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JOHANN FROBEN, the famous printer of Basle, was born at Hammelburg, in Franconia, about the year 1460. The exact year of his birth is not definitely known, but 1460 is probably not far wrong, as we find him established at Basle as a printer in 1491. He was educated at Basle University, where he distinguished himself as a scholar, particularly in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. After finishing his studies at Basle, he turned his attention to the then new art of printing, and he showed such aptitude that Johann Amerbach, another well‐known printer of Basle, who had set up a press in that city in 1481, induced him to devote his energies to the art, and appointed him to a position in his own printing establishment. Froben thus had the advantage of learning the art of printing under one of the best known printers of the period. In 1491, Froben set up a press of his own in Basle, having become a naturalized citizen of that city the previous year. He had been used in Amerbach's establishment to print with gothic types, and it was, therefore, but natural that his first production should also be printed in that type. This was an octavo Latin Bible, with two columns to a page, printed in a very small gothic type. He afterwards introduced the type invented by Aldus, that known as italic, the first book to be printed with this type being the Adagia of Erasmus, issued in 1513, of which mention is made later. Froben was also instrumental in making the roman type more popular in Germany, as although roman type had been used by German printers for about 20 years, having been introduced by Mentelin at Strassburg, about the year 1470, it was not so much in favour as the gothic type.

In our March issue we published an account of an interview between Sir Denis Barnes, chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, and John Wellens. Now we follow with a companion‐piece based on an interview between John Cassels, chief executive of the Training Services Agency, and John Wellens.

On 24th January this year the new and long‐promised legislation for public libraries in England and Wales made its bow in the shape of the Public Libraries and Museums Bill. Its first reading took place in the House of Commons on that day, and the unopposed second reading was on 5th February. As we write, future timing is uncertain, and it may be that by the time our readers are perusing these pages that the Bill will hare been passed in all its stages. The 23 clauses of the Bill occupy only 12½ pages. Briefly, the Bill will place the development of the public library service under the superintendence of the Minister of Education, and will set up two advisory councils as well as regional councils for interlibrary co‐operation. Non‐county boroughs and urban districts of less than 40,000 population which are existing library authorities will have to apply to the Minister for approval to continue as such. Clause 7 states that every library authority has a duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service, while the succeeding clause provides that, apart from certain exceptions, no charges shall be made by public library authorities. The Bill places considerable powers upon the Minister. Like most Bills, there is much in it which is open to interpretation. Does, for instance, clause 8, subsection (1) mean that those library authorities which are at present charging for the issue of gramophone records will have to cease doing so? This would seem to be the case, and we hope it is the case. On the other hand, which precise facilities are meant in subsection (4) of the same clause? Librarians will be disappointed that there is no reference to the need for library authorities to appoint separate library committees, nor is there a duty placed upon them to appoint suitably qualified persons as chief librarians. The Minister is given the power of inspection, and few library authorities or librarians will fear this. On the other hand no state financial assistance to library authorities is mentioned. In the 1930s and 19405 many wanted state aid but feared the consequential inspection. Now we have got the inspection without the money! When the Bill appeared, The Library World asked several librarians for their brief first impressions and in the following symposium will be found the views of a city librarian, a county librarian, two London librarians, a Welsh librarian, the librarian of a smaller town, and a member of the younger generation whose professional future may well be shaped by this new legislation.

IF THE BOOK‐BUYERS OF YESTERDAY were to return to the shops, what surprises would be ‘in store’ for them! Paperbacks! Thousands and thousands, colourful, lightweight, pocket‐size, infinite in their variety, subject and appeal, and cheaply priced by 1968 standards! The paperback department in any good bookshop is a veritable Aladdin's cave, where the casual browser is bewildered by sheer mass of stock and availability.

The general feeling about the new technician education council set up last month is that it will be an extremely important body. But no‐one is yet prepared to say exactly how and why. Its chairman, Mr A. L. Burton of the Furniture and Timber ITB, said that the council was going to have a lot to say and was going to say it ‘loud and clear’.

In April 1986 the BIM Journal Management Today carried an article on the top eight British companies measured in terms of average return on capital over the last ten years. According to the author, Robert Heller, most of these companies exhibited that quality of management that also generates the recruitment of high‐quality management for the future; and he observed that whereas a high level of management expertise does not ensure that strategic performance will match the operational excellence of the past “it greatly improves the odds, and that is one measure of what good management is all about”.

The growth of vocational skills competitions demonstrates an increased interest and popularity in companies, schools, colleges, and at regional, national and international levels. There are a number of significant benefits and also challenges associated with the competitions for individuals, their organisations, and for the nation as a whole, and this article draws parallels with the Olympic Games. This article combines research from a variety of sources to give a comprehensive overview of the history and purpose of the competitions and also to describe the various organisations supporting them. This is the first article to map the terrain of skills competitions and, having done so, it calls for further research to be conducted into their impact.

Investigates ‘end paper advertising’ (publishers inclusion in own publications of additional printed matter not connected with the primary text). Makes note of books and other publications from as far back as 1751 ‐ ‘The Gardeners Kalendar’ and goes on to give an in‐depth study of this area. Concludes that this study covers a heretofore‐uncovered area of interest.

This article aims to provide an initial assessment of the response of the civil service unions to the government′s most recent initiatives on management and working practices in ministerial departments. It considers in particular the Ibbs Report on “Improving Management in Government”, the most publicised of recent documents emerging from the Cabinet Office. A fairly wide ranging approach is adopted in order that the historical context of the report, and its consequent importance, may be appreciated. The core of the article is the result of interviews with senior officials from the main civil service unions. An assessment is made of their perceptions of the report and its implications for the civil service. It is argued that the ambivalence towards Ibbs evident in the positions of the various unions is a result of the divisions that exist between them, and of the heterogeneity of the civil service itself. Consequently any opposition from the unions is severely constrained, although obstacles to implementation may arise elsewhere.

This paper aims to reinforce the arguments for applying the social support concept in social marketing.

This paper aims to conceptually outline the potential positive contribution of social support for social marketing practice as a tool to induce behavior change.

This paper focuses on the philosophical principle of social exchange, highlights the consumer-centered perspective of social marketing, which implies the natural evaluation of the social networks of influence and support and presents social support as a mechanism to induce long-term behavior change.

No empirical (qualitative or quantitative) investigations were used to test the application of the concept in practical interventions.

This paper provides significant insights for intervention developers that can be used to program and theoretically justify future social marketing interventions applying the social support concept.

Empirical research concluded for a positive relation between social support and human health and well-being. Thus, increasing the use of the concept in social marketing can serve to attain these social goals.

The concept of social support has gained considerable interest in the areas of behavioral medicine and health psychology. Despite such interest, it is still not clear how it can be approached in social marketing as there is a lack of conceptual literature discussing social support from a social marketing perspective, the number of social marketing interventions operationalizing the concept is limited and, till date, no research has focused in comprehensively establishing a theoretical rationale to operationalize the concept in social marketing.