Update 2008 Feb 11

Now that the closing date for completing the questionnaire as part of our Handbook Survey has passed, I can report that we have received a total of 234 completed forms.  120 of these were completed via the on-line form, and the remaining 114 arrived in paper form largely by post.

The survey is a very comprehensive one and will take a few weeks to analyse. A large fraction of the forms contain useful comments, which will be very helpful in deciding what changes / additions are made in future editions. Where possible, time-permitting, some changes will be introduced in the 2009 edition.

As part of the questionnaire, we asked you whether you would prefer a PDF version of the Handbook. This was not meant to imply that we might switch from paper to PDF, rather the opposite in fact. We shall be improving the paper version but at the same time we will continue to make a PDF version available to members via the online "members' only" part of the website. Indeed, the use of the web to disseminate Handbook-type information opens up a number of other possibilities which will be of benefit to our members and these will be explored over the coming months.

Finally, I would like to pass on my thanks to those 234 people who took the time and trouble to complete the form: your input is greatly appreciated. Watch out for the feedback to come summarising the results.

Richard Miles
BAA Vice-President

Previous text: 

You may have noticed that the format of the Handbook for 2008 changed to A5 size. However, what may not be so evident is the fact that we have also changed the way in which the Handbook is printed. Rather than relying on the printing house typesetting the final document manually, we have for the first time assembled a PDF version of the text from the data prepared by the various contributors to the Handbook. We now wish to consider further changes to the publication in the light of changes in computing and the more widespread availability of information via the Web.

We are therefore conducting a questionnaire to survey our members’ views on the Handbook in its present form as well as to obtain feedback on possible changes to the content and format of the publication in the future. It is anticipated that significant updates beginning with the 2009 Handbook will be introduced in response to feedback received.

Do please take a few minutes to read through the questionnaire and answer the various questions posed.  

Please note that the primary purpose of the Handbook is as an aid to observation.

The Survey is now closed. Many thanks to all who provided feedback.