Elizabeth (Liz) Bibby for Chapter Cabinet Chair-elect
Elizabeth (Liz) Bibby is Director of the Business Information Services Center, Baker Library, Harvard Business School, where she has responsibility for the main public service areas of the library and oversees the Research Services Department, which provides in-depth research support to faculty.
Past Employment: Boston College: Head, Reference & Instructional Services (1997-99); Labat-Anderson Inc : Head Librarian/Coordinator (1991-94); Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta: Manager: Library & Information Services (1987-91); TAPPI: Information Resources Administrator (1983-87); Life College: Instructor & Librarian (1982-83); Canadian Consulate General: Information Manager (1976-81) .
Education: M.S. in Information Science from the University of Tennessee; Certificate in Management Development, from Oglethorpe University; Bachelor's degree with highest distinction from Northwestern University (Psychology); First Professional Examination of the Library Association, School of Librarianship, Liverpool.
SLA Member Since: 1976
SLA Chapter Activities: Illinois Chapter: Bulletin Editor (1978-81); Georgia Chapter: Chair, Education Committee (1984-85); Program Chair (1985-86); Chapter President (1986-87); Director (1990-91); Boston Chapter : member, Logistics Committee (1997-99); Treasurer (1999-01).
SLA Division Activities: Library Management Division: Chair, Marketing Section (1988-89); Division Chair Elect (1989-90); Chair (1990-91), Chair, Bylaws Committee, (1991-92); Chair, Nominating Committee (1992-93); Chair, Awards Committee (1992-93); Chair, Membership Committee (1994-95); Listserv Administrator (1995-96); Business and Finance Division: Director (1997-99). Diverse Issues Caucus: mentor, EBSCO Minority Scholarship program (1998). Liz previously belonged to the Chemistry, Science and Technology, Information Technology, and Environmental and Resource Management Divisions.
SLA Association-Level Activities: Public Relations Committee: member (1991-92); Research Committee: member (1995-96): Conference Planning Committee: Deputy Chair (1994); Nominating Committee: Chair-Elect (1997-98); Chair (1998-99); Task Force on Simplification: member 2000-2001.
Awards & Honors: Library Management Division Leadership Award (1994); Primark Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business Librarianship (2000); Fellow of the Special Libraries Association (June 2000).
Other Professional Activities: ASIS: Secretary, Georgia Chapter (1996-70); Conference Chair (1998). Chicago Library System Affiliates Council: Board member (1980-81); Georgia Governor's Conference on Libraries and Information Services: Special Libraries Delegate (1991). Member of ALA, ACRL, RUSA, LAMA and BAABL (Boston Association of Academic Business Librarians).
Publications: "Using Ready Reference [software] on the Region 4 LAN," EPA InfoAccess, Number 23, (November 1992): 8-9. "Supersurvey Results," Library Management Quarterly, 14 (Spring 1991): 15-16. "Learning to Improve Your Management Skills," Library Management Quarterly, 12 (Fall 1989): 5,7. Book review: "Creating an Information Service" by Sylvia P. Webb, Journal of Documentation, 40 (December 1984): 292-293. "Bringing Canadian Information to the Midwest," Illinois Libraries, 62 (March 1980): 233-237. "List of Unclassified Documents, Lectures, etc. by the Staff of the Chemistry Division, AERE, Harwell, 1967," AERE Bib-157. London: HMSO, 1967. Selected Speeches/Presentations: "Course Support at Baker Library," 91st Annual Conference, Special Libraries Association, June 13, 2000. "Getting the Most from Your Outsourcer," 85th Annual Conference, Special Libraries Association, June 15, 1994. "Special Librarians: People You Should Know," East Cobb Rotary Club, Georgia, December 1989. Canada: Our Northern Neighbor," Kiwanis Club, North Chicago, April 1978.
On the Questions:
What are the keys to the growth of the information profession, its stature and its image?
There may never be a better era for this profession. Its growth is all but guaranteed--unless we are too fearful to seize the opportunities today's information explosion offers. Our environment presents many new ways to apply our expertise. Our stature will grow in direct correlation with our ability to align our expertise with the missions and strategic goals of the organizations where we work. This is what has always made special librarians different and is what will save us now from floundering in a sea of too many options. We must focus on the activities that will make a difference. To promote and improve our profession's image, each of us must take bold steps to communicate our own value and to be proud, not apologetic, about what we do. We must stop whining among ourselves about being under-appreciated and underpaid and go out and get better jobs.
What is your vision for the association during your time in office, and what legacy would you like to leave behind? What is your strategy to implement this vision?
My vision for SLA is to attract and retain a diverse group of bright, energetic young people, who view the association as a vital part of their professional experience. I would like to leave the legacy that I fostered a dialog among our members, designed to promote the recruitment and mentoring of the next generation of leaders. To attract new winners, SLA needs first to be very clear which benefits its membership values most. Are we in danger of trying to be all things to all people? Have we lost sight of the key reasons people continue to belong to SLA? I would enlist the Chapters to conduct a series of Town Meetings to discuss "SLA--what's in it for everyone?" Our leaders meet and talk often, but it's in our Chapters that the grass roots membership, especially our younger and/or newer members, can articulate its hopes and dreams.
Explain a career-related accomplishment and how its outcome will relate to your success on the board of directors.
Several years ago, I decided that, after spending the majority of my career in small special libraries, I thoroughly enjoyed full time management. I'd just spent three years managing the Atlanta based operations of LABAT-ANDERSON, at the EPA. I wanted to continue to manage in a new setting, so I decided to target academia. Many advised me it would be difficult to break into academia at a management level, but I chose to listen to those, including many SLA friends, who provided encouragement. Armed with a new degree, I was soon able to embark on a new phase in my career and now have exactly the sort of job I'd envisioned. I will bring my ‘can do' attitude and work ethic to the SLA Board if you elect me. If we articulate our goals together, then formulate a realistic strategy, I have no doubt we will be successful in reaching them.
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