*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
Find the Leader in You
The power of one is often touted as being THE common denominator in leadership. Yet we cannot overlook the power of partnership, which can be an even more effective formula. Look around, for there are numerous opportunities for you to partner with colleagues, peers, and even the staff of SLA. The rewards of leading through partnership are played out everywhere today, in business, government, and academia: in raising awareness of social issues, educating professionals for better performance, funding research for future medical advances, and much more. But how, as a leader, can you carry out that responsibility?
In the January issue of Information Outlook, one of the candidates for SLA Board of Directors noted that “this time of compelling challenge offers us the opportunity to affect every dimension of our profession.” That statement applies to everyone involved in our community. So what is your response to the challenge? Having been involved in so many roles over the years where I could have such an impact, my reaction to that question is this: When opportunity knocks, why would you ever ignore it?
As we work together to address the challenges facing the library and information profession, partnerships between and among us will lead to greater impact and stronger performance. I can assure you that I certainly cannot do it all by myself. I need partnerships with staff, volunteer leaders, and members who simply care enough to step up and generate solutions.
Next week, we gather in Tampa, Florida, USA for the 2005 SLA Leadership Summit. Those of you who will “join the adventure” are in for a host of experiences that will allow you to tap into your leadership qualities and help you to leverage them in your career. For those of you who cannot join us, we want to know what ways that SLA can help you to reveal hidden talents and nurture them through your involvement in this association.
After all, that’s why SLA exists!
Advice from the Field
Deep Smarts: How to Cultivate and Transfer Enduring Business Wisdom, by Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap, Harvard Business School Press.
Deep smarts are the engine of any organization as well as the essential value that individuals build throughout their careers. Distinct from IQ, this type of expertise consists of practical wisdom: accumulated knowledge, know-how, and intuition gained through extensive experience. How do such smarts develop? And what happens when people with deep smarts leave a particular job or the organization? Can any of their smarts be transferred? Should they be? Basing their conclusions on a multiyear research project, Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap argue that cultivating and managing deep smarts are critical parts of any leader's job. Read an excerpt from Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge.
25-29 January SLA Leadership Summit, Tampa, Florida USA
1-3 February Information Online Conference, Sydney, Australia
3-5 February IFLA Management of Library Assns Section Canberra, Australia
2-4 March European Business Information Conference, Seville, Spain
Burning Questions
What leadership skill or quality have you found in yourself recently that you’ve never experienced before? How did you discover it? Let me know! Email me at Janice@sla.org.
Consider This: “If you don't understand that you work for your mislabeled 'subordinates,' then you know nothing of leadership. You know only tyranny.”
Dee Hock, founder CEO emeritus of Visa International
Google Seeks Desktop Search Dominance
The would-be world leader in search technology has enhanced its enterprise Search Appliance with the capability to search beyond the Web and onto the desktop. Additionally, Google has released a smaller and less expensive version of the equipment for small and mid-sized businesses. Read more.
Choicepoint Makes Waves in Data Search and Analysis
While LexisNexis made waves last year with the acquisition of Seisint, their chief competitor continues to compete strongly in the business and government markets for personal information. The Washington Post recently reported on Choicepoint’s growth since 2001 and its role in the security vs. privacy debate. Read more.
Chinese Internet Usage to Exceed US
While total users of the Web in China sits currently at around 100 million, forecasters predict that number will climb beyond 137 million users (the current US figure) by 2008. Read more from the BBC.
Leading Change: Tips to Get from Here to There
Change is chaotic and it makes us uncomfortable, but it's essential to survival. The editors of ComputerWorld offer 12 tips to help you guide your business from where it is to where it needs to be. Read more.
Cool Site: Visual Elements Periodic Table
Brought to you by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the largest organization in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences, this site offers an innovative and elegant visual tour through the periodic table. Each of the 109 elements is accompanied by a visual image, as well as a description and history (including the origin of its name). These pages are image heavy, and take a while to load. View this month’s Cool Site.
Overcoming E-Mail Overload
Everyone must combat the difficulties of managing an onslaught of electronic mail. What can we do to make things easier? In her “Leadership Workshop” column for Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge, Stever Robbins examines ways we can all make one of our primary communications tools work for us. Read more.
A Message from SLA President Ethel Salonen
Greetings colleagues, and happy New Year! I hope you are all ready for an exciting and energetic 2005.
SLA's leadership will be meeting in Tampa, Florida, USA on 26-29 January 2005 for our Leadership Summit. This year's summit will be a major departure from previous years. We are focusing on developing member leadership skills and presenting very innovative programs.
Your Board of Directors will meet twice during the Summit. Our Board meetings are now more strategic in nature with fewer activities devoted to the operations of the Association. We have also initiated a Member Forum for Thursday morning, 27 January. The forum is designed to solicit feedback from members on the various issues that the Board will be considering in Tampa and into the future. You may review the Board agenda and documents online at the SLA Web site. I ask that you take this opportunity to consider our agenda and ask questions of the Board and make comments on the merits of each matter.
The Board of Directors is soliciting this feedback from the community so that we can make decisions based on the needs and expectations of the people who matter most – our members. We are looking forward to this new feature of the Leadership Summit!
Thank you and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Tampa.
SLA Director Candidates Speak Out
Elections for the SLA Board of Directors will take place soon. In this edition of Connections, we hear from three candidates for Director: Sue Henczel, Cindy Romaine, and Roberto Sarmiento. The question?
What is your greatest strength and how will it benefit the SLA community?
Sue Henczel, Training and Consortia Manager, CAVAL Collaborative Solutions
The greatest strength that I will bring to SLA as Director is an understanding of the information profession and information professionals globally. As SLA strives to fulfill its commitment to becoming a truly international Association this strength will become critical in shaping the way the Association responds to the diverse needs of its increasing global member base while simultaneously supporting its (also diverse) North American membership.
My strengths and skills are founded on many years of experience across a wide range of library and information environments. My work in recent years has enabled me to work with librarians in many parts of the world including Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia), Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. My work continues to connect me with information professionals in all sectors of the profession – academic, corporate, government, school, public and ‘other special’ libraries. This has placed me in an ideal position to understand the needs of the profession at many different levels and to acknowledge the role that a professional association can play in providing support, unity and advocacy for the profession and its members.
These experiences have also provided with the unique opportunity to develop a broad perspective on the changes confronting the profession resulting from developing technology, globalization, commercialism and other changes impacting the wider information industry. My current work has placed me in a commercial environment where I have made a number of notable achievements related to business efficiencies and financial outcomes. This, in association with my sensible and forward-looking approach to leadership and management policies and practices enables me to evaluate and analyze operational issues and processes while also considering the big picture.
My current work also places me in developing countries where I see SLA’s global commitment as an opportunity for global sharing and networking without boundaries. We have much to learn from the commitment to the profession that I see in countries that are financially and technologically deprived and the flexibility and creative solutions that are employed to develop and deliver services in these regions.
As Director I will bring a passion for the profession and a global insight that will enrich the Association and enable it to move forward towards its goal to become truly international.
Cindy Romaine, Corporate Archivist, Nike, Incorporated
My strengths are commitment, collaboration, and concern.
My commitment to excellence, to professionalism, and to my associates is unshakable. I enjoy volunteering and taking on more responsibility.
I make collaboration a key focus as I team up with co-workers and experts. I look for win-win solutions, and I share the credit.
I am concerned. The challenges facing us are significant, but strong leadership and hard work can see us through.
To illustrate, I would like to make three points.
1) The mindset of a new “20-something member” is quite remarkable. For them:
• They have always been able to get research information anytime, anywhere
• They have always been able to get their news from USA Today and CNN
• There has always been online searching, and online has always meant the Internet
• Google has always been part of their college research
• The compact disc was introduced when they were one year old1
• Pubmed’s coverage is more than twice their lifetime
Our leadership must keep the mentality of new information professionals in mind in order to speak to the whole membership. SLA has adapted to each new generation, and I am committed to being a part of that continuing evolution.
2) To guide the changes that will surely come, I intend to look to our past and reflect on how we can bring forward to make our future more meaningful and relevant. The problems of the past—inaccessibility and a dearth of information—are the complete opposite of current problems—a glut of information and the need to organize for accessibility. By collaborating and asking questions of each other, we can continue to progress.
3) While we tend to specialize, we still have a set of core values that enable us to talk to each other. Think of a daisy with each petal as an individual specialization. In the middle is an intersection where our core values lie. These core values are unchanging, regardless of the specialization or era—such as a focus on the customer, providing services to unique clients, customizing resources, and adapting to future needs. Specialization is where the information industry is experiencing the most change, but our core values are enduring.
As a Director I would use my strengths to take on these issues. Our daily challenges may continue to evolve, but our core values must remain rock solid.
Roberto Sarmiento, Head Librarian, Northwestern University
All individuals are the sum of their strengths and weaknesses. For me to choose only one would be one-dimensional and would not give the readers an honest and rounded perspective of who I am.
I am listing a few of my strongest characteristics; these are the results of many years of experience and are assets I believe are necessary to do an effective job as director of our international association.
Listening to people is something I have worked hard to excel at. You have to develop an “aggressive” listening skill in order to get beyond the superficial and attempt to understand and appreciate where the other party is coming from. You must quiet your voices within and truly listen with an open mind. It is not about quickly coming up with a clever answer, but about trying to find out what this person really needs. Having served on other boards, and as a reference librarian, I have learned that is better to fully listen while the other party speak and then attempt to find out what the real issues are behind the initial discharge. Only then, can you move forward and be productive.
I have always prided myself as being a goal-oriented individual. I thrive on the challenges of organizing and accomplishing projects, as requested and on time. I have a varied experience in managing projects from triathlon races, to inter-governmental agreements, to creating a first of a kind transportation libraries consortium in this country. Board members must have the required skills to successfully manage what can be at times highly complex and charged initiatives and projects on behalf of the Association. Without this set of skills, you simply can not be effective at this level.
As we struggle with the internationalization of the Association, we need Board members with the experience, outlook and sensitivity required to blend the national and international perspectives. I was borne and raised abroad, but most importantly, I worked in and managed U.S. government information centers in a developing country for 14 years. This experience thought me to be sensitive and accepting of non-traditional points of view as well as afforded me a first hand look at how librarianship is practiced outside this country. I also fully understand and realize the economic challenges associated with this issue. The Board requires this broader perspective from its members.
Annual Conference Registration Now Open for Business!
We’re Talking Impact! With just over four months left until the information profession converges on Toronto for SLA 2005, many are turning attention to preparing for the journey. One of the most important steps in this process is to register for the conference and book a hotel room! You can save over 15 percent on registration if you SIGN UP NOW via our online system at www.sla.org/toronto2005. What’s more is that, by making your plans now, you’ll get the hotel room you really want!
SLA Tsunami Relief Effort Yields Initial Results
The recovery effort in southern Asia and eastern Africa will continue for months and possibly years. Yet we can all take solace in the fact that our community is responding with offers of financial and material support, and a sense of volunteerism to help lighten the burden of those suffering in the affected regions. SLA members have responded to our call for support with donations to relief agencies and queries about the needs of libraries and information centers damaged or destroyed in the disaster. SLA Executive Director Janice Lachance has also engaged the leaders of library associations around the world on the matter, and will continue to offer SLA support at IFLA meetings in Canberra, Australia next month. Continue to check our Tsunami Relief Action Center for more information in the coming weeks and months.
Make Your Bids Today at 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.
Besant Retires from Morehead State Libraries
Larry X. Besant, Director of Libraries and Media Services retired in December. Besant, who has been at MSU since 1985, led Camden-Carroll Library from the era of paper files to automation, with its first automated system, LS/2000 in 1987. Under Besant’s leadership, MSU became the first state school in Kentucky to have a web-based catalog, and through his activity with the SAALCK Director’s group, worked to create the Kentucky Virtual Library and to make databases and other electronic resources available statewide.
Prior to his service at Morehead State, he was director of the Linda Hall Library, assistant director for public service at the Ohio State University library, and assistant director for technical service at the University of Houston library. He began his career as a librarian at Chemical Abstracts Service.
Besant has been active in state and national organizations, having served as the president of the Kentucky chapter of SLA twice, 1996-97 and 2002-2003, and chair of the State Assisted Academic Library Council of Kentucky from 1989-1990 and 1997-2000.
Best wishes to Larry for an enjoyable retirement!
Upcoming SLA Virtual Learning SeminarsContent Management, Part II
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 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 to 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.
Did you miss Part I?
Get the Replay from SLA! Though not required to participate in Part 2, Howard McQueen’s first seminar is worth exploring in our recording of the audio and slide presentation. Only USD 99.00 for SLA members! Read more.
Competitive Intelligence, Part I
Building Blocks: Research
February 10, 2005
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM EST
In this first segment, the instructor (Cynthia Cheng Correia), will examine the role of research in the Intelligence Cycle and discuss literature (secondary) research and human source collection (primary research) -- both of which provide essential material for meaningful analysis. She will look at the purpose of, the relationship, and the differences between these two types of research, as well as their distinct sets of resources, methodology, skills, and applications in CI. She will discuss how research results can support specific types of analysis techniques commonly used in intelligence and explore how info pros can meaningfully contribute to both types of research. This seminar will focus on developing an understanding of processes and techniques.
Part II
Competitive Intelligence Building Blocks: Analysis
Career Development Series
The Ins and Outs of Managing (Managing Across Differences)
February 15, 2005
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM EST
This course will look at one common aspect of latent discrimination, the in-group/out-group phenomenon. Using a variety of research findings as our guide, we will explore what defines the in-group/out-group phenomenon, the system dynamics that cause it and the practical consequences that arise from it. We will then turn our attention to our own personal role in creating – or inhibiting – an inclusive workplace. The course will conclude with a variety of ways to minimize the divide between the ins and outs.
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 guidelines at SLA.org or contact John Adams at SLA.
ISI Emerging Markets Announces New Africa Coverage
A leading provider of Internet-delivered emerging markets business intelligence, ISI has announced coverage of Africa in its flagship Emerging Market Information Service (EMIS). Read more.
Dialog Seeks Applicants for Roger K. Summit Scholarship
The Cary, North Carolina, USA, company is seeking applicants from North America for the 2005 Roger K. Summit Scholarship, the company's scholarship program for graduate students in library and information sciences. (A separate award for students from outside North America will be announced later next year.)
The deadline for the applications is April 30, 2005. The winner of the North American scholarship will be announced in Toronto, Ontario, at the SLA Annual Conference. Read more.
ebrary Introduces New Virtual Library/Collection Technology
The Palo Alto, California, USA, company is in beta testing with a server-based system for easily sharing remote collections of content in Portable Document Format (PDF). Read more.
Entopia Expands Operations in Europe
The developer of third-generation information discovery infrastructure that delivers collaborative content management, enterprise search, expertise location, content visualization and social network mapping, has opened offices in Sweden and the United Kingdom in order to meet European demand for its products and services. Read more.
Media, Information Industry M&A Overview Available
The Jordan, Emiston Group, the leading investment bank for mergers and acquisitions in the media and information industries, released an overview of 2004 activity in these markets. Read more.
LexisNexis Announces New ‘My Lexis’ Start Page
The company will offer a new easy-to-customize start page called My Lexis™ to small law firms, corporate counsel, tax professionals, and the federal government. Read more.
Xrefer Offers New Content from Major Publishers
The Boston- and UK-based content aggregator will now offer key titles from Sage, H.W. Wilson, Continuum and Macquarie, along with sources from 41 other publisher-partners. Read more.
Roy Martin Appointed to Lead Thomson Tax & Accounting
A great friend of SLA and now-former president and CEO at Dialog, Martin succeeds Peter Warwick, who was named president and CEO of Thomson West Publishing. Read more.
Alan Scott Promoted to Chief Marketing Officer of Factiva
Previously, Scott served as vice president and director of global marketing for the Princeton, New Jersey USA company. Alan led his team in the development and deployment of a new and innovative marketing approach. Read more.
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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