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This approach to co‐operation between libraries and information centres considers the use of switching languages. These can be employed in situations where several centres with a common interest wish to co‐operate in the collection and indexing of information bearing material, yet prefer to retain the systems often developed and tailored to their individual requirements. To facilitate the exchange of subject information between the centres, a series of concordances are constructed between each of the indexing languages and the switching language. Thus the translation of subject indexing expressed in the indexing languages of the other participating centres can then proceed automatically. Among the possible benefits are the economic saving due to the sharing by several centres in the collection and indexing of material, and the increase in coverage enjoyed by all the centres. To determine the feasibility of such devices, a switching language, the Intermediate Lexicon for Information Science, has been developed and is under test at the Polytechnic of North London School of Librarianship. The work is supported by a grant from British Library Research and Development Department.

The new Management Team which is to take the new‐style Aslib into the 80's and beyond, is taking shape.

VINE is produced at least four times a year with the object of providing up‐to‐date news of work being done in the automation of library housekeeping processes, principally in the UK. It is edited and substantially written by the Information Officer for Library Automation based in Southampton University Library and supported by a grant from the British Library Research and Development Department. Copyright for VINE articles rests with the British Library Board, but opinions expressed in VINE do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the British Library. The subscription for 1981 for VINE is £20 for UK subscribers and £23 for overseas subscribers — subscription year runs from January to December.

I will attempt (albeit briefly) to give an overview of the profession's formal involvement in data protection. My objectives will be threefold. Firstly, to sketch some of the background of the library and information profession's concern with data protection. Secondly, to indicate what is happening currently (and there is a great deal happening), and thirdly to outline how and where I see matters developing in the future. This particular gathering may well provide a useful input into this last area because it is really up to the individual members of the profession to indicate where the effort and development on this subject should be concentrated. Those close to the issue (too close it feels at times) have their own specialised view of things, but there is a danger that the general interests of the profession are not sufficiently regarded and pursued unless frequent soundings are taken.

On 1 February 1985 an invited audience of representatives from a wide variety of library and information organisations attended a seminar on software evaluation sponsored by the British Library and held at Information House, the headquarters of Aslib, the Association for Information Management.

THE Reference Department of Paisley Central Library today occupies the room which was the original Public Library built in 1870 and opened to the public in April 1871. Since that date two extensions to the building have taken place. The first, in 1882, provided a separate room for both Reference and Lending libraries; the second, opened in 1938, provided a new Children's Department. Together with the original cost of the building, these extensions were entirely financed by Sir Peter Coats, James Coats of Auchendrane and Daniel Coats respectively. The people of Paisley indeed owe much to this one family, whose generosity was great. They not only provided the capital required but continued to donate many useful and often extremely valuable works of reference over the many years that followed. In 1975 Paisley Library was incorporated in the new Renfrew District library service.

VINE is produced at least four times a year with the object of providing up‐to‐date news of work being done in the automation of library housekeeping processes, principally in the UK. It is edited and substantially written by the Information Officer for Library Automation based in Southampton University Library and supported by a grant from the British Library Research and Development Department. Copyright for the articles rests with the British Library Board and opinions expressed in VINE do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the British Library. The subscription for 1984 to VINE is: £23 for UK subscribers, £26 to overseas subscribers (including airmail delivery). Second and subsequent copies to the same address are charged at £14 for UK and £16 for overseas. VINE is available in either paper or microfiche copy and all back issues are available on microfiche.

Vine is produced at least four times a year with the object of providing up‐to‐date news of work being done in the automation of housekeeping processes, principally in the UK. It is produced and substantially written by the Editor who is based at the Polytechnic of Central London and supported by a grant from the British Library Board and opinions expressed in VINE do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the British Library. The subscription for 1984 to VINE is: £23 for UK subscribers, £26 to overseas subscribers (including airmail delivery). Second and subsequent copies to the same address are charged at £14 for UK and £16 for overseas. VINE is available on either paper or microfiche copy and all back issues are available on microfiche.

WAS IT ONLY the pure in heart (such as myself) who found the Great Christmas Holiday Shutdown the biggest bore of the year? Four days of actual Christmas lay‐off had me pining to be back at the office on the Wednesday morning, although most of Britain, including a number of academic libraries, reckoned it wasn't worth switching on the heating for only three days before the New Year holiday, and stayed in bed or sprawled in front of the telly for a grand total of 11 days.

A country no stronger than its information As a result of the new Gramm‐Rudman‐Hollings law which mandates a balanced federal budget by 1991 (a cut of $9.9m), and an $8.4 in budget reduction by Congress, the Library of Congress is suffering a total cutback of 7.6% from last year. This means a loss of $1 in every $13. The total number of hours open will be reduced by 30% per week; evening and weekend hours by 59%. The Library will be unable to purchase some 80 000 new books.