As an information architecture, the book is now 550 years old - if one dates its history from Gutenberg's invention. Or much older if one dates it from the Chinese invention of moveable type, or the codex, or even the beginning of writing on transportable media. But what is the book's future, as a creature of and conduit for human invention? Do the new media (the Internet, multimedia texts and new delivery formats) represent a threat or an opportunity?

The International Conference on the Future of the Book will provide you with an opportunity to share your own work with a broad range of researchers and recognised leaders in the fields of writing, IT, business management, librarianship, publishing, printing, educational materials production, as well as and university teachers and researchers in areas related to writing, publishing, books and literacy.

Papers submitted for the conference proceedings will be fully peer-refereed and published in print and electronic formats. If you are unable to attend the conference, virtual registrations are also available allowing access to the electronic versions of the conference proceedings, as well as virtual presentations which mean that your paper can be included in the refereeing process and published with the conference proceedings. 30 minute and 60 minute sessions are also available for presentations of initiatives by practitioners in the book industry. The deadline for the current round call for papers and presentations is 15 December 2002. The closing date for the following round will be 1 February 2003.

Full details of the conference, including an online call for papers form, are to be found at the conference website.

We do hope you will be able to join us in this vibrant tropical region of Australia, and to attend this important and timely international conference.