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Aims to demonstrate how robot technology, machine vision, voice recognition and artificial intelligence can be applied to creating an automated surgeon's assistant that is functional and cost‐effective.

Presents the development process that led to the construction of the Penelope Surgical Instrument Server (SIS), outlines the mechanical design of the robot, describes the control strategy and reports on the first real live implementation in an operating room. Machine vision, voice recognition and artificial intelligence are combined to create a robot assistant that is able to anticipate a specific surgeon's needs for a specific surgical procedure.

Finds that a robot can manage an array of surgical instruments and present the right one to the surgeon at the right time.

A robot for assisting a surgeon can relieve support staff in hospital operating rooms of repetitive tasks and thereby improve patient care.

Introduces the concept of a robot for assisting surgeons in operating rooms and freeing up scarce financial and human resources to provide for better nursing coverage in patient care areas.

Considers the responses to questionnaires produced for preliminary research into the information needs of the elderly (defined as over 60s). Comments on the development of library provision from the traditional domiciliary service. Finds that there has been limited overall improvement. Housebound and large print provision is widespread but other innovations are limited, especially for the elderly still able to visit the library.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the LILAC Conference held in Glasgow, UK, in April 2012.

The paper provides an overview of the themes, content, keynote speakers and selected parallel sessions of the LILAC conference.

The conference held a series of parallel sessions covering six key themes: information literacy and the digital future; information literacy research; supporting the research community; transitions: from school through to higher education; information literacy and employability; active learning and creative pedagogical approaches.

The conference provided an insight into emerging trends for information literacy.

The world is fast becoming a smaller place and the same is true of the document delivery world. Rapid growth in resource discovery tools has led to a breaking down of barriers resulting in the international nature of resource sharing that now exists. Traditional methods of finding, requesting and delivery have radically altered and the “where” of the information object required is no longer of importance. Global availability of information has increased choice and expectation for the end‐user but, conversely, has created a new set of problems for the interlending community. One specific problem area of this global document delivery market is traditional interlending – the loan of returnables. This article considers how UK libraries are attempting to reconcile global demand with the unique problems of this particular area.

Viewing the last dying embers of 1984, the Orwel‐lian year of Big Brother and some of its not‐so‐far off the mark predictions, the unemployment which one cannot help feeling is more apparent than real, it is hardly surprising that the subject of Poverty or the so‐called Poverty arise. The real poverty of undernourished children, soup kitchens, children suffering at Christmas, hungry children ravenously consuming free school meals has not, even now, returned.

EVERY profession evolves its own argot, adopting or inventing terms which the initiated understand and accept. Such precision saves time and avoids misinterpretation. In a technical subject like time and motion study such a recognised vocabulary is specially desirable.

The achievement of Next in changing the shape of UK high streets, in revolutionising both women's and men's fashion has been remarkable. In August came the launch of Next's latest development — Next Interior, with home decor and furnishings getting the same treatment. Next's chief executive, George Davies, outlined the concept and future plans to Penelope Ody.

When George Davies started his Next chain of fashion shops over two years ago he may not have realised what a revolution he was putting in train. Based on the realisation that purchasing power had moved from the young to the older 25–45 woman, — “women,” he says, “who care about fashion first and price second,” the Next group by the end of this year will have 162 outlets trading including a handful in Germany. Naturally, he has not been without his imitators. Names like Now, Visuals, Look, Surprise and Principles proliferate; variety chains like BHS and Marks & Spencer have been forced to take a long hard look at their fashion ranges; even the department stores have faced up to a changing scene. In this special feature Penelope Ody makes a close examination of the effervescent fashion sector. And the future? It could be, she hazards, that the over‐50 will be the new flavour of the month.