Editorial Note

Regular readers of this journal are becoming accustomed to seeing a special number appear in the winter issue of many recent volumes. These have included the proceedings of the quinquennial Library History Seminars and unique conferences having to do with the history and "significance of collections of recorded knowledge," to quote from the journal's statement of purpose. A number of these issues have been republished with indexes included.

When the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center convened the fourth biennial Fleur Cowles Flair Symposium 2000 in November, dealing with "The Infinite Library," the desirability of publishing a selection of papers in this journal became immediately apparent. Not only did many of these papers touch on the history of libraries and archival repositories as their authors looked toward the future, but the participants collectively represented a body of scholars who appreciated the heritage of the past in content and artifact and who manifested great concern about its preservation and continuing accessibility. Thus, these papers relate well to the general goals of Libraries & Culture.

Furthermore, the opportunity for the journal and its sponsors--the university's Graduate School of Library & Information Science and the University of Texas Press--to collaborate with their esteemed colleagues in the Ransom Center was not to be missed. The interdisciplinary stimulation of scholarly activity is one of the fruits of a research institution. With this issue the worldwide audience can join in the enterprise.