From the Publisher by Deverick Martin We launch a new feature in our "In Review" section this month: New on Our Shelf. Here, we present a short "snapshot" of great books that we believe best match the interests of our readers. Each week, we receive dozens of new titles. From that pool, we choose books and CDs for review. Sadly, we only have enough space for a handful of reviews each month, and many worthy books are simply passed over. In addition, it often takes a month or more for our review team to thoughtfully consider books and prepare reviews. Our New on Our Shelf feature will allow us to showcase four to five times as many great books each month than we have been able to, and with minimal delay. "In Review" editor Steve McCardell is working to reengergize the section. I expect that you'll find exciting enhancements in the coming months. This month, we also debut two new feature sections: "Getaways" and "Education." While we have had articles and advertising in both topic areas previously, this underscores my intent to provide expanded information in two areas that I believe are important to our readers. Our "Getaways" section will offer regular contributions ranging from adventure in mystical places to the inspiration and renewal coming from time spent in a special setting. Our "Education" section will offer choices and information for gaining the skills to expand or refocus one's work. I am in the planning stages for another new section. This one doesn't have a title yet, but my intent is to focus on business and spirituality. In our January 2000 reader survey, 63% of our readers expressed an interest in socially responsible investing. This could also be a place for inspiring articles about bringing spirituality into the workplace. I see an important need to present information on positive choices to consider every time I expend energy. Whether through my time, talents, or money, I am casting a vote for what I think is important and right. These "votes," my choices, have far-reaching, even global, implications, especially when considered collectively with others'; the difference made by each one of us must not be underestimated. Certain issues have been given higher profiles than others have, but our concern must go well beyond avoiding inexpensive garments made in sweat shops on the far side of the planet. Every purchase we make lines someone’s pockets and empowers individuals and groups to support their values and beliefs. You're paying for the political contributions that your bank is making. You're empowering the way the businesses that you deal with are treating their employees. As I consider my next steps in working to keep The New Times in a cutting-edge role, I weigh heavily the input that I receive from readers and encourage you to drop me a note to help me formulate my next steps. In order to create new focus areas without detracting from the important topic areas we already cover, we need to produce additional pages. We do this by creating win-win partnerships with advertisers to support the space for articles and offer interesting choices to our readers. To this end, I am recruiting for a new advertising sales representative (see ad on next page). Thank you for your support as a reader, for without you none of this would be possible.