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SLA Boston Chapter Centennial Celebration |
Happy Birthday Boston! I am so pleased and excited to be here, and especially to join the SLA Boston Chapter as you celebrate your centennial . . . a hundred years of learning, sharing, advocating, and yes--enjoying the company of some of the brightest, most inquisitive people anywhere. I should add that as a native of Maine, this is my home chapter.
It is exciting to see so many people here who are very important to SLA and to the library community. First, let me thank our industry partners; they help SLA members succeed in their jobs and they make it possible for the association to provide networking and professional development opportunities. I also want to thank Michele Cloonan for being here. I especially want to thank three current leaders; our President Anne Caputo, Past President and Former Treasurer Gloria Zamora, Board member Ruth Wolfish and three Past Presidents; Ruth Seidman, Ethel Salonen and Hope Tillman.
From the American Revolution to the Industrial Revolution . . . from Henry David Thoreau to Health Care Reform . . . this region has always led the nation in thought, word, and deed. And so it is not surprising that SLA was born here, too, 101 years ago just up the road in New Hampshire. And when the SLA periodical Special Libraries published its very first directory of 100 special libraries, in April 1910, 17 of them were in what is now this chapter's jurisdiction.
Information professionals from all over this region have played an important role in SLA right from the start . . . and you will play an important role in our association's future. The dynamics that prompted the founding of SLA and the Boston Chapter in the first place--a changing economy, a compelling need for knowledge-based decision making--are again redefining your roles as information professionals . . . as leaders who will enable your organizations to move forward with eyes wide open.
In a profession that has continually been subject to profound change, SLA's role has been, and will continue to be, steady. But make no mistake: steady does not mean static. As an association, we will always focus on those areas that are most critical to the success of our members--professional development; networking; and advocacy. But the way we deliver in those critical areas must evolve continually to reflect the economic and professional environment in which we work.
Right now, SLA and the information profession must come together to establish a unified voice . . . and some common messages . . . so we can talk about who we are, what we do, and--critically--why it matters. We must find a way to discuss the unique value you bring to your organization--whether that organization is a university or a corporation, a government agency or a law firm.
How many of you know about "Align SLA"? Raise your hands. For those who missed the announcements earlier in the month, Align SLA is a new initiative to get your input on the mission, vision and values statements that will guide SLA forward into the future. Each of these statements has a different role in defining SLA as an organization:
- Our Mission states SLA's current purpose--our reason for being.
- The Vision is a forward-looking expression of SLA's long-term goals.
- Our Core Values are the beliefs that motivate and guide all that we do as a profession and as an organization.
We have drafts of all of these statements on the SLA Website, in the Alignment Portal. We are asking all members to read and comment on them, and to respond to a series of poll questions you will receive. We want to be sure that we are all on the same page--no small feat.
Why is this effort so important? Because, even before the economy began faltering, the financial model on which many associations is based began to crumble. Associations relied heavily on subsidies from corporate sponsors . . . and on advertising dollars . . . to deliver services. That environment has shifted dramatically; companies have changed their way of doing business, and so must we.
It is particularly fitting that we should be meeting in this beautiful, green building--the Artists For Humanity EpiCenter. It is a symbol of how much New England has changed from the industrial--and often polluted--place where I grew up . . . and has re-envisioned itself as a leader in environmental stewardship, with an ever-diversifying economy. As Robert Collier wrote, "Vision gives you the impulse to make the picture your own."
That is why we have asked for and want your input on SLA's mission, vision, and values . . . we are going to draw a new picture for SLA. These critical documents, informed by the research done as part of the Alignment Project and your feedback, will help us focus our resources in the years ahead . . . to do more of the things that matter most to you . . . to create a future where the contributions of information professionals are recognized and valued. Because you are SLA!
Right now, SLA delivers an incredible array of benefits to you. I want to take a moment to review some of the benefits that are currently available to SLA members--benefits that SLA's board, staff, and numerous committees are constantly evaluating and inspiring.
Networking
- We have a searchable online Membership Directory.
- Every member is entitled to join one chapter and one division as part of the standard dues package.
- SLA's discussion lists, wikis, blogs, and other social networking tools give members many options for sharing information.
- And, of course, there is SLA's Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO--which will be a short train ride away in Philadelphia in 2011.
Learning
- SLA professional development opportunities include Click University, SLA's groundbreaking online learning portal. Here's what you can get from ClickU:
- Certificate programs in Competitive Intelligence, Knowledge Management, and U.S. and Canada Copyright Law.
- Free for members Webinars and replays to help you master the latest technical skills and knowledge without leaving your desk.
- Free member access to special e-libraries on leadership, management, and knowledge management.
- Free member access to ExecuBooks . . . a great way to spend about 15 minutes a week reading executive summaries of the hottest books in business.
- Free member access to the online Innovation Laboratory, where you can try out the newest Web 2.0 applications and take advantage of nearly 40,000 tutorials on more than 120 software applications for both Macintosh and Windows platforms.
- Even a self-paced program where members can commit just one hour a week to experiment, learn and practice 23 new technology tools for free.
Career and Personal Development
- You receive Information Outlook, the first word on trends and developments in the information and knowledge profession.
- SLA's Career Center has special job listings and access to career coaching.
- We have a wealth of online leadership training resources, too.
- There is SLA's salary survey and calculator.
- Even access to health insurance.
Money-Saving Resources
- Multiview Industry Vendor Search is a great way to locate vendors of the products you need.
- Members can access Nexcerpt and Factiva News Connections.
- We have a free RSS Feed Reader.
- SLA members get discounts to major industry conferences and publications too numerous to go through today. . .
- Discounts on office supplies. . .
- And discounts on higher education through partnerships that include Drexel University, Kent State University, San Jose State University, Syracuse University and University of Toronto.
SLA is your association, dedicated to advancing your profession and your individual career. With apologies to that great Boston native, President John F. Kennedy . . . You have heard what SLA can do for you. What can you do for SLA?
I will close by again congratulating the Boston Chapter on its centennial. You were part of SLA in the beginning; I know you will be an important part of SLA's future.
Thank you.
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