Dear Colleague,

We are fortunate to conclude our publishing year with contributions from forward-thinking authors who personify the best of law librarianship – smart, dedicated professionals who are willing to share with their colleagues. In very different areas, our law librarian contributors have developed specific areas of expertise in their firms for the benefit of their library users.

For example, in his former career as a Wall Street law librarian, West Librarian Relations Manager Craig Eastland developed considerable knowledge of the financial industry. In this issue, he takes us step-by-step through the still-emerging financial crisis. For those who want to understand how the housing bubble and banking actions led to our current situation, Craig's article is essential reading.

Whether you are embarking on a big project or just managing daily details of a busy law library, it's sometimes difficult to focus on important things in the press of urgent requests or to identify what is the most appropriate way for each staff member to spend his or her time. Greg Lambert helps us get some perspective to better evaluate work flow and honestly assess whether we are spending our time on the right things. He offers some practical ways to keep things moving in the office while still having time to contribute to the profession and have fun!

Our newest products and offerings reflect librarians' need for multiple formats and a global reach in research materials. Read about Rise of American Law for new ways to access historic first editions and other 19th- and 20th- century classics of legal research. And see how Westlaw China, developed with input from attorneys and law students in China and the United States, is emerging as the single credible source of legal information relating to the practice of law in China.

It has been a busy year for all of us and we in Librarian Relations thank you for your support. We appreciate that you have many demands on your time and we are pleased to have the opportunity to work with such dedicated professionals. Best wishes to all for a happy and successful new year! Please continue to call upon us for assistance and to let us know how we can best work with you in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Lori Hedstrom