At the planning committee meeting in Denver we were disappointed to be told by Charles Fineman that the projected conference cannot now be held in London in 1994. This is mainly because of continuing delays in the completion of the new British Library building; additional factors are that the meeting rooms within the new building would be inadequate for our likely requirements, the St. Pancras neighbourhood is not very suitable for such a conference, London itself is now extremely expensive, and LIBER moreover have now withdrawn from their plans (not to be rescheduled) for a London meeting to be held back to back with WESS. We therefore have to accept the impossibility of that happy conjunction — British Library, LIBER, and WESS — that had once seemed so feasible.

The committee decided that we should continue to explore any possible alternatives for holding an international conference in Europe with the more realistic target of 1995, as we must now expect to undertake all the planning ourselves. We must also be aware of many uncertainties that can occur within that time frame — above all those relating to the evolving political and economic scene in Europe and the possible effect upon attendance and the relevance of topics that we plan to discuss, also the obvious need for economy and some financial assistance if we are to attract the wholehearted support of librarians from North America and Europe.

Our meeting then became an attempted salvage operation as we examined the existing possibilities, starting with the offers of support for such a conference already made by some vendors. We also felt that some discussion might be continued with those contacts already made in England, if the need for additional alternatives becomes necessary. Charles Fineman will follow up these possibilities, and we hope to establish a location and a more precise date in readiness for more detailed planning, probably with some assistance from various contacts in Europe who can act as facilitators.

Some programme ideas that were then considered included electronic networking, preservation (from the archival as much as the commercial viewpoint), conspectus (recognised as very appropriate by Charles Fineman, as it is currently of great interest in Europe), EC impact upon the book trade, management (Western style), and professional mobility. A suggested overall theme was that of access within a united Europe.

At New Orleans we hope to continue with further discussion of the programme, practical organisational matters, and funding possibilities, with the continued assistance of colleagues from SEES. I hope we can look forward — with guarded optimism — to laying the groundwork for planning a timely, well-attended conference that will prove to be a not unworthy successor to those held previously by WESS in Minnesota and Florence.

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