Karen Kreizman for Divison Cabinet Chair-elect
Karen Kreizman is Manager, Information Resources Center, ACTS Testing Labs, Inc.; Visiting Lecturer, School of Information and Libraries Studies, State University of NY at Buffalo.
Past Employment: Senior Information Scientist, Research Library, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., (1988-96); Technical Information Center, Occidental Chemical Corp. (1987-88).
SLA Member Since: 1988
Education: M.L.S., State University of New York at Buffalo (1987); B.S., Double Major, Social Sciences and Humanities, Clarkson University (1985).
SLA Association-Level Activities: Strategic Planning Committee, Member (1996-97).
SLA Chapter Activities: Upstate NY Chapter: Bulletin Editor (2000/01-present); Consulting Chair (2000/01- present); Business Manager for Programs (1999-2000); Membership Chair (1998-99); Nominations Chair (1997-98).
SLA Division Activities: Biological Sciences Division: Professional Development Committee, Chair (1994-95); Member (1992-93 & 1993-94); Engineering Division: Standards Roundtable Chair (1998-99); Pharmaceutical Division: Strategic Planning Chair 1999/2000 - present); Archivist (1998-99); Past Chair (1997-98); Bylaws Chair (1997-98); Division Chair (1996-97); Chair-Elect (1995-96); Bulletin Editor (1993-94 &1994-95).
Other Professional Activities: In addition to the following positions and appoinments, Karen has given numerous presentations at local, regional and national library conferences. Beta Phi Mu, Member (1987-present); Medical Industry Information Report, Editorial Board (1997-99); Medical Library Association: Academy of Health Information Professionals, Senior Member (1998-2003); Upstate NY and Ontario Chapter, Government Relations Chair (1998-99 & 1999-2000); Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals, Member (1996-present) ; Standards Engineering Society, Member (1999- present); Western NY Library Resources Council: Board of Trustees (2000-05); Regional Automation Committee, Chair (1993-94 & 1994-95) ; Member (1989-2000); Continuing Education Committee, Chair 1992/1993; Member (1991-92); Western NY Health Sciences Librarians, Past President (1995-96), President (1994-95), President Elect (1993/94), Newsletter Editor (1992/93-1993/94); Executive Board Member-at-Large, (1990/91-1992/93).
Awards & Honors: SLA Pharmaceutical Division, Distinguished Member Award (2000); Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals MIC Award of Excellence (1988).
Publications (selected): Establishing an Information Center: A Practical Guide. London: Bowker-Saur, 1999.
On the Questions:
What are the keys to the growth of the information profession, its stature and its image?
How we are perceived by others directly impacts the profession s image, stature and potential for growth. SLA must work with other library and related organization to educate "outsiders," particularly business executives, on the critically important and unique skills information professionals bring to an organization. It is also important for SLA to provide concrete tools, diversify programs, and provide services that support the varied professional positions and responsibilities our members undertake. SLA should create model job descriptions that accurately reflect these changing roles in a variety of sectors. Many industries look at position descriptions in comparative companies. Our roles and skills sets have evolved; it is time SLA provided prototypes descriptions and set the standard.
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?
There are two areas that I would take an active role in coordinating:
I would like to see the association reach out directly to library school students, and play a more significant role in influencing library school curricula. SLA should increase involvement with library schools and lobby at the ALA-accreditation level to make sure that coursework in special library skills such as knowledge/content management, business intelligence, and strategic planning and analysis are required as part of re-accreditation. Ensuring new librarians have the necessary competencies is critical to the future success and positive perception of our profession.
The work of the SLA Information Services Panel on benchmarking needs to be further developed. A solid body of information regarding staff size, budgets, including roles and responsibilities for like industries, will enable members to justify and improve their positions within their organization.
Explain a career-related accomplishment and how its outcome will relate to your success on the board of directors.
I started the Information Resources Center at ACTS Testing Labs as a one-person library. Four years later, I was managing a staff of seven. Through speaking, consulting, mentoring, and writing (including publishing a book on the topic), I have been able to share information on the "how-tos" of establishing the value of the information center and the information professional. I think I have been particularly successful in providing "practical" information and techniques, which can be adopted and immediately applied in a variety of settings. A position on the Board will enable me to influence policy and program development, and provide a forum for guiding SLA members on effectively communicating the personal and professional value they bring.
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