Once again, acceptance for submitted papers was extremely competitive, with 42 research papers accepted out of 246 submissions. The submissions covered a broad range of topics, from fundamental database algorithms to database applications and utilities. The largest numbers of submissions were in the general area of getting more information out of data, including data mining (39 papers) and warehousing (22 papers). These comprised 25% of the submissions, without counting the 12 related papers on high dimensional indexing and similarity search. The next largest pools of papers were on query processing, including optimization and statistics (38), and various aspects of transaction management (22). Other popular topics this year included integration of heterogeneous databases (17 papers), querying the World-Wide Web (16), and various access methods (14). Interest in object-oriented, spatial, multimedia and semi-structured databases remained high as well. The accepted papers represent each of these areas, and more.

In addition to the submitted papers, the conference included a panoply of keynotes, industrial talks, tutorials, panels, and demonstrations. Microsoft's Bill Gates gave the opening address, and Prof. David Patterson of UC Berkeley kicked off the second day. Industrial sessions covered web site management, document systems, data access, push technologies, databases in practice and database systems management. Four tutorials, two panels, and twenty software prototype demonstrations rounded out the program.

A lot of work went into forming this program and producing these proceedings. The program committee, with help from the external referees, reviewed the submissions on a tight schedule. We are particularly indebted to Praveen Seshadri and his student, Brent Young, who built us a program committee management application with easy to use web interfaces on top of Praveen's Predator system, and administered and maintained it throughout the paper selection process. This system greatly eased the entry and tracking of abstracts, reviewer preferences and reviews. Mike Carey provided additional software to help with these tasks, and to create the reports for the PC meeting. Debbie Sandman provided secretarial support for the Program Committee. Umeshwar Dayal, Christos Faloutsos, and H.V. Jagadish took on the difficult task of choosing a best paper from the excellent accepted program.

Jose Blakeley, Alex Buchmann, and Roger King worked extremely hard to put together this year's rich industrial program, with help from the Industrial Advisory Committee. Lois Delcambre recruited and organized the Demonstrations Committee to handle an unexpected flood of submissions; the committee had to make many difficult choices, and many exciting proposals could not be accepted. Ali Bahrami dealt with exhibitors and much of the demonstrations' logistics. Markus Tresch did an excellent job of soliciting and selecting tutorials, and Michael Brodie enthusiastically took on the task of arranging an exciting panel program. Prabhu Ram coordinated the Call for Papers and both the advance and final programs, and kept the Web site current and the mailing lists informed. Mike Crandall, Local Arrangements Chair, Lyman Do, Registration Chair, and Christoph Bussler, Treasurer, worked tirelessly to the benefit of both SIGMOD and PODS, ensuring a smoothly operating conference.

Finally, we would like to thank all the authors who submitted papers and proposals. They provided the material that made it possible to assemble such a distinguished technical program.