Connecticut Libraries Editor David Kapp and I introduced the Looking at Books column in the April 1996 issue of CL. The goal was, and still is, to find and discuss books that we think have special meaning to members of the library community. We the kicked off the column with a review of The Road Ahead, by Bill Gates. Since then, most of the books reviewed have dealt with "information superhighway" issues, though books on other themes have also been examined. For example, we regularly present books on management topics of interest to library personnel, as well as books on reading and the changing society within which libraries exist. We have often featured the works of authors appearing at our Connecticut Library Association annual conferences.

Several guest reviewers have helped keep Looking at Books fresh by sharing their expertise and opinions in the column:Joseph Cadieux (Our Singular Strengths: Meditations for Librarians - December 1998); Christine Bradley (The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Difference - June 2001, The Grand Complication - June 2002, How to be Alone - March 2003, Pattern Recognition - July/August 2003, Microtrends - January 2008,The First Wave - April 2008); Arthurs Meyers (High Tech, High Touch: Library Customer Service Through Technology - March, 2004); Tara L. Hurt (Teaching and Learning with Technology - July/August 2004, American Education - November 2006); Shelley Roseman (Resilience and Courage - October 2004, The Coffee Trader - October 2005, The Plot Against America - October 2006, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana - February 2008); Tom Newman (Free Culture - January 2005, The Anarchist in the Library - July/August 2005, Tuned Out: Why Americans Under 40 Don't Follow the News - March 2006, Death Sentences: How Cliches, Weasel Words, and Management-Speak are Strangling Public Language - July/August 2007, Soul Catcher - April 2008); Carol A. Reichardt Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design - September 2007).

Friends and colleagues have helpfully suggested titles on a variety of topics for the column. Reviews of many of these books have appeared over the years. In addition to our guest reviewers and David Kapp, the Book Review Editor thanks the following friends and colleagues for their support and assistance in recommending titles for the column: Maxine Bleiweis, Patricia Durham, Suzanne Elliot, Mary Engels, Lana Ferguson, Sandra Joncus, Marion Juliano, Nolan Lushington, Margaret Rothen, and Judy Smith.

LOOKING AT BOOKS Online was the result of requests from readers who wanted a convenient way to locate older columns. The reviews appear as they were published in CL, though mistakes and typographical errors have been corrected, at least where they have been noticed!

One of the pleasures of writing the column is hearing from colleagues who have enjoyed reading it. Another is working with great people, like our guest reviewers and CL Editor David Kapp, who encouraged the first column and has been supportive ever since.

Vince Juliano, Book Review Editor

If you quote or make use of comments from a review, please cite the issue of Connecticut Libraries and the reviewer's name.