Info Pros Join Tsunami Relief Effort
SLA Initiative Seeks Donations for Relief Effort;
Material Support for Libraries

Alexandria, Virginia, USA, 5 January 2005 – The Special Libraries Association (SLA) announced it has created a new initiative to energize its global membership in response to the devastating tsunami/sea wave that hit southern Asia and caused an overwhelming loss of life and property on 26 December 2004. More information is available online at www.sla.org/tsunami.

Staff at SLA Headquarters are working to develop an information clearinghouse for the global community represented by SLA. With over 12,000 members in 83 countries – including those nations affected by the tsunami – the potential impact of SLA support is enormous. The effort will focus on two critical areas of need:

• Providing direction to members and SLA chapter/division leaders who seek options for immediate financial support to the disaster relief effort. A collection of contacts for government-approved relief agencies and charities that are committed to the relief effort is now available online. SLA information services staff selected lists from the governments of the top 5 nations most populated by SLA members, plus the nations affected by this awful natural disaster.
  
  
• Serving as a conduit for a) educating members of our community on the needs of libraries in the affected region for the purpose of rebuilding or restoration; and b) directing information, resources, and expertise to persons in the affected region who will guide library rebuilding or restoration. This will be developed over the first several months of 2005, so that an effective collection of resources can be made available.

SLA Executive Director Janice R. Lachance, believes the SLA membership has a role to play as members of the world community and as information professionals: “This initiative serves as a way for our community to contribute to a global effort; to help those left behind in this horrible experience; and to aid an entire region of the world in moving forward from absolute devastation. The staff and leadership of SLA continue to keep the victims and their families in our thoughts, and we are ready to do our part to help.”

About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 12,000 members in 83 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. Visit SLA on the Web at www.sla.org.