in the fact that it brings together those whose experience has been gained in many widely differing fields but who have a common interest in the means by which information may be collected and disseminated to the greatest advantage. Lists of its members have, therefore, a more than ordinary value since they present, in miniature, a cross‐section of institutions and individuals who share this special interest.

Information officers as servants whether we admit it or not, we are all essentially selfish and like to know the answer to the question ‘Where do I stand?’ Hence it is proposed, as the first of the few topics selected for discussion in this paper, to deal with the position of the information officer himself.

The period available at the conference for the discussion of the Fuel and Power Group's Symposium proved far too short for conclusive debating of the many ideas and opinions expressed. Generally, it was agreed that the Symposium was practical and revealing and formed an excellent basis on which to build a truly representative and informative guide to the Fuel and Power documentary services in the United Kingdom. Such a guide, or review of resources of organizations within the ambit of the Aslib Fuel and Power Group, was recommended for investigation by the Group Committee, which might give consideration to arrangement under (a) organizations predominantly concerned with fuel and power, and (b) organizations concerned incidentally with fuel and power. This recommendation emerged from discussion of a viewpoint that a clear definition of fuel and power was essential to practical limitation of the Group's membership and area of activity. Mr. V. Biske proposed that a suitable working definition might be taken from Article 1 of The census of production (1954) (Returns and Exempted Persons) Order, 1953. (S.I. 1953, No. 939):

Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).

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 28th annual conference of Aslib, held at Nottingham University from 11th to 14th September, 1953, proved to be the largest that Aslib has so far organized. A list of those present is printed on pp. 254–260. Yet again Aslib was glad to be able to welcome a number of overseas guests and members, including Dr. and Mrs. Lancour and their small daughter from the U.S.A., Drs. and Mrs. van Dijk and Miss Rom from the Netherlands, Mr. M. S. Dandekar and Mr. J. V. Karandikar from India, Miss D. M. Leach from Canada, and Mrs. T. Collin from Norway. Mr. Walter A. Southern, a Fulbright scholar from the U.S.A. affiliated to Aslib during his year's study in the United Kingdom, represented the Special Libraries Association, and Mr. J. E. Holmstrom attended as an observer on behalf of Unesco.

Questions put to Mr Aitchison during the evening dealt mainly with the method of his SDI investigation. In reply to Mr C. S. Sabel (Central Electricity Generating Board) Mr Aitchison said that progressive modification of user profiles would be attempted. In answer to a point made by Mr D. V. Arnold (ICI Heavy Organic Chemicals Division) he affirmed his belief that co‐operation with librarians was essential. Mr P.E.Colinese (Central Electricity Generating Board) asked about the method of assessment of relevance by users. Mr Aitchison indicated that this would become more stringent as the study progressed. In reply to Mr D.H. Barlow (McGraw Hill) he said that three indexers would be required for indexing a maximum of 15,000 documents a year. To questions on the amount of computer time required and the percentage of key word match which would enable him to regard a document as relevant to a user, he replied that they hoped to have answers within the next four months. Mr C. S. Sabel (Central Electricity Generating Board) wondered what was the best way for work on mechanization to be co‐ordinated. Mr Aitchison thought that since so few people were working in this field there was little risk of fruitless duplication of effort.

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.

Thisissue of Aslib Proceedings is mainly devoted to papers presented at the 24th Annual Conference, held at Ashorne Hill, near Learnington Spa, Warwickshire, from 9 to 11 September, 1949. In addition, we have pleasure in printing the annual report and accounts of the British Union Catalogue of Periodicals.