Susan M. Klopper is manager, Andersen Business Research Center, Arthur Andersen LLP, Atlanta, Georgia (1985- present).
Education:
M.L.S. Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut (1984); Master of Education, Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, Connecticut (1982); B.A. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina (1977).
Past Employment: corporate business librarian, Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia (1984-1985).
SLA Member Since: 1983
SLA Chapter Activities: Georgia Chapter: president (1986-1987); program planner, (1985-1986).
SLA Division Activities Library Management Division: program planner,1997 Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington. Business & Finance Division: chair, (1994-1995)
chair-elect and program planner 1994 Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
SLA Association-level Activities: chair, conference planning committee, Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota (1999); Participated on a panel, "Networking for Shy People" (1999).
Other Professional Activities:
American Association of Law Libraries, member (1983-present); Atlanta Law Library Association, member (1983-present). Presentations at the following: New York Business Information Conference (1999); Online World Conference (1999); Clark Atlanta University Graduate Library School (1999); Online World Conference (1998).
Publications:
"Web-Based Searching: Finding a New Search Rhythm, Online, September/October 1999
"Sailing on the AccountanSea: Accounting Research Sources, Database, June/July 1998
"Testing, Stretching, Pushing and Pulling the Dialog Web," Online, September/October 1997
"Profound for the Internet: M.A.I.D. to Order for Professional Searchers and End-Users," Online, July/August 1997
"World Databases in Company Information," Business Information Alert, May 1997, pp. 12-13
Profound: M.A.I.D. for End-Users," Online, July/August 1996
Super Searchers Do Business: The Online Secrets of Top Business Researchers, one of eleven people who search the Internet and online services for critical business information profiled in a chapter in this book (Published June 1999).
Awards & Honors
Library Management Division Management Leadership Award (1998); SLA Public Relations Award for International Special Librarians Day (1998); Business & Finance Division Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business Librarianship (1999); Awarded first place at the Library Management Divisions' Marketing Swap & Shop (1999); Fellow of the the Special Libraries Association (1999).
Klopper on the Questions:
Susan Klopper
What is the most critical issue(s) facing SLA today and how do you, as a candidate for the Board of Directors, see yourself formulating policies addressing these issues?
SLA is in the middle of a profession redefining itself. Challenges from internal ranks of information professionals stretching beyond "traditional" roles, library school students focused on exploring new niches, and competitors from outside the field have fragmented the value of our skills and competencies and led others up the corporate ladder. Also distressing are the number of librarians who have successfully moved up that ladder but no longer perceive a fit in the association. SLA contributed to developing and nurturing their competencies and networks but is perceived as unable to support growth into this next dimension. All of these challenges provide "out-of-the-box" opportunities for SLA to redefine itself. The Board is aware of these challenges and is on the brink of catapulting SLA into the new century. I can't think of a more exciting time to sit on the board and take part in this process. I have a demonstrated commitment to SLA, in particular division programming. I look forward to contributing to the synergy of making exciting changes happen for the newly defined information profession.
How do you see technology affecting the way SLA provides service to its members?
By using technology to reach more people and attract new alliances and partnerships, SLA can redefine itself and modify external and and internal perceptions. Technology is a tool for enhancing personal interactive opportunities, such as improving presentation experiences and establishing access to conference programming via the SLA web. It provides powerful opportunities to reach and educate students and practitioners across all disciplines and create new membership models. Features such as teleconferencing, online chats, and long distance learning can be used to reach larger audiences and provide important global learning, sharing, and networking opportunities. It is in fulfilling its potential as an enabler of people sharing and learning that technology will best benefit the association and its members.
Where do you see the information profession going in the new millennium?
Ours is a profession of bright, imaginative, and passionate individuals. I can not imagine a time when our skills are more needed and in such high demand. Combined with a strong service ethic, the ability to enable trust, and match both people with information and people with people, we are on the brink of shedding our skins and emerging as information drivers and leaders. I see three events coming together to make this happen: We stop hiding behind our image and take more risks. Second, SLA reinvents itself and aggressively targets and re-recruits information professionals who have successfully redefined themselves. This represents a powerful, untapped community of mentors, teachers, and promoters; we need to embrace them before other professions and associations do. And third, we completely transform our image in the eyes of the business community. As members of the profession, we all share the responsibility to work within our organizations, our library schools, and our association to cut with the lip-service and lead our profession, kicking and screaming if need be, into the next millennium.
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