----------------------------Original message---------------------------- MAPS-L readers will soon see the first electronic issue of "WAML Information Bulletin News & Notes" to appear via MAPS-L. The Western Association of Map Libraries (WAML) members have already received these "News & Notes" directly to their e-mail accounts. WAML has embarked on this experiment to share its "News & Notes" via MAPS-L in order to benefit the broader map library community in a timely way. We also hope to encourage other map library organizations to do the same with their news. Thanks go to Johnnie Sutherland for providing this remarkable forum and the permission to use it in this way. "News & Notes" has been a long-time part of WAML's printed serial publication, the "Information Bulletin." We are currently examining the frequency and content of the "Information Bulletin" and our current plan is to reprint these electronic "News & Notes" in the "Information Bulletin" as a permanent record. In addition to the "News & Notes," the "Information Bulletin" includes informative feature articles about specific and broad issues affecting the field of map and spatial data librarianship. It also includes cartobibliographies and book and atlas and software reviews. In order to become a WAML member and receive the printed "Information Bulletin," send $20 annual dues for individuals or $40 for institutions with your name, title, address, telephone, fax and e-mail address to WAML Treasurer, Dorothy McGarry, P.O. Box 931119, Los Angeles, CA 90093-1119. Anyone may contribute to the "News & Notes" and/or the "Information Bulletin" and we encourage you to do so. Contributions to "News & Notes" may include people-related news, association news, news about your map collection, agency news, brief information about new maps, atlases, globes, spatial data, hardware and software products, etc. Please send contributions to News & Notes Editor, Connie Manson at [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] Feature article contributions for the "Information Bulletin" may be sent to Features Editor, Larry Cruse at [log in to unmask] Larry will be happy to help you refine your ideas for contributions as well. The WAML Board is also very interested in discussing the current state of serial publications with representatives from other map library organizations. We feel that a move toward a more unified approach to publishing a high quality map/spatial data library journal may be a positive direction for the maps community. If anyone is interested in pursuing this discussion, please contact WAML President, Kathryn Womble at [log in to unmask] or (206) 543-9392. Thank you for your time and attention. Kathryn Womble WAML President