Cynthia (Cindy) V. Hill, M.LS.
Association President 2003-2004
Cindy Hill is Director of SunLibrary and Learning Technology at Sun Microsystems, Inc in Palo Alto, California. Her responsibilities include managing the provision of information services, resources and knowledge collaboration environments for the worldwide network of Sun employees. Under Cindy’s leadership, her staff facilitates Sun's knowledge management and knowledge sharing initiatives. Communities of practice, shared learning, and Sun's Internal Portal, SunWeb, are just a few of the communications channels employed for leveraging learning opportunities within Sun.
Prior to joining Sun Microsystems in 1995, Cindy managed information services at Failure Analysis Associates, Inc. (now Exponent, Inc.). During her 11 years at Failure Analysis, she and her staff provided in-depth research and external content management in the scientific, legal and medical disciplines. Cindy’s 24-year career as an information professional has included working in the industries of environmental science, engineering consulting, executive recruiting and high technology.
Cindy began her affiliation with SLA in 1980 by accepting an invitation to a dinner meeting by the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter. Since then she has been actively involved in the association, participating in Chapter, Division, and Association-level activities. Among her recent accomplishments is the completion of a three-year assignment to the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Committee on Copyright and Other Legal Matters, and a two-year term as Secretary to San Jose State University’s SLIS Alumni Association. Besides the Special Libraries Association, Cindy maintains memberships in the California Library Association, the American Library Association, Association of Independent Information Professionals, CILIP, and IFLA.
A frequent keynote speaker and contributor at professional conferences, meetings, and publications, Cindy has addressed cutting-edge issues in the information profession, technology, and management. Most recently she has spoken about the competencies of information professionals in the 21st century, career development, and the impact and opportunities virtual work environments hold for information services and professionals.
Cindy’s professional endeavors reflect a life-long commitment to learning and sharing. She readily positions herself to learn from others, “seeking out others who don’t exactly look like me for clues and insights that I can adapt to my situations.” This thirst for learning and fresh ideas takes Cindy outside of the information profession to surprising places, such as the Space Camp run by NASA in Alabama, or along mountain trails in California for high altitude backpacking and hiking. Students from information professional programs from around the world seek her council and advice, and she frequently mentors students, bringing them into the SunLibrary as interns to coach and guide their fledging careers.
Born in Kentucky, the oldest of four children in a military family, Cindy lived the nomadic life of a “military brat” until her family settled down in the lush green valleys and orchards of Cupertino, California—before the arrival of Silicon Valley. She credits her parents with instilling her love of learning and fueling her original desire to become an elementary school teacher. It wasn’t until the late 70’s, while a substitute teacher and getting information for other people, that Cindy turned her sights on a career as a librarian. Her first job as a librarian, in 1978 at Acurex Corporation, propelled her into the world of corporate information services, where she continues to practice.
Cindy received a bachelor's degree in English and an elementary teaching credential from San Jose State University. She returned to receive her Master of Library Science (MLS) in 1979. Cindy serves as an adjunct professor in the Library and Information Sciences program at San Jose State University and sits on its Advisory Council. When she’s not involved in professional activities, Cindy can be found thundering down the highway on her motorcycle, planting flowers in her gardens, or pushing her road bike pedals on a Century (100km) ride.
Links:
Cindy Hill 2002 presidential
campaign remarks and background information published in Information Outlook,
Vol. 6, No. 1, January 2002
http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/Structure/board-index/hill.cfm
Cindy Hill
candidate’s speech to the SLA chapter and division presidents and chairs,
January 25, 2002
http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/Structure/0203candidates/HillSpeechWM02.cfm
Oral history
interview Cindy Hill conducted by Doreen Cohen in 1996.
http://www.spokenhistory.com/ex/1996hill.html