World events compel me to begin my first letter for JSTORNEWS reflecting on an issue of concern to the entire scholarly community. While tragedy accompanies any war - the greatest being loss of life - the blow to the world's intellectual and cultural heritage that occurred earlier this year in Iraq represents a second dimension of loss. Though there is not yet a complete tally at the time of this writing, it is believed that many thousands of artifacts, works of art, ancient manuscripts, and historic letters housed by the Iraqi National Museum and National Library have been destroyed or stolen. These works encompass some 2000 years of history and culture.

We should take a moment to contemplate the enormity of these losses. Beyond this, we must act to guard against such tragedies in the future. The situation underscores the urgency of preserving history in as many places and forms as possible. Digitization cannot replicate the experience of an original work; nevertheless, digital copies are preferable to the calamity of total loss.

In my first few months at JSTOR, I have encountered many people who share an awareness of the need to protect intellectual and cultural histories. JSTOR staff members demonstrate this commitment through their work to ensure the continued accessibility of the literature entrusted to us. Equally important are JSTOR's participating librarians, publishers, and Trustees - all of whom have impressed me with their spirit of cooperation and enthusiasm for our mission. This shared sense of purpose has guided us to date, and my challenge and goal will be to maintain that spirit as we move forward.

Finally, I want to echo Kevin's frequent calls in this space for comment and critique. Please contact me at any time with your ideas or suggestions.

Michael P. Spinella

Last updated on September 8, 2006