Information space of Housing and Utilities reform. A new "Maximov Publications" brand directory "Utilities in Russia" was released in the end of August. As well as all books of the series, new directory will present full contact information (phones, faxes, post addresses, electronic addresses, web-sites) on the companies working in the field. For details we interviewed Sergey Novikov, the project head. - How did the idea of Utility directory appeared? - The idea of "Utilities in Russia" directory first appeared in 2000 when we were working on the 1st Edition of "Fuel & Energy in Russia". It then became clear, that the edition volume does not allow to place full information on utilities sectors. For example, sections "Gas Supply", "Municipal Energy" was not included in the directory. The editorial commission already then started to think of the Utilities directory publication. The beginning of Housing and Utilities reform and the information vacuum in the industry finally pushed us to start a new project. What's more important is that interest to municipal services area has recently increased among businessmen. And there is one more reason of releasing the book this year- it is 355th anniversary of Utility Services in 2004. (illustration) - Was it difficult for the company to carry out such project. Have you been supported by any structures? - Sure, we were actively supported both on the part of the state (Federal Agency of Construction and Housing and Utilities Services) and on the part of corporate structures ("Russian Municipal Systems") and professional associations ("The Russian Association of Water Supply and Water Disposal", etc.) These organizations helped in gathering information, ratings drawing up, preparation of a primary database, etc. Such support was really necessary for us. Does it mean, you had difficulties? - Sure we had difficulties. It appeared, that in each region and even in each settlement Utilities Industry has it's own structure, which first of all depends on economic situation in each region. Thus, local administration has its own understanding of the given sector functions. However, we coped with all the difficulties and finally presented precisely structured, detailed information on Utilities Industry to our consumers. - What kind of information is there in the book? - The directory structure is planed according to the concept of all industrial directories of the series, i.e. it's first section contains information on the State Authorities of Industry, second section is devoted to associations, groups of the companies and holdings and others - to different sections of the industry. It will be possible to find information on the enterprises working in the field of heat and electric power supply, gas and water supply, a road and bridge facilities, landscape gardening and improvement, waste management, and also the contact data of scientific research institutes, certified centers, mass-media and exhibitions in the directory. What is the directory's audience? The edition is orientated on "utilities industry workers " though the book will be useful not only for them. Representatives of road mechanical engineering sector can find information on road facilities consumers in the directory, metallurgists - information on consumers of pipes and other necessary materials, workers of fuel and energy complex - information on municipal power, representatives of telecommunications market - contact data of communication services consumers. - Some of your directories contains illustrations of interesting exhibits of various scientific and technical museums. What exhibits will be presented in "Utilities in Russia"? - Our company provides an information support for scientific and technical museums of Russia. "Maximov Publications" are the General information sponsor of Association of Scientific and Technical Museums of the Russian Committee of The International Council Of Museums. Within the project it will be possible to see photos of unique exhibits of the Polytechnical museum - a Candlestick of Arc lamp of P.N.Jablochkova (1873 - 1875) and bulb lamps A.N.Lodygina "Utilities in Russia" directory. (an illustration of Lodigin) Where and how it is possible to get "Maximov Publication" directories? - It is possible to buy books at our office, or in the largest Moscow book shops - "Biblio-Globe", "Moscow Book house on New Arbat". You can also make an order using a subscription card just call 727-02-60 and we will send it by fax.