GLEETT - University of Washington

W'RD P1H ThE aALR AND EDI'IOR
This year I am addressing you as the Chair of SEES and the Editor of
our NEESIE1IR. I would like to thank my co-editors: Barbara Galik and
Andrew ?4akudi as well as the Associate Editor Viveca Seylycur for their
work on this issue and the Association for oDliege and Research Libraries
for making it possible. 'lb all of you I can say that we have advanced the
cause of Slavic librarianship In the United States during the last year.
This, I hope, transpires frrin the pages of this NEWSIEXIER. The reports
fron ferences of both professional associaticts: the MASS and SEES,
poblicaticxis issued and research In progress are speaking for themselves.
We have made an effort to provide evidence of as many achievements as
we or*ild identify. We call on you to send sore information for the future
issues which we hope will cuitinue to apear annually at this time of
year. There are a few d.evelcçzmsits I ild like to stress. Our NEWSIEITER
has been received positively. Requests for oies came not only fron
knerican r -siriDers bet also from other countries. A SEES HANDBK is
In the beginning stages of preparation and sgestions as to its format,
cc*itent, profile, etc. should be send either to SEES thair, Editor of the
NEhIErl, or directly to the ocepiler: Patricia Kelley, Assistant
University Librarian for Public Services, George Washington University,
Geiman Library, 2130 H Str. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20052. The Ethnic
Omaaittee will prepare a Qiide to Ethnic organizations, collections, and
newspapers. An encyclopedic book, BZOK 0310VRE DI 'l SOVIET UNION
AND ESTEE PE; A HANDBXac is neariog ccmpletion. Aplicatmon for
suport for editorial work has been snitted to the Subocemittee on
Bibliogray, Information Retrieval and Occumentation on Soviet Studies
of the Social Sci Research Ouncil and rejected, and to the ALA World
Book Award and endorsed by the AC3L Board of Directors. The decision is
pending. Several past conference prograilm resulted from the work on this
project. This sama.bat theoretical profile will also be maintained duriog
the forthoceiing ccnferm in New York.
Icoking into the future SEES will promte greater involvement on the
part of Slavic ethnic librarians and Slavic librarians fra p.iblic libraries.
It is felt that Slavic books In poblic libraries are poorly represented and
older books are often resoved from libraries. Thus the Slavic ethnic
heritage in the United States is vanishing. The Section expressed great
cexn about this cultural loss for the entire country. There is an urgent
neei to address this issue. Euture conference pregrama In contrast to the
past are cuiteaplated to be sore practically oriented. Preservaticm of
library materials, retrospective cuwersion, cooperative cataloging, and
eiarqes are an tJie targeted cozrns. The Section should also
prminte sore contacts with East European librarians and library
associaticrm. If possible, personal liazons should be established between
SEES and such organizations for the p3rpose of cursunicating
develcpiients and cooperating.
The III World ODogress of Slavic and East European Studies which took
place In Washington, D.C. In October 30 to November 4, 1985 was a major
event. Report from it is included in this issue.
We would like to congratulate our Britsh colleagues for their
initiative to expand their traditionally fine Newsletter SOLANUS Into a
full fledged scholarly journal devoted to Slavic ased East European book
studies. We wish them good luck in this enterprise.
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