SLA's 91st Annual Conference Notes
Information professionals from all over the world came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA to partake in the Special Libraries Association 91st Annual Conference—Independence to Interdependence: The Next Phase in the Information Revolution. It was here where attendees were rejuvenated and reaffirmed their leadership role in the information revolution. Highlights of the conference included the General Session featuring an interview with Terry Gross and David Talbot, the Factiva conference-wide party, "Celebrating Inspiring Thinkers", the Closing Gala, and many awards presentations.
General Session
There was a unique presentation this year that's not been attempted during an SLA Conference ever before. Rather than a standard keynote address, SLA presented an interview, but not just any interview. Terry Gross, the guest interviewer, is a celebrity in her own right, having hosted National Public Radio's "Fresh Air" program for thirteen years now. This award-winning, daily one-hour show airs on over 200 radio stations around the world. Actually, Philadelphians have enjoyed her intelligent interviewing style since 1975, when she first joined the staff of WHYY-FM as producer and host of "Fresh Air." In addition to her show, Terry's served as guest host of the weekday and weekend additions of NPR's "All Things Considered."
The interview guest was David Talbot, the Founder, Chairman, and Editor-in-Chief of Salon, one of the first online magazines. He has written for such publications as the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Interview, and Playboy. He was senior editor of Mother Jones magazine in the early 1980s, when it won several National Magazine Awards for its investigative journalism and design.
Under David's leadership, Salon has won most major Web awards, including "Best Web Site" by Time magazine, Advertising Age, Business Week, U.S. News and World Report and Entertainment Weekly. He was recently named one of the "20 Stars of the New News" by Newsweek Magazine.
During the interview, mixed in with several anecdotes, Talbot explained how electronic publishing has changed over the years and how it becoming a more acceptable means of communication. A tape of the interview can be ordered from National Audio Video Transcripts by calling 1-800-373-2952 or 1-303-292-2952.
In addition to the compelling interview, several attendees were honored with SLA awards. Recipients were:
Honorary Membership to Bill Gates of Microsoft Corporation.
Member Achievement Award--given to Stephen Abram
Media Award—given to Valerie Gray Francois
SLA Professional Award—given to Sue Rugge (posthumous)
Dow Jones Leadership Award for 21st Century Competencies in Action—given to Jan Chindlund
Highlights of the Board Meetings
During the SLA 2000 Annual Board of Directors meeting June 9-10, in Philadelphia, several issues were discussed and addressed by the board ranging from the approval of the Goldspiel Research Grant to the appointment of the 2002 Los Angeles Conference Program Committee. The following items were acted upon at the June 9-10 meeting.
The Board accepted the results of the 2000 spring election as presented by Langan Associates and declared the elections closed and approved the slate of officers for the 2001 spring election. New members of the 2000/01 board are: President-Elect Hope Tillman; Treasurer Richard Geiger; Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect Daille Pettit; Division Cabinet Chair-Elect Susan M. Klopper; Director Lucy Lettis and Director David Stern.
The slate of candidates for the 2001 spring elections were approved by the board. The candidates are as follows: for President-Elect William Fisher and Richard P. Hulser; Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect Elizabeth A. Bibby and Stephanie D. Tolson; Division Cabinet Chair-Elect Karen Bleakley and Karen Kreizman-Reczek, Directors Heather Gallegos-Rex, John Ganly, Marjorie M.K. Hlava and Christine De Bow Klein. Information is now available on the 2000/01 Candidates for SLA Office by pointing your browser to http://www.sla.org/assoc/boardcan/index.html. Complete information will be available about the new candidates in the January 2001 issue of Information Outlook.
The board accepted the 2001 Association Program Plan which is the first step in the budgeting process for all association program areas. The Research Committee's recommendation was accepted by the board to award the 2000 Steven I. Goldspiel Memorial Research Grant to Mr. Peter Ballantyne of the European Center for Development Policy Management in Maastricht, Netherlands for his project "Working in Virtual Communities: Strategies for Information Specialists."
Several routine financial issues submitted by the Finance Committee were approved as presented to the board ranging from the Annual Audit Report and Management Letter to allocating funds to the fiscal year 2001 building reserve fund budget for capital improvements. To obtain copies of board documents from the annual meeting, please visit the Board of Directors section of the web page.
The 2000/01 Board of Directors held its first meeting Thursday, June 15. During the executive session of the board meeting, David R. Bender, SLA's executive director for 22 years announced his retirement effective July 31, 2001. A progress report was given on the 2001 San Antonio Conference. Board members provided reports on Division and Association Committee activities they participated in. The 2000/01 will hold their fall meeting October 20-21 in Brighton, England following Global 2000.
Exhibitors/Sponsors
Attendees in Philadelphia met on Monday to attend SLA's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The ceremony sponsored by Silver Platter, provided SLA members the opportunity to celebrate along with SLA Executive Director David Bender, SLA President Susan DiMattia and Ken Jackson, Vice President of Sales and Distribution for Silver Platter, the official opening of the exhibit hall. Those in attendance were also treated to a performance by the Greater Kensington Mummers String Band. With over 322 companies representing 528 booths, the exhibit hall was a one stop showplace for all of the latest products and services geared toward the information professional. In addition, the annual conference sponsors played a huge role in a successful conference. This year's sponsors were:
Major Conference Partner: Factiva
Sponsor of Keynote Speech
Sponsor of Online Conference Program
Sponsor of Marquee with live Dow Jones news feed
Sponsor of Conference-wide party at Franklin Institute
Major Conference Partner: LEXIS-NEXIS
Sponsor of SLA Annual Business Meeting
Sponsor of Online Registration
Sponsor of Leadership Day
Sponsor of Leadership Development Institute
Sponsor of SLA Board Meetings
Sponsor of Leadership Forum and Reception
Sponsor of All Continuing Education Courses
Sponsor of Cyber Café
Sponsor of Message Center and Expocards
Registration and First-Timer's Reception:
Sponsored by Northern Light Technology, Inc.
Tote Bags:
Sponsored by Chemical Abstracts Services, Inc.
Leadership Reception:
Sponsored by RoweCom
Awards Dinner:
Sponsored by Hoover's Online
Hot Topics:
Sponsored by Inmagic
Association Series Session 1:
Sponsored by Dun & Bradstreet
Exhibitor's Opening Reception, Library School Alumni Reunion and Program Planners:
Sponsored by SWETS/Blackwell
Exhibitor's Opening Reception, Silver Sponsor:
Sponsored by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Exhibitor's Opening Reception, Gold Sponsor
Sponsored by 3M Company
Exhibitor's Opening Reception, Silver Sponsor
Sponsored by Fatbrain.com
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony:
Sponsored by SilverPlatter Information
Refreshment Break:
Sponsored ScienceDirect
Guide to Exhibits:
Sponsored by Kiplinger Business Forecasts
SLA Marketplace and SLA Bookstore:
Sponsored by Primark
Exhibitor's Opening Reception, Silver Sponsor:
Sponsored by SIRSI Corporation
Career Advisory Service:
Sponsored by C. Berger and Company
_ Refreshment Break:
Sponsored by Mergent FIS
Exhibitor's Opening Reception, Contributing Sponsor:
Sponsored by OCLC
Exhibitor's Opening Reception, Contributing Sponsor:
Sponsored by Infotrieve
Employment Clearinghouse:
Sponsored by Telesec/CORESTAFF
Exhibit Hall Opening Reception sponsored by:
3M Company
Fatbrain.com
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
SIRSI
SWETS/Blackwell
Infotrieve
OCLC
Annual Business Meeting
The annual business meeting took place Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The agenda included an official moment of silence for SLA members who have passed away during the association year; reports from the association leadership including the treasurer's report, state of the association address, chapter cabinet chairs report, division cabinet chairs report; the introduction of the new Board of Directors; and the recognition of several award winners. Awards given include
ISLD Award—given to Kimberley Condas
H.W. Wilson Award—given to Stuart Basefsky
Diversity Leadership Development Award—given to Jannie Cobb, Lilleth Newby, Alvetta Pindell
Innovations in Technology Award—given to Kathy Whitley and Deborah Kegel
Presidents Award—given to Marjorie Hlava
Fellows—given to Elizabeth Bibby, Richard Hulser, Jo Anne Boorkman, Dan Trefethen, and Sylvia Piggott
Newly elected officers include: President-Elect Hope N. Tillman, Treasurer Richard G. Geiger, Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect Daille Pettit, Division Cabinet Chair Elect Susan M. Klopper, and Directors Lucy B. Lettis and David Stern.
Assuming new positions on the board for 2000-2001 are Chapter Cabinet Chair Juanita Richardson, Division Cabinet Chair Doris Helfer, Past President Susan S. DiMattia, President-Elect Hope Tillman, and President Donna Scheeder.
Change and the Information Professional:
Bridging the Gap with SLA
Annual State of the Association Address
David R. Bender, Ph.D.
June 14, 2000
Good morning. Before I share with you my thoughts on the state of our Association, I'd like to offer thanks to the many people who, over the last year, have been the drivers in our successes. First, a warm thanks to Lynne McCay and the rest of the 91st Annual Conference Program Committee. We all had high expectations for this conference and Lynne, you did not disappoint. Thank you for all of your hard work. We are proud to report that our total conference attendance this year was 7,391. As reported earlier this week, our total number of exhibitors was officially 322 companies in 528 booths. Clearly, we've completed another very successful Annual Conference.
I would also like to thank Susan DiMattia for her leadership and willingness to "push the envelope" over the past year. Her vision and persistence in sharing the value of the profession - and communicating that value to others - have produced tangible, effective results, particularly in the way we perceive ourselves and our careers. Susan, you may be leaving office today, but the impact of your vision will be felt for years to come. Thank you for all you've done for the profession and the Association.
There are others who deserve kudos for making this past year a triumphant one. Your Board of Directors, elected Chapter and Division officers, caucus conveners, committee members and chairs deserve a hearty thanks for engaging in a year full of lively debate and discussion over the future of the profession and the Association. They have formed the perfect amalgam of individuals with global and local perspectives that allow your Association to move forward with great vigor while ensuring that all members keep pace with change. Last year, SLA staff found that, with nearly 1,500 member-volunteer leaders, each gives an average of 2 hours' work per week to the Association. We estimate that our volunteers' time commitment amounts to roughly $2.5 million dollars per year in volunteer support, which is absolutely crucial to meeting the needs of the membership. Let's all congratulate our wonderful volunteer leaders for committing a vast amount of time and resources to making SLA such a wonderful success.
I'd also like to personally thank the SLA staff for their energy and desire in making our Association's community the best it can be. Like you, we at International Headquarters engage in lively debate and spirited discussion on our collective course of action. I wouldn't have it any other way, for you and I reap the benefits of their commitment every day. I'd like to ask those on our staff who are in the room to please stand and be recognized for the value you bring to our profession.
And last, but certainly not least, I'd like to thank you all for being who you are: courageous professionals who strive every day to do your jobs and wage a battle that our profession has long endured. And simultaneously, you commit yourselves to making the Special Libraries Association a community that evokes pride. Your presence at this conference means so much for your career, our profession, and for the future of SLA. Keep learning and building, and you will not disappoint, nor will you be disappointed.
My laundry list of thanks summarizes what I believe is the most important component of continued growth for SLA: volunteer leaders and staff dedicated to the principle of lifting our profession to its highest possibilities. It is our unique ability to achieve synergy between and among us that makes us such a vibrant and active community of professionals. This is the state of our Association, and we are proud of it!
So here we are, at the midway point of 2000. One year has passed since we last gathered, and the anxieties of Y2K and the new millennium are now past. Now we are refocused on a number of new issues and some others that have challenged us for years. Where do we go from here? How do we get there? Many of our questions about the Association's future will be answered through the efforts of your Board of Directors in the coming months, as they execute a new strategic direction and address other, more specific matters. They will require your assistance in making our shared vision a reality.
Last year, our Board of Directors set priorities for me and for the entire Association staff that speak very clearly to our common interests. These priorities reflect not only what we have accomplished, but also what we must achieve in the coming years: CHANGE MANAGEMENT, CAREER-LONG LEARNING AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
You may not necessarily associate these three important phrases as being inter-related. Upon closer inspection, though, I think you'll agree that they are intertwined in the daily progress of individuals, organizations, nations, and thus, the world. They make one another even more vital. Change, in and of itself, can be an intimidating process. But change is often the serendipitous result of learning through communication. And so we must consider them the trinity of our future.
I've often said, and I still believe, that SLA is so wonderfully in step with the information profession that the Association's changes mirror the changes taking place in your careers. I'm confident that we will continue down this path, for it will enable us to meet challenges with a high level of energy and speed, and allow us to anticipate the needs of the profession. Here are a few examples of our success this past year:
You asked SLA to adopt a fresh perspective on learning and development in order to remain competitive. SLA is answering that call through the emergence of its Strategic Learning and Development Center, which is pursuing the ambitious vision of helping information professionals become indispensable through learning.
Many of you have stressed the need for enhanced communication to and about the profession and the Association. We've answered by taking many steps:
Over the last four years, Information Outlook has changed the way we deliver the Association to you. We've now completely redesigned the magazine so that it will expand our horizons beyond the information profession. You'll find it is more effective in sharing information, and it is more visually pleasing, too.
Last month, we embarked on another effort to bring news you can use to your desktop, with SLA.COMmunicate, an E-Newsletter that shares information about our community and our careers. It is my hope that this new service will become an indispensable tool in your search for useful information.
We created the SLA Conference Planner, which allows you to view the regularly updated schedule of events and activities taking place at SLA-sponsored conferences.
We established the SLA Virtual Exhibit Hall, which allows you to browse the best of the information industry in one location, even if you can't attend the SLA Annual Conference!
We revised and enhanced the Global 2000 Conference Website, which has served well as a gateway for information on the conference and the Brighton and Southeast United Kingdom.
We've made the SLA Marketplace at the Annual Conference an interactive experience, with demonstrations by staff on a variety of services.
We've continued to develop excellent services for you through the Information Resources Center, and more is on the way.
And, we continue serve as your voice on information policy, working in coalition with many other organizations around the world.
The "Value Proposition" that Susan DiMattia has brought forth is now built into our staff's long-range planning. Media relations, learning opportunities, and promotional efforts are now shaped around building the business case for information professionals.
Many of our volunteer leaders stressed the need for enhanced leadership training, and we've met that need by rebuilding the Leadership Development Institute and creating "Leadership Day" on the Sunday of the Annual Conference. These opportunities will strengthen the impact of our volunteer leadership through the coming years and reap tangible benefits for all of us.
Our scholarship program has been greatly enhanced through the generous contributions of Isabelle Weeks, Ruth Fine, and the Council of Planning Librarians. This will allow us to further develop students for a rewarding career in our profession.
Many Association leaders stressed the need to make SLA marketing and communications tools readily available. We've met that need by providing a one-stop ordering center on the SLA website, where you can not only place requests for SLA brochures and pamphlets, but also for promotional videos and conference programs.
To read the rest of the speech, go to www.informationoutlook.com.
President's Report
SLA Annual Business Meeting
Susan S. DiMattia
June 14, 2000
It has been an exciting year—tiring at times, frustrating at times—but never dull.
During the year, I have visited eleven chapters, both officially and unofficially. Those visits have been among the most satisfying of my presidential activities. SLA chapters are alive, well, creative, and filled with energy. Seeing them in action assures me that the future of SLA is strong. During these same travels, I met with faculty and student groups at four graduate schools. There is a climate of openness to sharing ideas in partnerships with these schools. The students are among the best I've encountered in a long time.
I gave the keynote and the wrap-up addresses at the "Specials" conference of the Australian Library and Information Association, the Australian counterpart to SLA. I have so many new friends "down under" that I'm anxious for a return visit. And someday, I hope our colleagues in Australia will see the benefits of creating an SLA chapter in their country.
I spoke at the METRO annual meeting in New York City, at the FLICC Professional Development Day, at the annual gathering of the Military Librarians, and at the Tenth Anniversary Transborder Library Forum, or FORO. I represented SLA at the 1999 Annual Meeting and 2000 Winter Meeting of the American Library Association and at the Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association. Our partnerships are strong and growing.
During the 1999-2000 SLA year, in additional to our regular liaisons to other organizations, we added some special project partnerships. Past-President Suzi Hayes has represented SLA on the Congress for Professional Education, convened by the American Library Association, with participation by several related organizations. This spring, I began my stint as SLA representative to the second Congress on Professional Education, scheduled for November of this year. Its focus on continuing education makes it a natural fit for us. We bring significant expertise to the discussions.
Also this year, we committed to a two-year partnership with CIMA, the Collaborative of Information Management Associations. Again, SLA's focus, particularly on competencies, makes us a valuable ally for CIMA members who have committed to a study of competencies.
We are in discussion with ASIS to co-sponsor a conference in Egypt in 2002, in celebration of the opening of the Alexandrian Library
In our latest global venture, we have recognized the formation of SLA's Asian Chapter.
It has been a busy and productive year for your Board of Directors. During strategy planning sessions in October and January, we came to the conclusion that several significant steps will be necessary to create the responsive, flexible SLA of the future. To that end, the Board approved the formation of five task forces-groups of members with expertise and experience in specific areas-to examine
Branding and Imaging for the association
Conference Planning
Membership
Partnerships, and
Simplification
You have been hearing and reading about the charges to these task forces for the past several months. They are all hard at work, and several of them solicited your input during this conference. Please share your opinions and suggestions with them when they call on you, so that the results of the entire process will be reflective of member needs.
Staff has been creating some new products, services, and concepts this year, in addition to doing their usual fine job of serving the members of the association. Exciting new ideas are being generated in membership development, strategic learning, research, and technology. Information Outlook has a new look, effective with the June issue. A new prototype of the web site, created after input from an advisory panel of members, was on display at this conference. Support staff answer when staff members call on you for your input, opinions, and participation.
Significant Lessons Learned?
Presidents never have the time and energy to do everything they want to do in a single year.
Don't take a small turbo prop over the front range mountains of New Mexico, from Denver to Santa Fe, during a snow storm, and expect to arrive composed enough to sit down immediately to eat lunch and give a speech!
I learned that SLA is full of truly warm, wonderful, dedicated, competent people, some operating against strong odds, yet still delivering outstanding professional services.
Most disturbingly, I learned that the insidious inertia I referred to in my speech in this same meeting last year is still rampant. It is easier to give in than to fight back.
John Latham, SLA's director of Information Resources, in demonstrating an early prototype of the new SLA web site, had created some bogus content. Under the heading of the President's Page, it said, "President Susan DiMattia talks tough to SLA members." He apologized to me, and hoped that I wouldn't take offense. On the contrary, it played right into the theme of one of my favorite business books of the past few years. I have used it on several occasions this year to demonstrate the attitude that information professionals have to adopt, in order to be successful in the quest to enhance the perception of their value. The book is Why Good Girls Can't Win and Gutsy Girls Can. Notice that this is not a good/bad issue. Gutsy girls aren't bad girls. They simply don't hesitate to be assertive when it is in their best interest to be firm and a self-assured self-promoter.
So, yes, President Susan DiMattia has talked tough to SLA members this year, but it is a toughness laced with a belief in the ability of all of us to make improvements in the perception of our value. George Bernard Shaw said:
"In this world, if you do not say a thing in an irritating way,
You may just as well not say it at all,
Because people will not trouble themselves
About anything which does not trouble them."
I hope I have troubled you just a bit this year, and that you will trouble yourselves to find the passion within you that believes in the value of what you do, and is willing to fight to communicate that passion.
To view the rest of the speech, go to www.informationoutlook.com.
SLA: Change is Our Tradition
Inaugural Address
Donna Scheeder
June 14, 2000
It really is overwhel
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