Volume 35 Nº 2 - July 1999

From the advisory committee

Wind back the clock and the calendar. Orana, May 1998: Orana is now thirty-three years old, and at a crossroads. Like most other small magazines in Australia, it is facing financial stringency ... Without your interest and involvement, Orana literally has no role. ...Tell us what you want of Orana in the future. The Advisory Committe will do its best to see that you get it.

That's what we wrote this time last year, and you did tell us. In faxes, e-mails, conversations and meeting reports, you said you wanted Orana to continue because no other journal filled its precise function.

What you didn't tell us, though, was how to make it happen. It's a huge undertaking for a group of busy librarians to run on a voluntary basis. How do we get contributions? How can we ensure all areas of our readership are covered? How can we know that we meet your needs?

Your replies tell us that what you want particularly are practical articles on children's librarianship, especially in public libraries. For that, we need contributions from practising librarians, library managers, library users. What do you do about promoting your library? How do you handle internet issues? How much of your budget now goes on electronic access? What difference does networking make?

On the other hand, how does storytime work for you? What strategies do you use to promote reading? And have you a Friends of the Library volunteer group working in children's services? If you feel you have nothing to share on any of these issues, perhaps you'd like to share some concerns instead. What are the apparently insoluble problems that get in the way of real progress? Perhaps it's time to introduce a regular forum to pool enlightenment on perplexing issues. Again, please tell us what you think!

As was the case in 1998, 1999 brings a guest editor for each issue of Orana. James Henri and Ross Todd have each volunteered to edit an issue. And, despite an incredibly heavy workload, Shirley Campbell has also volunteered to continue as Orana production manager for the forseeable future. Orana owes a hige debt to Shirley. She joined the advisory committee in 1990, became deputy chair in 1992 and succeeded Martha Heeren as chair in 1994. For the last five years, Shirley has shephereded the journal successfully though changes of editor, changes of format and technology and a constant ack of finance. Now she feels she must step down as chair. We thank her and are grateful indeed for her efforts - and the comfort of knowing that she will continue producing the journal to the same high standard she has set!

Alison Gregg
Chairperson

Apology: The Reviews section in Orana 34:3 was inadvertently repeated in Orana 35:1, for which the editor of Orana 35:1 apologises.