Organizational effectiveness begins with an enterprise-wide knowledge culture. KMKS103 provides guidelines for developing the vision, mission, and values statements for aligning knowledge management (KM) and knowledge services with organizational priorities.  In the course, you will learn to identify critical steps for launching or enhancing service delivery for the benefit of the larger organization.  Instructors Guy St. Clair and Dale Stanley will cover

• knowledge strategy basics, including definitions and applications
• organizational structure and the environment for KM/knowledge services
• visioning vs. planning
• determining strategic direction
• change management and change implementation
• infrastructure and planning for future needs

KMKS103 is part of Click University’s Certificate in Knowledge Management/Knowledge Services program, but any course may be taken à la carte.

KMKS103
Dates: August 12 – 28, 2013 (full schedule)
Format:  Live online lectures and discussions, and independent reading
Cost:  $495/members | $595/non-members

Read more from instructor Dale Stanley about the need for leaders in knowledge services, and how you can succeed in that role.

Questions?  Contact Click University staff.

The post What You Need to Know About Knowledge Culture in Your Organization appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

In January 2011, I (Jill Hurst-Wahl)  joined the SLA Board of Directors after being elected by you. I joined already knowing much of what the Board was discussing, because I had been keeping my eyes and ear open, and because as a Board candidate I had been able to listen to the Board meetings for several months. I knew that I was joining a Board that had work to do!

During my first year on the Board (2011), my biggest challenge was learning how things really operate in the Association. No matter how much you know about a group, how it really works may not be known. What is the delineation of duties between the Board and the staff? Who sets policy and who implements those policies? I learned that “who” depends a bit on the “what”, and that the most important point is that the Board and staff agree.

In 2011 and 2012, Cindy Romaine and Brent Mai had the Board develop a strategic agenda for the Association, and many you have been working with us on it. That agenda ends in 2014, and clearly our efforts in those areas will need to continue. If we stop strategizing, if we stop trying to improve, then we will no longer be. (That is a good motto for us as individuals as well as us as an association.)

Now in 2013, I’m in my third year as director and the work has not slowed down. In each year, some things have been constants. There have been long and productive face-to-face meetings at Leadership Summit and the Annual Conference, as well as meetings held by conference call during the other months. You may be surprised at the amount of work that can occur during the 1-1.5 hour calls. (Agenda? Check. Robert’s Rules? Check. Prework? Check.) Each year, we become liaisons to various units, we proctor division board meetings, and we talk to a lot of members. We hear your questions, concerns, joys, and desires. What we hear informs our meetings and our decisions. You may be surprised that SLA members talk to us about SLA business while we’re attending non-SLA events, so we are always “on the clock”, always working.

At the Annual Conference, every member of the Board talks with exhibitors in the INFO-EXPO to get feedback on the event and to thank them for their participation. Those conversations help us understand aspects of how the conference is going, that may not be obvious, and have given me an opportunity to talk to companies that I might not have otherwise. The downside is that there are other companies that I would like to visit in the INFO-EXPO and can’t find the time to do it. I’m looking forward to Vancouver, when the time I spend in the INFO-EXPO will be my own!

When I ran for the Board in 2010 and spoke to you in New Orleans, I talked about SLA being my family and the desire to make things more transparent. While there is always room for improvement, our activities and those of the entire Association are indeed more transparent. I’m thankful to Cindy Romaine, Brent Mai and Deb Hunt – and especially grateful to Den Trefethen and John DiGilio – for their efforts to make that happen.

Yes, you are still my family! These past three years have been my attempt to give back to you the support and hope that you have given to me. Like any family, we have our rough moments and, like any family, we find ways to pull together and pull through. And especially like any family, our best conversations happen over food! So I’m looking forward to sharing a meal or a cup of coffee (er…wine?) in Vancouver with you. I’ll be “off the clock” and ready for what comes my way!

The post Looking Back…as a director on the SLA Board appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

In 2012, Loyalty Club donations supported the redesign and launch of SLA’s new Website earlier this year.

Donations we receive in 2013 will fund necessary technology enhancements, which include upgrades to the database software that drives SLA’s membership join and renewal processes.

This upgrade and many others will serve as a foundation for effective, streamlined member recruitment and retention, and enable SLA to better drive the global information profession forward.

If you would like to make a donation, it’s quick and easy, and in the US, tax-deductible. We appreciate your consideration and continued support.

The post 2013 Loyalty Club Donations Fund Technology Improvements for SLA appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

William recruited ten members and was the grand prize winner of a $100 American Express gift card.

Sarah recruited three members, and because her name was drawn from among the names of all SLA members who participated in the campaign, she won a $50 American Express gift card.

Both winners joined SLA President Deb Hunt for lunch on the beach in beautiful San Diego during the 2013 conference.

Thank you to all SLA members who participated in the campaign and helped strengthen the voice of information professionals through increased membership.  If you know someone who should be a member of SLA, please spread the word about membership.

The post “Get on the Beach” Membership Campaign Winners! appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

His library career began even before he earned his library degree–he joined SLA in 1950 and started working in the Chicago Public Library in 1951, three years before earning his library degree from the University of Chicago. In 1955 he joined J. Walter Thompson as library director and administrative assistant to the director of research. He remained at the famed advertising agency until his retirement in 1985, by which time he had been named a vice president.

Ed served as president of the SLA Illinois Chapter in 1959-1960 and as a member of the SLA Board of Directors from 1961 to 1964. He became president-elect of SLA in 1971 and served as president in 1972-1973. He was particularly interested in continuing education for information professionals and made that the focus of his presidency.

Ed was inducted into the SLA Hall of Fame in 1986 in honor of his many contributions to the profession and the association.

For additional information about Ed and especially his SLA career, contact Roberta Piccoli at rapiccoli@yahoo.com.

The post Ed Strable Dies; Led SLA in 1972-1973 appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

Organizational effectiveness begins with an enterprise-wide knowledge culture, and KMKS103 will help knowledge professionals understand knowledge strategy basics and the organizational environment for KM and knowledge services.  Course participants will learn about determining strategic direction, visioning vs. planning, change management and implementation, and planning for future needs.

KMKS103 Knowledge Strategy: Developing the Enterprise-Wide Knowledge Culture is one of six courses in the Knowledge Management/Knowledge Services (KMKS) Certificate program offered by SLA in cooperation with SMR International.  Any course may be taken à la carte.

The course begins August 12 and is comprised of five online sessions.  At the end of the course, each participant will complete an action plan, for implementation in the organization, based on their knowledge and understanding of course content.

For further information about the curriculum, course schedule, and discounts for members, visit the KMKS page on SLA’s website.

Questions?  Contact Click University staff.

The post What You Need to Know About Developing an Enterprise-Wide Knowledge Culture appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

SLA elections are in September.   The SLA Cabinet Officers are hosting a Meet the Candidates series of webinars to provide all members the opportunity to learn more about the individuals standing for the SLA Board of Directors.  Mark your calendars and register now to participate in the live programs, or plan to listen to the recordings before you vote.

Audience questions will be taken during the events, or you may send your questions in advance to Richard Huffine, the moderator for the series.

Meet the Candidates for Director:  Tony Landolt, Moy McIntosh, Valerie Perry, and Bethan Ruddock

Tuesday, August 6^th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern time

Registration link:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/276316248

Meet the Candidates for Cabinet:

James King and Valerie Ryder (Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect)

Pamela Enrici and Juliane Schneider (Division Cabinet Chair-Elect)

Tuesday, August 13^th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern time

Registration link:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/513577217

Meet the Candidates for President-Elect:  Leslie Reynolds and Jill Strand

Tuesday, August 20^th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern time

Registration link:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/166180872

Want to know more about them now?  Visit the candidates page  and click on the image of any candidate – you’ll see their bios.  They’ve also been answering a series of questions on the SLA Blog .

When asked about the candidate forums set for the near future, SLA Nominating Committee Chair James Manasco said, “I can’t encourage our members enough to learn as much as possible about the candidates running for the Association board.  Your Nominating Committee has worked hard to identify candidates who have much to offer the Association during these challenging times, but it is up to the members to choose those who will assume the “big chairs” and help lead the Association in the future.  Please take the time to be informed about the members who have answered the call and graciously agreed to be considered for these important positions!”

The post Prepare to Make an Informed Decision appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

The Experts Are In at SLA 2013!

Photos from the SLA 2013 Annual Conference are now available for digital download.

If you like what is already posted to SLA’s Facebook Page, there are many, many more for you to browse and download for safe-keeping.

Follow the instructions below and let me know of any questions.

1. Visit www.thephotogroup.com
2. In the top right box, enter access code: sla2013
3. Browse photos based on event title on the left-hand side
4. When you see photos you like, select either:
   • ‘Download’ – this is for downloading individual photos
   • ‘Lightbox’ – this allows you to continue browsing and store photos for later download all at once (like an Add to Cart feature)
     • When you want to download your Lightbox as a zip folder, select download under any photo, and within the new dialog box, select ‘Your Lightbox’ rather than ‘image’
       • You can also download an entire category using this same dialog box
5. You can download either Web or Print Quality for any photo. The Print Quality is a very large file size.

Important: if publishing any of these photos to your blog, Website, newsletter, or any other medium, please credit The Photo Group as follows:

(c) The Photo Group, 2013

Enjoy!

The post SLA 2013 Conference Photos Now Available appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

The donations we received in 2012 helped us bring the SLA.org Website redesign project to fruition.

However, our work is not finished. There are still upgrades needed which allow our current members to update their records and new members to join more easily so they can begin receiving benefits right away. This step requires important database work that is necessary, but which can be expedited with your help.

Further, we’re constantly seeking opportunities to add to the benefits that members receive at no extra charge. Through proactively partnering with leading institutions in our industry, and with the support of our donors, we’ll be holding in-person continuing education workshops in the fall of 2013 through 2014 that are not restricted to our Annual Conference and Leadership Summit. The venues will be equipped with the technology to simulcast the workshops to an international audience. Workshops will begin with teaching hard skills to information professionals that enhance the immediate impact they can make on behalf of their organizations, users, and clients, as well as help them find fruitful employment opportunities. This initiative is a new endeavor for SLA and we are confident that with your help, success will become a reality.

If you were one of the many donors who joined the Loyalty Club in 2012, we encourage you to renew your membership. If you’ve yet to join the Loyalty Club, your support of the initiatives we have planned would be received at the perfect time if you donate today.

Membership renewal and new donations are quick and easy. Visit http://bit.ly/loyalty13 and click the ‘Donate’ button at the bottom.

Thank you sincerely for your consideration and ongoing support of SLA.

The post The Loyalty Club Seeks Donations for Key Projects & Improvements appeared first on Special Libraries Association.

About The New York Times: The New York Times is a proud sponsor of the SLA 2013 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO. Visit Booth #720 to get full details about our Corporate Digital Subscriptions program, an easy and convenient way to provide audiences with unlimited access to the world’s finest journalism 24/7 (non-subscribers are limited to 10 free articles per month).

While visiting our booth, be sure to have your custom NYTimes Word Cloud portrait taken.

The post Have Your NYTimes Word Cloud Portrait Taken at SLA 2013 appeared first on Special Libraries Association.