*Note: The following is from our archived collection of older documents, and may not reflect the most current information.
Welcome to SLA Connections, your source for news and information from the information profession and industry.
By Janice R. Lachance
2005: A Year for New Beginnings
As we begin 2005, I think it’s appropriate to look back on the things that have happened in the SLA community. We’ve had a great year! No, I won’t sit here and tell you it was an effortless, completely pain-free 12 months, but your association is on the move, and for that, we should all have positive feelings about the future.
We started the year with a bang. What was expected to be a rather subdued SLA Leadership Summit became quite interesting, as your Board of Directors debated and approved a proposal from then-President-Elect Ethel Salonen to have the association officially do business as SLA. Most of us refer to the association as SLA anyway, and in light of the outcome of the 2003 member vote on a name change, this seemed like an appropriate step. Members outside the United States and Canada seem to really appreciate the move, as prospective members had some difficulty explaining the meaning of our full name when selling membership to employers.
We could have quieted things for awhile, but since I’ve been around SLA, it seems that there is an itch among many of you and the staff to do great things. Once again, President-elect Salonen collaborated with SLA staff to kick off a bold campaign to raise USD 1 million for the purpose of transforming our professional development services to you and to the profession. This is a new tactic for SLA: focusing development on a specific leg of the association’s mission. Since learning is so important to building community and making you a stronger, more valuable part of the workforce, we are excited about the possibilities of this campaign.
We’re already beginning to see the fruits of this effort. While members have been showing commitment to this effort by giving to the campaign, we recently received a USD 60,000 gift to the campaign from Elsevier, the scientific, technical, and medical publisher. Elsevier’s contribution will be used to help develop the cornerstone of our professional development plans: SLA’s new online university. We appreciate Elsevier for such an excellent show of support to our cause. I hope to see others in the industry following their example very soon!
Speaking of our online university, the SLA Board of Directors approved start-up funding to bring it to fruition in the late spring of 2005. This is going to change the way we view professional development, just as it has already changed the way our staff here at SLA Headquarters is focusing on learning as the centerpiece of everything we do.
In 2004, we saw the transition from Cindy Hill to Ethel Salonen as President of SLA. Cindy will always have a special place in my heart. She guided me during my first year as your executive director so well that I will always be thankful for her friendship and advice. Cindy, congratulations on a great term as president. I look forward to more adventures with you in the future!
Then, Ethel Salonen took office as SLA President. She has exhibited a great deal of vision and commitment. So far, her term has been full of new idea creation and exploration, which means only great things for the profession Your leadership team, Ethel, Cindy, President-elect Pam Rollo, Treasurer Gloria Zamora, Secretary Lynne McCay, along with the rest of the SLA’s Board of Directors demonstrate that we are being led by very capable, forward-thinking people. I love working with them, and I am excited about what’s in store for 2005.
On a closing note, we at SLA Headquarters are now engaged in a new activity to generate support for our Campaign for Professional Development while having a little fun. The SLA Online/Silent Auction offers an opportunity for you to a) bid on interesting items; b) offer up an item for bidding; and c) help to transform SLA professional development in the process. Right now, the auction is live at slaleadershipauction.cmarket.com, and will be available until January 25. All items will then be available for bidding at the SLA Leadership Summit’s Welcome Reception, hosted by the SLA Florida / Caribbean Chapter. Take time to peruse the great selection of items, and make a bid to see if you can get a great deal! We’d also love to have you donate an item. Contact Lashawn Charlton for details at lcharlton@sla.org.
Best wishes for a prosperous 2005!
Advice from the Field
Ideas are Free: How the Idea Revolution is Liberating People and Transforming Organizations, by Alan G. Robinson and Dean M. Schroeder. Organizations that value ideas will take their employees’ ideas seriously, say Robinson and Schroeder in this book about the organic nature of thinking. The authors articulate a plain and obvious truth that today’s executives largely ignore: the best ideas come not from the top, but from the person in the cubicle or on the assembly line. Ideas are Free was a candidate for Fast Company’s Readers Choice Award in June 2004. Read an excerpt.
11-14 January ALISE Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts USA
14-19 January ALA Midwinter Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts USA
25-29 January SLA Leadership Summit, Tampa, Florida USA
29 January to 5 February Information Online Conference, Sydney, Australia
2-4 March European Business Information Conference, Seville, Spain
Burning Questions
New Year’s resolutions are often made, but how often do we see them through? What’s your resolution for 2005? Let me know! Email me at Janice@sla.org.
Consider This: "Beware the tyranny of making small changes to small things. Rather, make big changes to big things."
Roger Enrico, Chairman of PepsiCo
SLA Joins Tsunami Relief Effort
Everyone has seen the devastation caused by the tsunami/sea wave in southern Asia. The overwhelming loss of life and property will affect that region of the world for years to come. But the world is responding with aid and support, and SLA hopes to energize the global community of information professionals to get involved. Read more.
Google Looks to Grow in 2005
If you think Google Scholar is making waves in the information industry, wait until you see how things shake out in 2005. USA Today reports that Google is looking beyond search to bring consumers more of the kinds of information they want, like social networking tools, and photo and map resources. Read more from USA Today.
eContent Rates the Best of the Industry
From blogging to search engine technology, eContent has released its list of top 100 companies in the information industry. The list is organized by market niche, and includes many of the companies you’ll see at SLA 2005 in Toronto. Read the eContent 100.
Cool Site: Nationmaster.com
Ever wanted to match statistics from countries around the world? Now, it’s easy and FREE. Nationmaster.com combines information from sources like the CIA World Factbook, United Nations, World Bank, and other reputable organizations. “The idea for NationMaster arose as I was surfing around the CIA World Factbook. It's a great read but I felt the individual figures (like number of TV's, or kilometers of coastline) didn't mean much on their own,” said Luke Metcalfe, manager and developer of the site. “They'd be more illuminating if they were placed alongside other countries and shown relative to population.”
US Army Posthumously Honors an SLA Member
The U. S. Army Chaplain Center and School honored Teri F. Newsome, school librarian, who died of cancer in August of last year, by dedicating the library to her memory December 10. Army Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) David H. Hicks, officiated at a ceremony honoring Newsome. Her husband, Rev. Dr. N. LaMonte Newsome, pastor of the Salem Missionary Baptist Church, Sumter, S.C., together with the school’s commandant, Chaplain (Col.) Paul L. Vicalvi, unveiled the bronze plaque honoring Mrs. Newsome. The plaque now pays tribute to her dedicated service as it graces the entrance to the library. The poignant ceremony was a testimony to her 19 years of service to the school’s library.
The Chief concluded his remarks by stating, “A strong library is a cornerstone to any institution of learning and any educational process. For the loyal, faithful and magnificent service of Teri F. Newsome to this library, we dedicate it to her memory and in her honor – for the advancement of leaning, for the decades to come.”
Call for Nominations --- IFLA Section Standing Committees
Interested in serving as an SLA Representative to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Contact Stephanie A. Russell at srussell@sla.org for complete details regarding the nomination process and available IFLA Sections.
Tampa is THE Place to be in January
Have you made your plans to attend the SLA 2005 Leadership Summit where hundreds of information professionals and their partners who are interested in developing their leadership skills will gather? Whether you are an existing SLA leader or are building your own leadership path within your career, you should plan to be in Tampa, FL, USA, January 26-29, 2005. To pre-register for the Summit, please go to the Leadership Summit Web site and complete the registration form by Friday, January 14, 2005; it will assist us in our planning efforts.
Have you visited the SLA Online Auction?
You’ve seen online auctions for years. Now, SLA offers a unique way to participate in support of the Campaign for Professional Development. The SLA Online Auction will run through January 25, 2005. The auction will then continue for ONE EVENING ONLY, during the Florida & Caribbean Chapter’s reception at the SLA Leadership Summit. Bidding on auction items is a great way to obtain fabulous items and support SLA learning initiatives.
WHEN YOU BID ON SLA AUCTION ITEMS EVERYONE WINS!
Check out our online catalog and find something you can cherish for years.
SLA Board Candidates Community Available
New to the campaign season for this cycle is an SLA Board Candidates Community, only available to SLA members through the Communities of Practice section on the SLA Web site. Become a part of the community and share your thoughts on the state of your profession and how the candidates can help to shape a better future.
Ballots for SLA's election will be mailed to the entire membership on Monday, January 31, 2005. The final series of connecting with SLA candidates will be featured in the January 2005 issue of SLA Connections. The candidates for directors will be featured. Stay tuned!
SLA 2004 Conference Photos Still Available for Review
Recapture the memories of your time at SLA 2004 in Nashville by viewing, downloading, or even purchasing photos right from our photographer's Web site. They won't be around for much longer! Just follow these directions:
1. Go to our web site, www.thephotogroup.com
2. Click on your connection speed
3. Click on "Online Proofing"
4. Click on "Event Password"
5. Your password is sla. The password is case sensitive.
6. The images are organized in categories based on the shoot schedule. You can expand the thumbnails to get a better look and can download the ones you want immediately.
Upcoming SLA Virtual Learning Seminars
Content Management, Part 1:
Defining Content Management and Exploring Change Management
January 11, 2005
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM EST
During this first of the two-part seminar series, the instructor (Howard McQueen) will define content management by reviewing a content management case study (PowerPoint slide deck) with participants. The instructor will facilitate a group discussion designed to assist participants draw out lessons learned and good practices relating to content management.
Content Management, Part 2:
Planning and Implementing Content Management
January 25, 2005
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM EST
The instructor (Howard McQueen) will review previously selected participant submissions and call upon not more than volunteers to take 3-5 minutes and present their content management findings. Using these presentations, the instructor will facilitate a lively exchange designed to engage participants learn how to develop a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities & Threats) approach to analyzing potential content management initiatives. The resulting "essence" of the group SWOT sessions will be summarized, encouraging participant feedback and "buy in. The group knowledge distilled from this 2nd part of the series will be prepared and published by Howard and distributed to participants by February 8th.
Write for Information Outlook!
Upcoming issues will focus on corporate governance, searching, and e-publishing. Do you have what it takes to get published in IO? Make it happen! Check out our special writers section on the SLA Web site or contact John Adams at SLA.
ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE STAFF OF SLA, BEST WISHES FOR A PROSPEROUS AND SAFE 2005 TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Got News? Tell Us About It!
Want to see your organization’s news or announcements in SLA Connections or Information Outlook? Send to communications@sla.org.
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