FROM THE EDITOR
Jain Fletcher
Whew! This is the last OLAC Newsletter issue of 2002. Its arrival brings us back into sync with the Newsletter's usual timing. Putting the Newsletter back on track has been high among my priorities since I took over its editorship in mid-September. Therefore, at this point, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize OLAC contributors and members for the Newsletter's successful return.
When I first started, it was necessary to request that all prior submissions for the March and June issue be re-submitted to me. I had no idea what kind of response I would get, but had some concern that my first request would not be my last. I saw a reasonable potential for having to remind some contributors more than once. Instead, within only a few days of my request, to my great relief (and delight), the full content of both issues was in my hands! This was quite a telling response. To me it meant that OLAC members were responsive, cared about their organization and very strongly interested in its continued success. But it gets better. You may remember that you never saw a reminder from me about the deadlines for submission for the next two issues. There was a reason for this: I received almost all the submissions for the next two issues without having to ask!! OLAC members/contributors have made this neophyte Newsletter Editor's job as uncomplicated as can be imagined.
Throughout, everyone who has contributed, either with a regular feature in the Newsletter or with single contributions, has been extremely supportive and helpful whenever I had questions. While everyone with a by-line or reporting credit during this year has my deepest gratitude for this, two people deserve to be singled out for special appreciation. Kay Johnson is one of them. She has responded swiftly and thoughtfully to all of my questions during this period. Moreover, in addition to her "day job" and her OLAC presidential duties, she also very considerately offered to continue the post-editing jobs through the end of this year. This has involved: taking the final copy to the printers and then stapling, labeling and mailing the issues. (Whew, indeed!) Sue Neumeister is the other. With each issue, I have also been sending e-files to Sue for mounting on the Web. This practice has turned out to have unexpected benefits for me (and for you). Sue has been able to point out (with utmost kindness and good humor) various inconsistencies and errors that she had run across while HTML-editing my copy--most of the time before I have finalized my print version. Between the two of them (and many other helpful comments made by others along the way), I feel as if I have learned quite a bit in a short period. Oh, I am aware I have lots more to learn, but this has been a great start, thanks to everyone.
Work towards the completion of the current issue provides yet more evidence of the admirable responsiveness of this organization's membership. This being the OLAC Conference issue, the duties of the Conference Reports Editor were naturally expected to be paramount. Mary Konkel had very kindly agreed to step into what was now my former job. In the transition period, before she took the reins back into her experienced and capable hands, I was the one who put out the call for Conference reporters and made the assignments. Therefore, I am able to tell you from first-hand knowledge that there was an almost full complement of volunteers within 2-3 days of my call. By Conference time, all reporters had been assigned. (I must admit, however, that the lack of poster session reports was my oversight, having forgotten until too late that you like to read about those as well. This omission is being addressed to some extent on the Conference reports page of the OLAC Website.) After the Conference, Mary was able to hold the reporters to a tight deadline to the extent that I had the full quota of edited reports within a few weeks. Even with such speedy work, the quality of the Conference reports is high. The entire collection brings the Conference to life for those who could not attend--and back to life for those who could! From the reports, it is possible to perceive the range of offerings provided by the Conference and the quality of presenters upon whom OLAC is able to draw. The reports bring that success full circle.
You will see that, while news of the Conference wends throughout the issue, so does other OLAC activity and activism. I learned a few things while editing it and I sincerely hope you will too when reading it. And, as you read, please take note of every name mentioned within--be it contributor, by-line, reporter, column editor, conference organizer, speaker, trainer, award recipient, OLAC officer, liaison, advocate… well, the list goes on and on.
Now I am going to "relax" for a bit. I have learned much in the last few months and have a few ideas to consider implementing on behalf of the Newsletter (with appropriate support from the Board, of course). Please feel free to let me know what you think--positive or negative--now that you have had a chance to see some of my efforts. And, now that the Newsletter is back to its regular routine, remember that submissions to the Newsletter are due on the first day of the month prior to the one found on the cover of the upcoming issue (March, June, September, December). Who knows? Maybe that is all I will ever need to say on that topic!!
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Last updated: January 15, 2003
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