March 2002 ISSN 0272-9644 Vol. 45 n. 1


SLA/RGC Officers 2001-2002

President's Message

SLA HEADQUARTERS

International Special Librarians Day
Rio Grande Chapter Note on ISLD, Your Action Required!
SLA Elects Hill
Call for candidates - David Stern
By-Laws are Changing
RGC By-Laws Discussion
Shaffer to Step Down as Executive Director of SLA
Note from Lynn K. Smith
Town Hall Meeting for RGC - Heather Hlava
Twenty-one Emerge as the Best

RGC LOCAL HAPPENINGS

From the Membership Chair
The Chapter Needs You!
Upcoming meetings – Gloria Zamora
Interview with Heather Gallegos-Rex, Deputy State Librarian – Heather O’Daniel
LANL Open for Public Again
The Gardens of Italy: Ninfa - Theresa G. Connaughton
In remembrance…


The Rio Grande Chapter of the Special Libraries Association published the Rio Grande Chapter Bulletin (ISSN) quarterly and sends it to members as a benefit of membership. SLA Headquarters address is: SLA, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009; telephone (202) 234-4700. We reserve the right to make editorial changes as needed for appropriate space constraints or stylistic reasons. Special Libraries Association does not assume any responsibility for statements and opinions advanced by the contributors to the Association's publications. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official position of Special Libraries Association. Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product by Special Libraries Association.
SLA / RGC Officers 2001/2002

President

Heather Hlava
Access Innovations, Inc.
P. O. Box 8640
Albuquerque, NM 87198
Work: 505-998-0800 x 137; fax 505-998-3372
hlavaheather@yahoo.com

President-Elect

Gloria Zamora
Sandia National Laboratories
Government Relations
Org 4124
P. O. Box 5800
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0131
Work: 505-844-0811; fax 505-844-8496
gizamor@sandia.gov

Secretary

Theresa G. Connaughton
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Information & Records Management
P. O. Box 1663, MS-C322
Los Alamos, NM 87545
tgc@lanl.gov

Treasurer

Judy C. Neff
Sandia National Laboratories
9800 Alexandria Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122
Work: 505-845-8386
jcneff@sandia.gov

Past-President

Pamela H. MacKellar
Center for Development & Disability
2300 Menual Blvd., NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Work: 505-272-4631; fax 505-272-5280
pmackell@unm.edu

Archivist

Judith Bernstein
900 Vassar NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
rosen@tagore.unm.edu

Awards Chair

Donna R. Berg
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Research Library
P. O. Box 1663, MS-P362
Los Alamos, NM 87545
Work: 505-667-4175; fax 505-665-2948
donna.berg@lanl.gov

Bulletin Editor

Heather O'Daniel
Intel Corporation Library
RR5-166
1600 Rio Rancho Blvd.
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Work: 505-893-6671; fax 505-893-6894
heather.b.odaniel@intel.com

Employment Chair

Mary Ellen McMurtrie
Honeywell Avionics Library
9201 San Mateo Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113-2227
Work: 505-828-5378; fax 505-828-5500
mary.ellen.mcmurtrie@honeywell.com

Government Relations Chair

Heather Gallegos-Rex
Director, Development Services
1209 Camino Carlos Rey
New Mexico State Library
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Work: 505-476-9720; fax 505-476-9701
hgallego@stlib.state.nm.us

Membership Chair

Donna Cromer
Centennial Science & Engineering Library
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Work: 505-277-4753; fax 505-277-0702
dcromer@unm.edu

Professional Development Chair

Sandy Spurlock
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
P. O. Box 5890
Albuquerque, NM 87185-5890
sspurloc@lrri.org

Public Relations Chair/Advertising Chair

Linda Morgan Davis
Lovelace Medical Library
5400 Gibson Blvd
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Work: 505-262-3090; fax 505-262-7897
linda.davis@lovelace.com

Webmaster

Frances L. Knudson
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MS-P362
Los Alamos, NM 87545
Work: 505-667-9233; fax 505-665-6452
fknudson@lanl.gov


President's Message

My how time flies! It seems like only a few days ago, we were gearing up for a new year’s worth of Rio Grande Chapter programs, activities, and business. Now, already, it’s time to think about nominations and elections, wrapping up from the past year, and passing the reins to the next set of officers.

And what a year it has been! While the tragedy and horror of September 11 shocked us all, we’ve started our recovery with resilience, determination, and the will to make the future ever better. At the international SLA association level, our executive director arrived and departed. I’m sure the association - staff, board, and individual members - will come together with the same kind of resilience, determination, and will.

Within our own chapter, we have had several wonderful events during the past year. Sandy Spurlock has been named a Fellow of SLA. Congratulations, Sandy! We had our first ever (as far as we could discern) chapter program outside of the United States. Muchas, muchas gracias to Dr. Jesus Lau and all of his staff at the library of the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez. It was an interesting and educational program, followed by a delightful dinner, and in general was truly a cross-border integration exercise! The Rio Grande Chapter submitted an entry for the International Special Librarians’ Day theme contest, and we are co-winners! Our ogo was selected, along with our phrasing "Leadership, Membership, Partnership." This will be combined with another entry, "Expanding Global Knowledge Frontiers" to create what SLA staff has already said is "the best ISLD theme ever"! This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a few of the highlights.

We still have a few wonderful programs left for our enjoyment and edification this year. I hope you have already marked your calendar for the April 5th visit from Bill Fisher, which will be a lunch at the Albuquerque Petroleum Club. The chapter will pay for your boss’ lunch, if you arrange for them to accompany you - what a deal! How often can you take your boss to lunch and not actually have to pay for it? (Don’t worry - we won’t tell.) Details about the other remaining programs can be found in this issue of the bulletin, so please check them out and plan to attend.

The final item of this year is the Annual Business Meeting, which will be a dinner meeting, held in Santa Fe on May 30 (after the conclusion of the program). The place and time will be announced soon. At this meeting, we will hear committee reports and conduct any chapter business that requires a membership vote - including elections. Remember, your voice counts, so please plan to join us.

Sincerely,

Heather Hlava


SLA HEADQUARTERS

International Special Librarians Day

On Thursday April 18, the global information community will acknowledge the pivotal impact of information professionals and special librarians around the world by celebrating International Special Librarians Day (ISLD).

The theme for this year's ISLD, "Leadership, Partnership, Membership: Expanding Global Knowledge Frontiers," is a joint moniker submitted to the ISLD selection committee by the Rio Grande Chapter of SLA and SLA member Marcella Barnhart. The winning theme captures the unique spirit and drive of information professionals as they unite on a global quest to expand new frontiers of knowledge

Rio Grande Chapter Note on ISLD, Your Action Required!

On Thursday April 18, the global information community will acknowledge the pivotal impact of information professionals and special librarians around the world by celebrating International Special Librarians Day (ISLD).

Locally we would like to make our bosses and organizations aware of our special day and the value we bring to our organizations. We will mount a fax campaign to member's bosses the week of April 18 outlining these very issues.

Please email Linda Morgan Davis (linda.davis@lovelace.com) or call 505-262-3090 with your boss's name and a fax number. If there are multiple Rio Grande Chapter members at your site, reporting to the same boss, please include a list of names.

SLA Elects Hill

Cynthia V. Hill is the new president-elect of the Special Libraries Association (SLA). Hill is a manager at Sun Library, Sun Microsystems, Inc. Palo Alto, CA, and serves on the adjunct faculty at the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science. Hill and the newly elected members of SLA's Board of Directors will be installed at SLA's 93rd Annual Conference in Los Angeles, CA. At this time, Bill Fisher, professor at the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science in San Jose, CA, will lso be sworn-in as the 83rd President of SLA.

Others elected to the SLA Board of Directors for the 2002-2003 Association year are:
Chapter Cabinet chair-elect: Davenport "Dav" Robertson, Chief of Library and Information Services Branch, National Institute of Environment Health Sciences/ National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
Division Cabinet chair-elect: Pam Rollo, Director of Information Resources for Credit Suisse First Boston, New York, New York, USA.
At-Large Directors: Jesus Lau, Dean of Information Services and Accreditation, Universidad Autonoma de Cuidad Juarez, Juarez, Mexico; and Barbara M. Spiegelman, President of the Spiegelman Group, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Dee Magnoni, President of the Magnoni Group, Portland, Oregon, USA, will fill the vacant director position.

Several current SLA officers will assume new positions for 2002-2003. Hope N. Tillman, Past-President; S tephanie Tolson, Chapter Cabinet Chair; and Karen Kreizman-Reczek, Division Cabinet Chair. Continuing to serve on the Board of Directors: Marjorie M.K. Hlava, Director; David Stern, Director; Christine De Bow Klein, Director; and Richard Geiger, Treasurer.

Call for candidates - David Stern

We are looking for people to serve on the SLA Nominating Committee for the Year 2004 elections. We seek four (4) candidates for election to this important and far-reaching committee assignment.

Sandy Spurlock, Chair-Elect of the 2003 Nominating Committee will be its Chair.

We are in pursuit of members who have held leadership positions in SLA and have wide networks of contacts. We request the names of members you think would be qualified to serve on this committee. We hope to have a large pool of candidates to choose from so that we have a diverse and representative Nominating Committee. As it says in 'Who's Who in Special Libraries': "membership shall have a wide geographic spread with representation from as many Chapters and Divisions as possible."

Note -- we welcome self-nominations, so please don't be shy about putting your own name forward.

Members of the Nominating Committee are required to attend the Winter Meeting which will be held January 23-25, 2003 in New Orleans. This is when the bulk of the Committee's actual work is done, so it is essential to have all committee members present. Follow-up phone calls will be required.

The Committee shall create a balanced Nominating Committee membership with the following criteria in mind:

  • 1. representation from various sectors of the professional community (i.e. academic, corporate, government, solo, vendors/services)
  • 2. representation from various geographical regions,and
  • 3. representation from various Divisions.
  • The developed slate will be presented to the SLA Board for consideration, and upon acceptance, the Nominating Committee will officially present this slate of candidates to the Board of Directors for a membership election.

    This Committee plays an important role in identifying the upcoming leaders of the Association. PLEASE, send us your recommendations and help guarantee a bright future. We hope to hear from you by March 29th, 2002. Send nominations to david.e.stern@yale.edu

    Thank you for your time and efforts,
    David Stern, 2002-2003 Director SLA Board of Director

    By-Laws are Changing

    The purpose of the change is simplification. For some, the process and proposals are far from simple. To understand and make your own conclusions visit the following web locations:
    SLA Proposal
    Boston Chapter, Spring 2002 issue, p.11
    Open Letters by various members

    RGC By-Laws Discussion

    Eight members of Rio Grande Chapter** had an excellent and considered discussion about the proposed SLA Bylaws changes and their possible impact on the Chapter and the Association. Then we talked about what to do next - that part is at the end....

    We discussed the following possible changes in the SLA Bylaws and possible reasons for, and impacts of each.

    We talked about whether to amend the current bylaws or implement the proposed replacement bylaws. That lead to a discussion of whether the proposed ones are for a lobby / trade organization or for a professional association. More research required.

    We covered the things which will probably be in the bylaws ballot which are non controversial - Termination of members, Publications, updating to current New York Code, Removal of Membership categories. We believe that the Name and Objectives is to be left as it is due to the lawyers hesitancy to refile the SLA Articles of incorporation and the redoing of contracts over time after a name change. Also since the Branding task force and consultants effort is discontinued there is not compelling change reason to move to a new name today.

    We then moved to the discussion more significant changes like:

    Being the Rio Grande....we next moved on to what to do that is proactive.

    SLA Communications, Public Relations and Marketing seems to be lacking. We discussed a Pin or something like " Librarian and Proud of it" campaign. This was due to the LARGE number of people anecdotally who have said recently - what's wrong with being a librarian? Couldn't we do something to promote the image and the Association at the same time?

    What would be the impact of the Bylaws changes on the operation of SLA?? Very little we thought. SO

    What do we really want SLA to be like? What's right about SLA??

    We agreed to form a small task force of ourselves to make a "strawman" of what we would like the SLA to be like. What would the perfect organization be? What does this Association do well now? Why do I go? What o I get from it? What keeps me there? Then what would I improve on what needs changing or enhancement. Several people agreed to draft up a few thoughts and to review the task force reports to share bullet points. We will be a committee of seven to start and then when we have a model (SOON) we will share it for more thoughts with all of you. Next week we hope.

    Stay tuned. If you have thoughts for the last point please send them to us all. We need all the help we can get. We will probably reconvene face to face when we feel we are ready.

    Sorry this was so long. I think it is a pretty complete report. It helped me a lot to have the discussion in such a positive fashion. What a great chapter! Thank you all. Keep those comments coming!

    ** Heather Hlava, Sandy Spurlock, Gloria Zamora, Mary Frances Campana, Donna Cromer, Vicky Agee, Frances Knudson, Margie Hlava

    Shaffer to Step Down as Executive Director of SLA

    Roberta I. Shaffer, Executive Director of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) has announced that she will leave the Association effective February 22, 2002.

    "Roberta has provided the SLA with a new level of enthusiasm and energy in light of the changes in the Association world and the evolving position of information professionals in society," remarked SLA President, Hope N. Tillman. "On behalf of the SLA Board of Directors and staff, we thank her, and wish her well in all her future endeavors."

    On her decision to leave SLA, Shaffer commented, "The Special Libraries Association will continue its course as the leading professional association for information professionals. The Board of Directors and I share the same vision for the future of the Association and the profession. However, we are not in sync in terms of the pace of change. I have enjoyed my time working with the Board, staff and members. I am confident that the Association will achieve its goals in the new century and meet the needs of a new eneration of information professionals."

    The SLA Board of Directors appointed Shaffer as Executive Director-Designate in April of 2001. She officially began her tenure as Executive Director in September of that year. Prior to coming to SLA, she was the Dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the U of Tex at Austin. SLA Deputy Executive Director, Lynn Smith will serve as acting Executive Director.

    Note from Lynn K. Smith

    On behalf of the entire SLA staff, I am writing to assure you that the Association is on solid ground. We are moving full steam ahead in the implementation and development of products and services that are mportant to you and the members you represent.

    The staff works in a collaborative environment which means that we depend on your constructive input in fulfilling the strategic objectives of this Association. I invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with us. You should feel free to contact me directly at lynn@sla.org or 1-202-939-3670. Thank you for your continued support of and commitment to SLA.

    Lynn K. Smith, CAE
    Acting Executive Director, SLA

    Town Hall Meeting for RGC – Heather Hlava

    In light of all the recent activities at Headquarters, we'd like to have a Town Hall meeting for the Rio Grande Chapter.

    At this meeting, we'd like to solicit input from our members on what about SLA is important, what is being offered that is not important, and what you need, want, and desire SLA to be. We want to know this for you, pecifically - for your individual situation. While we can't solve all the problems or answer all the questions, we can provide input to the Board and to Headquarters at this critical time.

    Please mark your calendars!

    Both meetings will be brown bag lunches.

    The first meeting will be held in Los Alamos on Tuesday, April 2. We have a meeting room from 12:00 to 1:00 (we must vacate it at 1:00 due to another booking) at the Mesa Public Library in Los Alamos for April 2 for the Town Hall meeting on SLA. A van will be at the Otowi east side (near the LANL Library) to provide transportation for RGC members. Pick up will be 11:45; return by 1:15. Please contact Theresa t tgc@lanl.gov if you will be taking the van.

    If you are interested in carpooling up to Los Alamos, please contact Heather Hlava.

    The second meeting will be held in Albuquerque on April 3, at noon at the offices of Access Innovations (131 Adams Street N.E. - one block east of Washington and one block north of Central Avenue.

    We are holding both meetings before Bill Fisher's visit on April 5 (mark your calendar for that, too!) in order to share our thoughts with him at that time.

    So please bring a lunch and your thoughts about "My Perfect SLA" - both internationally and locally.

    Twenty-one Emerge as the Best

    Twenty-one individuals have emerged as the "Best of the Information Profession" and will be honored by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) at their 93rd Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California, June 8-13, 2002. The 2002 class of Awards and Honors winners will have the unique opportunity to inaugurate the first Annual SLA Awards and Honors Premiere (formerly the Closing Gala) at the historic Biltmore Hotel, (site of the 1933 Academy Awards) on Wednesday, June 13, 2002.

    Induction into the SLA Hall of Fame is granted to members of the Association at or near the end of an active professional career for an extended and sustained period of distinguished service to th Association in all spheres. This year's winners are:

    Named in honor of the founder of SLA, the John Cotton Dana Award is conferred upon a member of SLA for exceptional service to special librarianship. This year's recipient is Miriam A. Drake, Professor Emeritus (retired), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Drake is recognized for her longstanding contributions and lifetime achievements in her distinguished career as an information professional.

    The Rose L. Vormelker Award is given to an SLA member recognized for exceptional service to the profession f special librarianship via mentoring students and/or practicing professionals in the field. This year's recipients are: Billie Connor Dominguez, Manager, Business and Economics Department and Science, Technology and Patents Department, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, CA; and Nettie Seaberry, Director, Minority Business Information Center, National Minority Supplier Development Council, New York, NY. Both of these outstanding individuals were recognized for their exemplary leadership dedication, and commitment to mentoring.

    Fellows of the Special Libraries Association are called upon to advise the Association's Board of Directors, alert the membership to issues and trends warranting action, and are recognized as active SLA members with future leadership potential for the Association. The 2002 SLA Fellows are:

    The Factiva Leadership Award is presented to an SLA member who exemplifies leadership as a special librarian through excellence in personal and professional competencies. The winner of this year's award is Thomas Fearon, Library Director, Lehman Brothers, Incorporated, New York, NY. Fearon is recognized for his excellent leadership abilities, work ethic and dedication to advancing the profession. The Factiva Leadership Award is based on the "Competencies for Special Librarians of the 21st Century," which can be found on Virtual SLA at www.sla.org.

    The Innovations in Tech Award recognizes information professionals for their innovative use and application of technology in a special library setting. This year's winner is Gary D. Price, Gary Price Library Research and Internet Consulting, Vienna, Virginia, USA. Price is recognized for his innovative Web Reference Compilations, which is an invaluable tool for librarians, researchers and all web browsers, offering an organized scheme for research on the web.

    The SLA President's Award is given annually to an SLA member who during the previous year has shown a commitment to the development of the Association as the premier organization for information professionals. This year, the award is conferred upon the Chairs of the Task Forces. Carol L. Ginsburg, Chair of the Branding Task Force and Managing Director and Global Head of Business Information Services, Deutsche Bank AG, New York, USA; Judith J. Field, Chair of the Conference Task Force and Senior Lecturer, Library and Information Science Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA; L. Suzi Hayes, Chair of the Simplification Task Force, and previously Construction Coordinator, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Ethel M. Salonen, Chair of the Partnership Task Force, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA; Barbara P. Semonche, First Chair of the Membership Task Force and Library Director, University of North Carolina, School of Journalism, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; and Tom Rink, Second Chair of the Membership Task Force and Officer, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Each of these individuals is recognized for their unique efforts, commitment and dedication to their task forces.

    The SLA Professional Award is presented to an individual or group who may or may not hold membership in the Association, in recognition of major achievements in, or a specific significant contribution to, the field of librarianship or information science. This year's award is presented to Mary Ellen Bates, Principal, Bates Information Services, Washington, DC. Bates is recognized for her significant contributions to the Association and information profession as an innovator, contributor, and teacher throughout her career.

    The H.W. Wilson Company Award, presented to authors of outstanding articles published in Information Outlook, SLA's monthly magazine. This year's award goes to Martha K. Heyman, author of "Building Successful Relationships with IT Professionals," which was published in the April, 2001 issue. The article centers on th e critical role of appointed leaders in today's corporate environment that deal effectively with cross-functional teams in order to rapidly resolve business problems.

    The Member Achievement Award is presented to a member of SLA for raising visibility and public awareness of, and appreciation for, the profession and/or the Association. This year's award is presented to Michael F. Keating, Business Development Associate, Nine Sigma, Fairview Park,Ohio, USA. Keating has been instrumental in raising awareness and positive publicity in the field of special librarianship through a series of articles about the Association and profession.

    SLA's Diversity Leadership Development Award recognizes individuals from multi-cultural backgrounds who display excellent leadership abilities in the profession and demonstrate a willingness to develop and strive for leadership opportunities within the Association. The year's winners are Suzan J. Lee, Senior Researcher, UBS Warburg LLC, New York, New York, USA; and Jeffery Mah, Chief Librarian, Bechtel Corporation, San Francisco, California, USA. Both of these outstanding individuals will receive a $1,000 stipend for use in attending the SLA Annual Conference and will be mentored by a longstanding SLA member who has been selected based on his or her experience in the profession.

    About the Award and Honors Program: Since 1948, SLA has recognized those individuals who have distinguished themselves in the information profession through its Awards and Honors Program. Award winners are determined by select committees and approved by SLA's Board of Directors. The winners are announced by the SLA President during the SLA Winter Meeting and officially recognized at the SLA Annual Conference. Each award winner will receive "The Dana," the official award manifestation of Special Libraries Association. Exclusively designed by Tom Meyer of Visions Awards in Celina, Ohio, "The Dana" captures the splendor of artistic glass enwrapped in stainless metal, symbolizing the creativity, hard work, dedication, and talents of SLA award winners. To view an image of "The Dana" visit the Awards and Honors section of Virtual SLA at www.sla.org . The SLA Awards and Honors Program is administered by the Public Relations' office of the Special Libraries Association.


    RGC LOCAL HAPPENINGS

    From the Membership Chair:

    We haven't had any new members in the Chapter for some months now, so no new names to report. Nor have we lost any for a while--which is good news. Our membership number still stands at 69.

    Donna Cromer
    University of New Mexico

    The Chapter Needs You!

    We are looking for a few good chapter members who would like to volunteer to head a committee. Actually since we are so small the committees usually consist of one person, but I believe the duties for each are not too time consuming.

    If you are interested in volunteering or if you would like to continue in your present committee position, please let Gloria Zamora know (w) 845-0811 gjzamor@sandia.gov. It's fun and you get to know the chapter the association and meet some great people.

    Upcoming meetings – Gloria Zamora

    April 5th will bring us a bring your boss to lunch program at the Albuquerque Petrolelum Club. The speaker will be President-elect Bill Fisher. This is a great opportunity for your boss/manager to hear about the contributions the librarians make on a daily basis. Invitations have been mailed. If you haven't received yours, please call Gloria Zamora 845-0811

    April 30th, Joyce Van Berkel who has recently returned from a three year stint at the International Atomic Energy Agency will relate her experiences. This will be an informal dinner at 5:30 at the home of Carmen Ward. A light dinner will be provided. Please join us as we celebrate International Special Librarians Day and the fact that our chapter won the theme contest. More details will follow soon.

    May 30th will be a day long workshop in Santa Fe and the State Library. This will be a workshop on library space and the various ways you can view it. The workshop presenters are Aaron and Elaine Cohen who are no strangers to our chapter. A previous workshop in Ghost Ranch was entertaining and informative. Flyers will be mailed soon.

    A note on membership:
    Our membership for the chapter is down. We need to encourage new members. If you know of new people in the area or maybe those who are no longer participating, please invite them to one of the upcoming programs. They may get to like it.

    Interview with Heather Gallegos-Rex, Deputy State Librarian – Heather O’Daniel

    [The following was submitted as the essay portion of my application to the University of Illinois, LEEP, Master of Library and Information Science Program. I want to thank Heather, and other members of our Chapter for the encouragement and knowledge you have shared. Those interactions have had a direct effect on me, and lead to my acceptance in the program.]

    The New Mexico State Library building in Santa Fe is nested deep in a hill of the city and a beautiful setting for the interview of Heather Gallegos-Rex. She is very busy in her role of Deputy State Librarian, so I was excited and honored she had agreed to give me some of her time.

    Heather presents and defends library issues to the State Legislature and spoke assuredly about the issues that were affecting the public libraries in New Mexico. When asked to select the top three she quickly listed: Funding; Training; and Vision.

    Funding

    For a library to exist in New Mexico, any entity such as a city, township, or other non-profit organization must petition the State Library for recognition and the accompanying assistance. The monetary assistance the State provides is solely for content or collection development, not operating expenses. Even though the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave a grant for public access computing resources, there is still the requirement that the local governing body provide funding for operating costs, including the salaries of staff. “A small village has difficulty getting funds for improving water or sewage systems. Library operating costs are easily cut from budgets.” said Heather. There are many poor rural communities in the area, so funding is the first and foremost issue.

    Training

    The lack of funds creates a major weakness in providing consistent quality information services and leads to the next issue, training. When there are little funds to obtain sufficient numbers of qualified staff, the need to develop the skills of existing personal greatly increases. The NM State Statues define a library as having trained professional staff, and so authorizes the State Librarian to issue certifications to librarians validating qualifications (Section18-2-8 NMSA). This requires the State Library have a process of defining and assessing professional standards. The next natural step in that process is the responsibility of providing resources for growing the required skills to deliver the highest possible standard of service.

    Vision

    The first two issues were not a surprise, but the idea of vision being an issue amazed me. Vision, she said, means always seeing of the connection between libraries, economic health, and lifelong learning within a community. Keeping the “old timers” directing libraries motivated enough to continually understand the needs of their changing environments is a great and ongoing challenge.

    The State Library has addressed this by fully sponsoring weeklong “Leadership” Institutes facilitated by Schreiber Shannon Associates, who also conduct the well-known annual Snowbird Institute for librarians in Utah. Library directors are the targeted invitees.

    One last question for Heather was: What did you learn in your MLS educational program that proved to be the most useful in your career? She answered, “it was a Special Libraries class, stressing the importance of communication.” The instructor taught how not to waste the time of those with whom you are trying to speak, but to package your information clearly and concisely for quick understanding.

    LANL Open for Public Again

    The Laboratory's Research Library was re-opened to the public Feb 11, 2002. It was closed to the public as a security precaution following the Sept. 11 attacks.

    Visitor hours are from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    Registered Lab badge holders will continue to have 24-hour access, seven days a week.

    Additional security measures, such as cyber and physical security features, have been implemented, including the addition of a staff person who will ensure that these strict security guidelines are met. Visitors now will be required to sign in and out and show a valid identification. They will have access to the library's book and journal collections, the electronic databases and the electronic journal articles that are available to Lab staff. However, visitors will not have access to either electronic or hard copy technical reports.

    For more information, contact the Research Library at 505/667-5809.

    The Gardens of Italy: Ninfa - Theresa G. Connaughton

    When living and working in Rome from 1996 –99 one of my goals was to see as many great Italian gardens as possible. This desire arose not only from my modest attempts at gardening in Santa Fe but also from our family flower farm business in San Miguel County. During those years I was to learn that Italian gardens had much to teach me about botany, art, landscapes, environment and history.

    One of my favorite gardens was the garden at Ninfa. Ninfa is located on the site of a destroyed and abandoned medieval town some 30 miles south of Rome in the area formerly known as the Pontine Marshes. It is on the ancestral lands of the ancient Caetani family of Rome, which lies claim to a lineage that includes Popes and Prime Ministers and, some say, Patrician Roman blood.

    The city of Ninfa was founded in the 8th century along the river Nympheus. Ninfa was an important city on the via Appia, a strategic location on the primary route from Rome to southern Italy. The wealth and importance of the city was due to ability to acquire wealth from the tolls collected from tradesmen and visitors to Rome. It also controlled the only fresh water source at the time in the Pontine area. The city was large enough to have many churches, monasteries, convents, and towers with walls that surrounded the city and provided protection. Ninfa’s history was tumultuous and its fate was sealed in the battles over the Papacy and the subsequent election of Pope Alexander II in the 12th century. Alexander’s papal election led some cardinals to elect an antipope, Victor IV, who was supported by Germany , some Lombards, and, tragically, Ninfa. The subsequent schism continued through antipopes Paschal III and Calixtus III until 1178. But the fortunes of Ninfa declined and her allegiance to the losing side cost her dearly. By the end of the 13th century Pope Boniface VIII (Benedetto Caetani) acquired Ninfa for 200,000 lire worth of gold. The city was further destroyed with its sacking and burning in 1381 or 1382 and was progressively abandoned. The lands of Ninfa were left in ruins for centuries, partly because of malaria outbreaks endemic in the region.

    In the early 20th century, Gelasio Caetani restored the principal buildings including the tower by the lake and realized the potential for a splendid garden. In the 1920’s Anna Caetani, Chapin Daisies and Lelia Caetani, heirs to the Caetani family fortunes and educated in England, decided to create a garden on the site of Ninfa. Ninfa is named after the mythological creatures called nymphs. Ancient Romans venerated nymphs as minor deities and created water features in their gardens called nymphaeums where moss, ferns, rocks, and water trickles suggest habitats for nymphs, fairies, and gods. Ninfa must be the grandest nyumpheaum of modern times. Against this history, one of the world’s great gardens was born.

    Ninfa, without a doubt, is also one of the most romantic gardens in the world. The Italians believe it to be the Pompeii of the medieval era. Here is an entire city in ruins with walls, towers, churches, convents and monasteries draped in a veil of ivy. To a New Mexican like me, the abundance of crystal clear water and the intensity of the various shades of green are like awakening in a dreamland. A solitary walk (yes … in draping and flowing gowns) is one’s strongest urge. Yet one can only view the garden as part of a large group on guided two-hour tours.

    Walking through the ruins of the ancient town one encounters botanical specimens from nearly every temperate region of the world. The mild Mediterranean climate allows plant specimens from the Himalayas to thrive beside familiar old-world plants. Roses abound, both ancient and modern English ones. Climbing roses and vines tumble over ancient monasteries and walls. In spring the garden is awash in blossom and color from azaleas, wisteria, peonies, roses, and flowering trees such as cherries, pears and magnolias. Acanthus grows in abundance and causes one to finally acknowledge why this plant was the favored pattern for Greek Corinthian column capitals, tapestries, and other decorative arts. Giant white calla lilies grow along the banks of an incredibly clear stream running through the gardens. The stream itself, a primary feature of the garden, offers ample opportunity for bridges and coves with microclimates suited to water-loving Japanese irises and ferns. Old gated doors offer views from the ancient walls of the ruins to the surrounding countryside.

    Many of the plant specimens were not familiar to this high-desert native. I recall one particularly striking large, lobed-leafed plant growing on the banks of the stream. It was reminiscent of rhubarb – but taller, larger and, thus, more impressive. But I also discovered that some of the specimens were unknown even to the tour guide. As we approached a solitary, magnificently large tree the guide informed the group that this was a unique speciman for Italy though it was not known what it was nor where or how it came to be in the garden. My Canadian friend took me aside and remarked, astonished, “Why that is a maple tree!”

    The tour ends at a small visitor center where one can purchase plants (though U.S. regulations prohibit their import here) or, more importable, books. To complete one’s day out of Rome I recommend a visit to the nearby hill town of Sermoneta. It has a magnificent, intact medieval castle built by the Caetani’s and acquired at one time by the Borghese family. It is also a logical choice for a soul and stomach satisfying lunch (picnics are not allowed at Ninfa) and visits to picturesque shops.

    How to get there:
    Advance tickets can be purchased at the Palazzo Caetani on the edge of the Jewish ghetto in Rome. Request an English language tour. Like many Italian attractions Ninfa is open only on certain days of the week, and during certain times of the year so an ad hoc visit can risk the garden being closed. One can also buy tickets by writing to: Giardino e Rovine de Ninfa 04010 Doganella di Ninfa (LT) Italy.

    Ninfa is about 35 miles from Rome in the district near Latina. It is best reached by automobile.

    In remembrance…

    A dear friend, champion of reading, and libraries passed away on Thursday February 28, Eleanor Beaven Tedesco. She was 89. In accordance with her wishes, there were no services. Generous in life and in death, Eleanor left her body to the UNM Medical School.

    Eleanor's library career was a long one that found her at the Library of Congress, the Health Sciences Library at UNM and the Kirtland Base Library, locally.

    Eleanor led a fascinating life. She was the daughter of an Army Surgeon and traveled widely growing up. She was a graduate of Duke University, class of 1933.

    She was active in the Rio Grande Chapter and served as Secretary 1963/64, Vice President 1964/65, and President 1965/66.

    Eleanor was a member of the Lovelace Auxiliary for many years. She was a Volunteer in the Medical Library until 1989. Eleanor then moved her talents to other Volunteer areas at Lovelace. She was so active in the Blood Drives that in April 1998, United Blood Services of New Mexico renamed the Coordinator of the Year Award to the Eleanor Tedesco Award.

    She was a voracious reader. Macular degeneration did not slow her one bit as she became a regular of the Talking Books Program from the State Library. She "read" the books faster than they could send them to her.

    She was a true grammarian constantly on the lookout for lapses, especially on the evening news or in the newspapers. Her knowledge of word derivations was staggering.

    Her spirit, enthusiasm and wit will be greatly missed.

    Linda Morgan Davis
    Sarah Knox Morley


    Peter Drucker to give keynote address! More information at the official web site. Hope to see you there.
    http://www.sla.org/content/Events/conference/2002annual/index.cfm


    Rio Grande Chapter
    Special Libraries Association
    c/o 455 Wagon Train
    Rio Rancho, NM 87124


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