Lab Management Manual Report

Since assuming the Lab Management Manual (LMM) Editor's position I have undertaken the following activities:

I read over the current (LMM), making notes re: overall content of the work, content of each chapter, references and bibliographies, order/organization of chapters and the work, layout and design.
Using relevant Library of Congress subject headings, I searched the California Digital Library (collections of print, audiovisual, and digital resources, including electronic journals, databases, and archival finding aids). I limited my searches to works published/produced in English in the last ten years. I also used the same LOC subject headings to do keyword searches on sites such as amazon.com. I did not find many references that are both pertinent and in print, but for reference purposes, I can work with what is there.
Using two books that were of considerable help to me as a beginning - and later, reforming - lab manager, I made a chart to compare/contrast the contents of these with the LMM.
I started a file for quotes, notes, references, URLs, etc. of material that chapter authors may choose to include.

Activities I plan to undertake in the next year include:

Contact original authors to see if they are willing and able to review/revise/update their work. If not, see if they can suggest someone who is qualified and may be interested/persuaded. If unsuccessful, check archives of LLTI and CALICO-L for people who've posted meaningful contributions on topics relevant to the contents of the LMM.
Consider reordering the contents of the work.
Propose "missing" modules and secure authors for these.
Create a structure for the work that is standardized for each chapter and that facilitates "moving around" (i.e., links) in electronic form.

At this early stage of the project, two concerns exist:

Not finding authors who are willing and able to get the work done in a timely manner.
Receiving work that requires an inordinate amount of editing for typos, spelling, grammar, and/or style.