Stephanie D. Tolson for Chapter Cabinet Chair-elect
Stephanie Diane Tolson is Library Director, St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley Campus (1992-present).
Past Employment: Cataloging Manager, St. Louis Community College, Technical Services Department (1988-1992); Information Specialists, McDonnell Douglas Information Systems, (1981-88); Librarian Consultant on Library of Congress Conversion Project, Electronic Keyboarding Inc., (1980-81); Cataloger, Peoples Gas of Chicago (1976-80); Librarian, Procon/Universal Oil Company (1975-76).
SLA Member Since: 1976
Education: Doctoral student, Saint Louis University (1999-present); M.L.S., Emporia Kansas University (1975); B.A., Park College (1974).
SLA Chapter Activities: St. Louis Metropolitan Area Chapter, Past-President (2000-2001); Public Relations Committee Chair (2000-01), President (1999-2000); Program Committee Chair (1998-99); Affirmative Action/Diversity Liaison (1992-present), Nominating Committee (1988-89 and 1995-96); President (1984-85); Long-range Planning Committee (1982-85); Hospitality Committee Chair (1981-82); Illinois Chapter member (1976-80).
SLA Division Activities: Library Management Division: Professional Development Committee Chair (1988-89); Career Guidance Committee Chair (1987-88); Information Technology Division: member (1976-81).
SLA Association Level Activities: H.W. Wilson Award Committee Chair (2000-01); Winter Meeting Local Arrangements Coordinator 2000, Public Relations Committee (1996-98); Candidate for the SLA Board (1994-95); Atlanta Conference Program Planning Committee (1992-94); Cataloging Committee (1990-94); Affirmative Action Committee Chair (1985-89); Standards Committee (1982-84).
Other Professional Activities: American Library Association member (1988-present); Missouri Library Association Member (1994- present); MLA Legislative Committee Member (1997-present); University of Missouri-Columbia, Library School Advisory Council (1994-98).
Awards & Honors: National Institute for Leadership Development Participant 1998; Kaleidoscope Leadership Development Participant 1997; SLA Diversity Leadership Development Award 1997; Elizabeth Owens Professional Award 1997; Mathew-Dickey Boys & Girls Club's Rhodia Miller Memorial Award 1992; Who's Who Among American College and University Students 1975.
Publications:
(Nov. 2000). Wireless laptops and local area networks. Presented at the League for Innovation's Conference on Information Technology, Anaheim, California; (Jan. 2000). Diversity in a global environment. Presented at the Leadership Development Institute, Special Libraries Association, St. Louis, MO; (Jun. 1998). Mentoring up the career ladder. Information Outlook, 37-38; (Sep. 15, 1990). Materials of or about Africa. Rev. of Africana resources and collections: Three decades of development and achievement: a Festschrift in honor of Hans Panofsky, ed. by Julian Witherell. Library Journal, 108; (Apr. 1, 1990). The price of tech services. Rev. of Cost-effective technical services: How to track, manage, and justify internal operations, by Gary M. Pitkin. Library Journal, 144.
On the Questions:
What are the keys to the growth of the information profession, its stature and its image?
Proactive responses versus reactive--Information professionals should stay abreast of changes in the corporate world and make positive moves that will advance initiatives. We should identify alternatives and offer sound thinking that is proactive and creative.
Strategies--Information professionals should development of plans of action. We should realize that if is not advanced, it is not always because it lacks value. At a different time your plan may be just what is needed.
Competencies--Information professional should continuously acquire new skills to maintain a competitive edge.
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?
During my tenure, I want to embrace membership development. I want to help the association redefine itself, embracing a wider group of information professionals, who are involved in information policy-making, planning, web development, and knowledge work. My vision is to add a different perspective to the association's board. The legacy I hope to leave behind is that of positive actions in the area of membership development. With your vote, I plan to serve as the Chapter Cabinet Chair-elect. I want to serve the membership, and what better way is there than to serve the local leadership. I will work to serve information professionals through collaboration, networking and professional development.
Explain a career-related accomplishment and how its outcome will relate to your success on the board of directors.
During my time as a librarian with McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), I worked with systems analysts, corporate librarians, and others to develop detailed specifications for a new library automation system that would met our corporate needs. The team effort to design, specify, develop and implement the automated system took several years, but in the end it proved to be a collaborative success. I was pleased to have my supervisor complement me on my ability to understand details and interpret details to others who were not familiar with the techno-jargon. I have tried to develop good communication skills, especially listening, because I realize that there are varying levels of understanding in every environment. As a member of the board of directors, I will use detail-oriented skills to stay abreast of the issues and decisions that need to be made for the association. I will also utilize listening skills to open to communication and to solicit information from the chapters regarding concerns that should be taken up at the chapter cabinet or association level.
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