Date: Thu, 05 Jun 1997 15:28:54 -0500
From: Judy Johnston <JJOHNSTO@MAIN.LIBRARY.UNT.EDU>
Sender: "SEREDIT:  SERIALST Editors" <SEREDIT@LIST.UVM.EDU>

13TH ANNUAL NASIG CONFERENCE (June 18-21, 1998)
 CALL FOR PAPERS, WORKSHOPS, AND PRECONFERENCES

"Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground: Serials Vision and Common
Sense"

The North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG), an organization
that serves the interests of U.S., Canadian and Mexican members of the
serials information chain, will hold its 13th Annual Conference June
18-21, 1998, on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder,
one of the most beautiful university campuses in the United States.
NASIG's annual conference provides a forum in which librarians,
publishers, vendors, educators, binders, systems developers, and other
serials specialists exchange views, present new ideas, proactively
seek solutions to common problems, and discuss matters of current
interest.  The proceedings are published in both print and electronic
formats, with the electronic version made available on NASIGWeb
(http://nasig.ils.unc.edu).

In keeping with a venue in Colorado, a state of remarkable topographic
contrasts--plains, plateaus, and high mountains -- NASIG's Program
Planning Committee invites proposals for plenary papers and
preconferences that deal with "big picture" aspects of the theme, and
which will help attendees scale new heights.  We are especially
interested in papers or preconference ideas that will examine both the
visionary and practical aspects of the digital serials information
age.  Sessions which report on relevant research or which might
inspire further research are particularly welcome, as are proposals
which address decision making processes.  Examples:
    *coping with the "digital shift"
    *cataloging and organizing evolving forms of information
    *Web access issues--technological, structural, cultural
    *innovative partnerships for information management
    *e-journals--access issues and their impact on user behavior
    *preserving digital formats for future generations
    *changes in library organizational structure
    *transactional commerce on the Web
    *selection criteria for online information

The Committee also invites workshop and preconference proposals that
will provide practical information to help serialists make informed
decisions on a day to day basis.  Workshop leaders share their
experience in a collegial setting and facilitate related discussion
with those in attendance, often explaining how they manage specific
processes in their own settings.  Examples:
   -new technologies/services/software packages/standards
   -managing in times of change
   -survey methods for serialists
   -comparison of serials module features in the next generation of
       Integrated Library Systems
   -bibliometrics or statistics for serialists
   -licensing agreements for Web-based e-journals
   -new models for serials publishing and their effects on the
       information chain

NASIG invites anyone in the information community to submit proposals
and suggest topics/speakers.  The Program Planning Committee reserves
the right to combine, blend, or refocus proposals to maximize program
breadth and relevance to our membership.  As a result, not all
presenters from proposals submitted by teams may be invited to
participate.  Since proposals are reviewed competitively, please
include complete information for maximum consideration:
   * name, address, telephone/fax numbers, and e-address of
       the proposer(s)
   * program title
   * a 200-300 word abstract clearly explaining the proposal and, if
       appropriate, its relevance to the theme
   * a prioritized preference for the proposal: plenary, workshop or
       preconference

Proposals should be submitted, via e-mail if possible, no later than
August 1, 1997 to Connie Foster, NASIG Secretary to receive
consideration.  Send proposals to:

Connie Foster
Serials Coordinator
Helm-Cravens Library 306
One Big Red Way
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY 42101
e-mail:  rfosterc@wkyuvm.wku.edu