Web is huge, highly diverse, for the most part poorly organized, hard to search, and more often than not overwhelming for a great majority of users. For these reasons, effective search and retrieval techniques are critical for use of the Web. Information retrieval (IR) has become a important, even integral, component of the Web. But the problems encountered are also an ongoing challenge for research, development and applications.

The first part of LIDA 2003 is devoted to research, and demonstrations related to retrieval of information from the Web. Invited are contributions (types described below) covering the following and related topics:

• advances in IR techniques specific to the Web and to a variety of objects - texts, images, audio, multimedia
• organization and representation of Web information for retrieval
• study of search engines - algorithms, evaluation, performance, comparisons
• approaches to related processes, such browsing and navigation on the Web
• searching the Web - users, uses, queries, patterns, effectiveness
• information seeking and the Web
• research methodologies, metrics, models
• critical overview of the research and advances in these areas

II. WORLD WIDE WEB AND LIBRARIES

Great many libraries worldwide have entered the Web and even greater number is using the Web. Yet, libraries are building on their values, strengths, tradition, and trust to engage with the Web and enter into a new environment for themselves and their users. Among others, digital libraries are making available their collections and services in unique ways through the Web. The Web is providing libraries and librarians with opportunities to foster a significant library evolution in new directions, if not even a revolution. But challenges are significant as well.

The second part of LIDA 2003 is devoted to studies, advances and demonstrations related to library applications on the Web. Invited are contributions (types described below) covering the following and related topics:

• digital library collections - making, managing, digitizing, licensing, linking
• dealing with various media (texts, images, multimedia) and specialized domains
• providing digital library services - access, reference, delivery, guidance, and other
• evaluating performance, impact, value; study of users and use
• Webmetrics related to libraries, methodologies, models
• library Web interfaces - principles, how to build?
• Web software and packages for libraries; middleware, searchware
• education and training of librarians and users
• how can small libraries enter and use the Web

The following types of contributions will be presented at the conference:

1. Papers: research studies and reports on advances that will be presented at the conference and included on the conference Web site.
   
   
2. Posters: short graphic presentations on research, studies, advances, examples, practices, or preliminary work that will be presented in a special poster session. An award will be given for Best Student Poster.
   
   
3. Demonstrations: live examples of working projects, services, interfaces, commercial products, or developments-in-progress that will be presented during the conference in specialized facilities or presented in special demonstration sessions.
   
   
4. Workshops: two to four hour sessions that will be tutorial and educational in nature. Workshops will be presented before and after the main part of the conference.