It is a pleasure and a privilege to have been recently appointed as the new Chair of the Library and Information Research Group (LIRG) and I look forward to working with all of our committee colleagues (both new and those who are more time-served) in continuing the great work of LIRG and engaging with all our members. I've been on the committee for a few years now myself, most recently as our Events Officer, and I'm very pleased that we have been able to appoint Ebony Burke into that particular role. Ebony is joined by three other new members, Jess Scorrer, our new Digital Officer, Cath Dishman, our new Content Officer and Emma Ramstead, as our new Honorary Secretary. Welcome to you all.

Many thanks must go to our two outgoing honorary officers, Professor Alison Brettle who has held the role of Chair of LIRG over recent years and also to Dr Diane Pennington, who has been our Honorary Secretary for several years as well. Both Alison and Diane have been wonderful colleagues to work with on the committee and together they have energised both the committee and the group and ensured that we are a visible and active special interest group, through all the activity that they have co-ordinated and led on. Emma and I have 'big shoes to fill' in this regard, and I hope we will carry on where they have left off. The great news though, is that we still maintain the wit, wisdom and experience of Alison and Diane because, whilst they may have vacated their honorary officer posts, they are staying on the committee, Alison as an ordinary member and Diane in her role as Editor-in-Chief of Library & Information Research. I'm very pleased that this is the case and I look forward to continue working with them. Thank you again for all you have done.

Leo Appleton (Chair of LIRG)