The present number of the La Trobe Library Journal is the first since the publication's inception not to bear a volume indicator. It has seemed for some time to the sub-committee of the Friends that advises the Editor that having two running series — volumes and numbers — could only be a source of confusion to institutional and individual subscribers. Henceforth each issue will continue the number series and will have self-contained pagination.

Since there has been a certain amount of variation in the journal's practices since the beginning in 1968, we take this opportunity of recapitulating as succinctly as possible a complex bibliographical history. Anybody interested in binding up complete sets or, indeed, in following the vicissitudes of a publication that has depended largely on volunteer editorial labour should now have all necessary information.

One thing has been almost constant: a layout that has most texts set in two columns but occasionally uses the whole width of the page. The only — accidental — exception was no. 12 of October 1973, where two-column setting was avoided throughout. The relatively large size of pages has made it easier to arrange illustrations in sophisticated and imaginative ways.

Printing has been entrusted to various firms: Aldine Press Pty Ltd for nos 1–10, David Syme & Co. for nos 11–29, Ruskin Press for nos 30–41, Waller & Chester for nos 42–46, Trumbles for nos 47/48 to the present. Some of us take some satisfaction in the fact that we have not gone — or had to go — outside Victoria for high-quality colour reproduction.

Because in the last decade or so there have been more special numbers prepared by experts on the staff of the State Library, editorial responsibilities have been more widely spread. The first Editor, Geoffrey Serle, looked after nos 1–12 and 14–20 alone, sharing no. 13 with T. M. Perry and no. 21 with John Thompson. No. 22 of October 1978, like no. 50 of Spring 1992, bears no Editor's name. John Thompson took over as Editor for nos 23 and 24, being succeeded by Paul Macpherson for nos 25–30. No. 31 was a joint effort by Paul Macpherson and Tony Marshall, who then became Editor for nos 32–39. Guests, essentially from within the Library, played major roles at the end of the 1980s: John Arnold (no. 40), Des Cowley (no. 41), John Arnold and Tony Marshall (no. 42), Tom Griffiths (no. 43), Tony Marshall (no. 44), Deborah Breen (no. 45). In a brief term as Editor Mimi Colligan put together no. 46, although she helped in the transition to Teresa Pagliaro's time: nos 49, 51/52–54, 57. Wallace Kirsop (no. 55) and Des Cowley and Marg McCormack (no. 56) have also had a hand in recent issues, with support from John Arnold. John Barnes is due to take up the succession in the second half of 1997 with no. 60. In the interval Sandra Burt and Shona Dewar (no. 58) and Wallace Kirsop (no. 59) will be seeing further special numbers through the press.

Complete bound sets of the La Trobe Library Journal must of necessity include the covers, which normally contain inside a contents page and another setting out details of the Friends' organisation. However, there have been some exceptions in recent issues. No. 41, which doubled as an exhibition catalogue, is blank inside the covers. In nos 50, 53, 54 and 56 there are either picture credits or further illustrative material.

In consulting the table set out below, readers should note the pagination anomalies in nos 47/48 and 50 as well as the fact that there is a picture flap for page 17 in no. 54.

Table of La Trobe Library Journal Issues 1968–1996

Vol. 1, no. 1	April 1968	pp. 1–16
Vol. 1, no. 2	October 1968	pp. 17–40
Vol. 1, no. 3	April 1969	pp. 41–64
Vol. 1, no. 4	October 1969	pp. 65–96
Vol. 2, no. 5	April 1970	pp. 1–28
Vol. 2, no. 6	October 1970	pp. 29–56
Vol. 2, no. 7	April 1971	pp. 57–80
Vol. 2, no. 8	October 1971	pp. 81–108
Vol. 3, no. 9	April 1972	pp. 1–24
Vol. 3, no. 10	October 1972	pp. 25–48
Vol. 3, no. 11	April 1973	pp. 49–72
Vol. 3, no. 12	October 1973	pp. 73–96
Vol. 4, no. 13	March 1974	pp. 1–24
Vol. 4, no. 14	October 1974	pp. 25–52
Vol. 4, no. 15	April 1975	pp. 53–76
Vol. 4, no. 16	October 1975	pp. 77–104
Vol. 5, no. 17	April 1976	pp. 1–24
Vol. 5, no. 18	October 1976	pp. 25–14
Vol. 5, no. 19	April 1977	pp. 45–68
Vol. 5, no. 20	December 1977	pp. 69–96
Vol. 6, no. 21	April 1978	pp. 1–24
Vol. 6, no. 22	October 1978	pp. 25–44
Vol. 6, no. 23	April 1979	pp. 45–64
Vol. 6, no. 24	October 1979	pp. 65–84
Vol. 7, no. 25	April 1980	pp. 1–24
Vol. 7, no. 26	October 1980	pp. 25–48
Vol. 7, no. 27	April 1981	pp. 49–72
Vol. 7, no. 28	October 1981	pp. 73–104
Vol. 8, no. 29	April 1982	pp. 1–24
Vol. 8, no. 30	December 1982	pp. 25–48
Vol. 8, no. 31	April 1983	pp. 49–72
Vol. 8, no. 32	December 1983	pp. 73–96
Vol. 9, no. 33	April 1984	pp. 1–24
Vol. 9, no. 34	October 1984	pp. 25–48
Vol. 9, no. 35	April 1985	pp. 49–88
Vol. 9, no. 36	December 1985	pp. 89–108
Vol. 10, no. 37	Autumn 1986	pp. 1–28
Vol. 10, no. 38	Spring 1986	pp. 29–52
28 View page
Vol. 10. no. 39	Autumn 1987	pp. 53–76
Vol. 10, no. 40	Spring 1987	pp. 77–96
Vol. 11, no. 41	Autumn 1988	pp. 1–36 + 4 pp. of plates
Vol. 11, no. 42	Spring 1988	pp. 37–60
Vol. 11, no. 43	Autumn 1989	pp. 1–44
Vol. 11, no. 44	Spring 1989	pp. 1–24
Vol. 12, no. 45	Autumn 1990 (issued July 1991)	pp. 1–48
Vol. 12, no. 46	Spring 1990 (issued November 1991)	pp. 49–72
Vol. 12, nos 47/48	Double Issue 1991 (issued September 1992)	pp. 72–111
Vol 13, no. 49	Autumn 1992 (issued March 1993)	p. 1–24
Vol. 13, no. 50	Spring 1992 (issued June 1993)	pp. [1]1–43
Vol. 13, nos 51/52	Double Issue 1993 (issued October 1993)	pp. 1–92
Vol. 13, no. 53	(issued October 1994)	pp. 1–40
Vol. 13, no. 54	(issued March 1995)	pp. 1–32
Vol. 14, no. 55	Autumn 1995 (issued December 1996)	pp. 1–20
Vol. 14, no. 56	Spring 1995 (issued October 1995)	pp. 1–44
Number 57	Autumn 1996 (issued December 1996)	pp. 1–28