Books, books, and… more books! The perpetual dilemna of the librarian: the professional satisfaction of a growing and meaningful collection, but a seemingly endless quest for appropriate and adequate housing for the literary treasure. Much as we would want it to be, this is the state of affairs for APRL.

Together, APS and APRL are on the cusp of significant change, driven largely by requirements for space. Others in the organization are working on this need. From what I have seen in the past year, the matter is being addressed quite competently from the standpoint of possible building approaches.

Yet, in addition to “bricks and mortar” solutions, a strategic plan for a library has another dimension, yet unaddressed, posing both a challenge and an opportunity. Our world is replete with examples of new and ever more cost-effective provision of electronic information services. Leading libraries and archives are automating their services across the gamut of acquisition, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of collection material. A different capital investment approach is basic to this change, viz., a diminished growth of physical space, offset by an expansion of “electronic space”. This is key to gaining a synergy of reduced growth of operating and building costs, coupled with enhanced user services. APRL needs to be planning for, and participating thoughtfully in the benefits of this modern information revolution.

Recently retired from 33 years in senior management positions with the Xerox Corporation, I have long experience with the architecture of business processes, and technology for automation of information services. In the past nine years I was a United States delegate to international commissions on electronic commerce and information systems standards, in such venues as Washington, Geneva, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro. I desire to bring these experiences to bear on behalf of the APRL.

For nearly 30 years, I have served, and continue to do so, on boards of academic, fraternal, charitable and political organizations, holding national and state leadership positions in several. In such roles, I’ve seen time and again that those boards most effective for their constituencies have members bringing a balance of talents and skills germane to the mission of the organization.

With this observation I hope to draw a useful distinction. I’m mindful that our APS electorate tends to favor candidates presenting the most impressive array of personal credentials aligned with the primary purpose of the organization. Philatelic activity and accomplishment are a natural magnet. Members of the present APRL board, and generous candidates for this seat, have my unqualified respect for their respective accomplishments in matters philatelic. It is understatement to say that election to a seat beside these leaders of our hobby would be an honor. However, it is not for that purpose that I volunteer to take on such responsibility. I do so in the interest of bringing to the APRL other experience that complements the natural strong suit of the board; experience that, if tapped, can accrue to the long-term benefit of the organization.

A life long collector, with only the typical hiatus in teen and college years, my passion today is the postal history of Rhode Island, my birth state. I am a regular participant in APS Stampshow and the APS Summer Seminars; a donor to the APS Building Fund; and a member (in some cases, sustaining) of the following philatelic organizations: American Philatelic Research Library, U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, American Revenue Society, American First Day Cover Society, Bureau Issues Association, United Nations Philatelists, Inc., Rochester Philatelic Association, Rhode Island Postal History Society, Empire State Postal History Society, Universal Ship Cancellation Society, American Society of Check Collectors, American Philatelic Congress, Philatelic Computing Study Group, and the Virtual Stamp Club.

Dr. John B. Flannery
APS 157854