Our continuous effort to provide time and space for discussing digital libraries began by realizing the first Workshop on Digital Libraries at ULIS on August 31,1994. This series has continued, and the 10th Workshop was held on July 9,1997. Digital versions of all of their proceedings are available on the World Wide Web (http://www.DL.ulis.ac.jp/).
In commemoration of the 5th Workshop, we planned and realized ISDL '95. Again, in commemoration of the 10th Workshop we have planned and are now realizing ISDL '97. Papers included in their proceedings must contribute to the progress of people around the world as well as the participants, because digital versions of their proceedings are available on World Wide Web ( http://www.DL.ulis.ac.jp/ISDL95/ and http://www.DL.ulis.ac.jp/ISDL97/).
This year, the 2nd ACM International Conference on Digital Libraries was held in the USA, while the first European Conference on Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries was held in Italy. Under these circumstances, we hope that ISDL will grow into a symposium which can be held elsewhere in Asia, not just in Tsukuba,Japan.
We wish to take this opportunity to express our hearty thanks to all the speakers and participants. We would also like to express our special thanks to all members of the Symposium Committee, the Program Committee, Exhibition & Publication Committee, and Local Arrangements Committee; all companies supporting us; and the ULIS staff and students who have supported us.