Managing Information Magazine continues its evolution, reflecting the changes brought about by the internet revolution, Web 2.0 and social media. One thing does not change however, our commitment to helping you the reader do your job better through our best practice articles with practical hints and tips, and our campaigning and awareness raising activities to promote the best interests of our profession as a whole.

The past few months have been particularly busy and exciting, with the launch of our new electronic subscriptions offering, the Government’s acceptance of Gowers report recommendations on intellectual property law (to which we submitted evidence on your behalf), and campaigns to save or protect various libraries and institutions.

Our new Managing Information subscription area offers the following new benefits:

· PDF versions of issues for the whole of 2006, and 2007 so far, building into a continually accessible archive, saving you storage space;
· The Managing Information Copyright Centre – an overview of, and introduction to, copyright law, along with updates on copyright issues making the news, helping you understand copyright and keep up-to-date – we also take questions from readers, for publication in the Copyright Centre with answers;
· The Managing Information Security and Compliance Centre – how to manage IT and email security, Data Protection and Freedom of Information, to ensure your organisation is protected and compliant;
· The Managing Information Blog – where the editorial team raises issues and seeks feedback, and where the readers exchange ideas and air their views, enhancing best practice, gathering evidence on key issues, and furthering the interests of our profession – this facility is particularly valuable to those who do not have the time, or for whom the distance to travel is too far, to visit professional meetings.
· Multiple user licences, and IP access (please contact us for pricing of these options).

There is now greater flexibility – readers can take out a print subscription, or an electronic subscription, a combined print and electronic subscription (all for single users), or multiple user licences. Aslib corporate members automatically receive the print copy, and have access to the subscriber area.

On the campaigning front, there is still a great deal to do. We are moving to the next steps of the Gowers Review – implementing the recommendations – there will be consultations on that, and we will be consulting you about any proposed changes, and submitting evidence and recommendations based on what you tell us.

There are other issues on which we will continue to campaign. Intelligent strategy, adequately funded, for our public library service, our education libraries, and key research institutions and facilities, so that they are efficiently run and contribute to the growth of the knowledge economy, the spread of information literacy, and the social agenda. Freedom of Information, and Data Protection, information security, and information literacy are other areas where we will keep a watching brief, and campaign where necessary. We welcome your input on issues on which we should be campaigning.

Graham Coult
Editor, Managing Information magazine
gcoult (@) aslib.com

BACK