On a daily basis more than 350 library staff members are involved in a myriad of activities which are required in the operation of a major research library. In providing services to the university community we deal with the newest student and the most advanced researcher. We provide information resources in all formats from every corner of the world. While maintaining a full range of traditional library services, the Libraries staff is expanding the use of technology for library operations and services and providing increasing numbers of electronic resources.
As you read this issue, I am sure you will be struck, as I am, by the broad range of activities that the Libraries and its staff members undertake. The numerous kinds of activities that make up our total service program are truly amazing, even to those of us involved on a daily basis. Efforts to increase access to information about our collections are described in the article on retrospective conversion, Marcive and serials conversion. The Libraries' interest and involvement in educational technology is emphasized by the article on the Virtually Yours Symposium sponsored by the Faculty Council on University Libraries. Our contribution to education through our exhibits program, the continuing attention to the needs of the library as place through renovation and upgrade of existing spaces and installation of public art, the expansion of electronic databases made available to the university community, and additional efforts to listen to our users through new surveys are activities highlighted in this issue. Mary St. Germain's experience evaluating library needs in Kyrgyzstan is an example of the language and subject expertise of our individual staff members that is often utilized outside the Libraries.
We are especially proud of two achievements mentioned in the issue. Betsy Wilson, our Associate Director for Public Services, has been named the winner of the 1995 Miriam Dudley Bibliographic Instruction Librarian Award. And the UWired program, a collaboration between the University Libraries, Undergraduate Education, Computing & Communications, has been given the ACRL's Innovation in Bibliographic Instruction Award for 1995. Congratulations to Betsy and to the UWired program.