David Stern is the Director of Science Libraries and Information Services at Yale University (1994-present).
Past Employment: University of Illinois Associate Professor and Head, Physics/Astronomy Library, (1987-1994); Arizona State University, Noble Science and Engineering Library: Physics-Astronomy-Mathematics Subject Specialist, (1984-1987); Medical College of Virginia (Virginia Commonwealth University): Medical Librarian (1984-1984); James Branch Cabell Library: Reference Librarian/Science Specialist,Virginia Commonwealth University, (1982- 1984).
Education: M.A., history & philosophy of science, Indiana University (1982); M.L.S., Indiana University (1982); B.S., biological sciences, University of Connecticut (1979).
SLA Member Since: 1982
SLA Chapter Activities: Connecticut Valley Chapter: member (1994-present); student liaison officer (1995-present); E-List operator (1994-present); WWW site host (1996-present). Illinois Chapter: member (1987-1994); Arizona Chapter: member (1984-1987); chair, consultation committee (1986-1987); employment chair (1985-1986); Virginia Chapter: member (1982-1984); government relations committee (1984).
SLA Division Activities: Physics-Astronomy-Mathematics Division: chair, networking committee (1998-1999); American Physical Society liaison (1995-1998); awards committee chair (1995); past-chair, chair, chair-elect (1993-1996); secretary (1991-1993); PAMnet E-List operator (1996-present); WWW site host (1997-present); member (1984-present). Science & Technology Division: member (1982-1984).
SLA Association-level Activities: nominating committee (1996-1997); networking committee (1995-1999).
Other Professional Activities (selected): Center for Research Libraries, Science Research Materials Project (SRMP) Advisory Board; American Physical Society Library Advisory Committee; Springer Library Advisory Committee. Teaching: Information Networks, LSC 603, Southern Connecticut State University Library School; Foundations of Library and Information Science, LIS 300, University of Illinois, School of Library and Information Science (1993); Online Information Systems, LIS 431, University of Illinois, School of Library and Information Science (1992); Scientific and Technical Literature and Reference Work, LIS 412, University of Illinois, School of Library and Information Science (1989); Reference and Bibliography, EDU 595, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Education (1984).
Publications (selected):Editorial Board, Science & Technology Libraries (1996- present); Guest editor, Science & Technology Libraries "Digital Libraries" special issue, Vol. 17, No. 3/4 (1999); "Pricing Models: Past, Present, and Future?" Serials Librarian 36 (1/2): 301-319 (1999); "New Search and Navigation Techniques in the Digital Library" Science & Technology Libraries 17 (3/4): 61-80 (1999); "From the All-In-One Workstation to Seamless Networks: A Strategic Plan" Online 21 (2): 46-55 (March 1997); "Expert systems: HTML, the WWW, and the Librarian" Computers in Libraries 15 (4): 56-58 (April 1995); "SGML documents: a better system for communicating knowledge," Special Libraries 86 (2): 117-124 (Spring 1995), reprinted in Cybrarian's Manual, ALA (1997); PRESENTATIONS:"Sci-Tech Contents Update", Online World, Washington, DC (1998); "Cost Models: Past, Present, and Future?", North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG), thirteenth Annual Conference, Colorado (1998); "Expert Systems and the World Wide Web", American Library Association, (LITA), Annual Conference, New York (1996).
Publications list has been edited...........
Stern on the Questions:
David Stern
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 those issues?
I believe the most valuable service SLA can offer is the provision of proactive continuing education and professional development opportunities as they relate to new tools and techniques required on the job. A combination of current awareness and training sessions/web pages/documents would allow librarians to take advantage of the larger network of knowledge among our professionals and develop more informed leadership skills and vision. Focus areas should include: technology, personnnel/management, instruction, collection development, reference, cataloging, and preservation. I would concentrate my efforts in the following areas:
Providing opportunities for growth (across and among disciplines) using the following techniques: (1) annual conferences - by helping to design sessions and networking opportunities; (2) publications - writing short articles to promote current awareness topics; and (3) electronic newsgroups/chat rooms/listservs - organize regular and focused communications (Virtual Association SIGs).
Creating enhanced student liaison coordination, following up on my present Chapter and professional activities in an attempt to identify, maintain, and promote information of interest to potential librarians such as: recruitment and job information, award opportunities, and mentoring services.
I also believe that each individual SLA member has the responsibility and must take action toward their own improvement. Examples of appropriate action include: informed voting, attending and/or reviewing professional development opportunities, participating in the development of other SLA members and services, and serving as a collaborator with other players in the information industry to implement the most reasonable information delivery systems.
How do you see technology affecting the way SLA provides service to its members?
Technology provides powerful opportunities for delivering services to our members (and endusers). While electronic communication and learning technologies will never replace face-to-face learning, they present great opportunities for rapid and decentralized point-of-need information using web tutorials, online conferencing, chat spaces, listservs, fax, and phone capabilities. Perhaps SLA can develop online current awareness and continuing education offerings in a way that focuses on those members that can not attend the SLA conferences and workshops. In addition, the virtual association can provide better networking capabilities for identifying and consulting with other SLA-based resources.
Where do you see the information profession going in the new millennium?
The old world view of librarianship consisted of cataloging, storing, searching, and retrieving information from an information domain consisting of peer reviewed and commercial publications. The new Information Professional will also proactively provide assistance with information
literacy (filtering), knowledge management (personal storage and manipulation of data), and collaboration in developing information databases and delivery systems. These activities should include the entire spectrum of information resources. Professionals should use our knowledge of resources, tools, and classification techniques to develop customized gateways for specific user populations. In terms of association activities, I think SLA should focus on lobbying and public relations, using the leverage and visibility of the organization for protecting researcher and
author rights and assisting in the development of logical and long-term sustainable information delivery systems.
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