Welcome to SLA Connections, your source for news and information from the information profession and industry.
Making the Most of Our Opportunities
Being a part of the SLA community can be an extremely rewarding experience. Just ask the candidates for your Board of Directors, who have spent the past year getting to know many of you and sharing their thoughts about the future of the information profession. The question for them now is this: if they are elected, what will they do to define and cultivate that future?
As you and your fellow SLA members vote in this election of your peers, think about that for a moment. What future do you envision for yourself? How about for your profession, or your association? We all probably spend a lot less time on the last two questions than we do on the first, which is completely natural. What if we all were required to focus on those questions that we tend to ignore, or offer little attention? My guess is that the kinetic energy of more than 11,000 people focusing on such strategic questions would yield some excellent responses. Of course, it would be impossible, but it sure would be exciting to watch if it did happen!
Since the cumulative attention economy of the SLA community is drawn towards many things, the people running for the Association’s Board of Directors take on a more significant role than most of us would imagine. For the next several years, the people you elect will have the responsibility of guiding SLA forward; but they will also be shaping the future of the profession, as some very strategic matters will be addressed by the Board. Since they will act as your representatives and have a very direct impact on the shaping process, the question goes to you: what do YOU want them to do in defining and cultivating the future of your profession?
The election process is entering its third week, with voting scheduled to end on 3 March. While you have plenty of time to vote, why not take the opportunity to do so right now? Take a look at the candidate biographies, then go to www.sla.org/evote2006, enter your last name as your user identification and your SLA PIN as your password. The process takes less time than ordering a cup of coffee!
Summit Sponsors—Factiva, LexisNexis, Dialog
Thanks are due to the sponsors of our Leadership Summit in Houston, Texas, on 18-21 January. Factiva was our Gold Sponsor, funding the Keynote Address by Doug Lipp, the Leadership Reception, and the Leadership Luncheon. Our Silver Sponsor, LexisNexis, provided funding for Registration and the Board of Directors Coffee Breaks. And our Bronze Sponsor, Dialog, funded the Leadership Breakfasts. Thank you for your generous and steady support of SLA!
Janice’s List
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni. Nothing defines success – or failure – quite like the ability to work as a team. This is great reading for anyone who works in a team environment and expects more from team-mates. Read a review by Jamie Notter, a consultant to associations on working effectively.
Burning Question
How have you made the most of your opportunities thus far in 2006? Whether you got a promotion, a budget increase, peer or management recognition, or simply kudos from your boss, I want to hear it! Email me at janice@sla.org.
Consider This
“Close scrutiny will show that most ‘crisis situations’ are opportunities to either advance, or stay where you are.” Dr. Maxwell Maltz
Electronic Discovery a Growth Industry
Once considered a secondary component of the legal services field, electronic discovery is now taking on a more lucrative and competitive role in the information industry. Read more from the L.A. Times.
Blackberry Lawsuit Spells Trouble for Users
With the patent lawsuit between Research in Motion (RIM) and NTP raging on, users worldwide are getting very nervous about the future of their remote access to email and other real-time content. Here’s an FAQ on the lawsuit from ComputerWorld to help you understand what could happen.
Google Innovation Update: Google Book Search and Thomas Jefferson
At a meeting of the American Association of Publishers, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman suggested that Jefferson, author of the American Declaration of Independence, former U.S. president and one of the most enlightened thinkers of his age, “would have loved Google Book Search.” Her employer, of course, is participating with Google in that project, while the AAP has filed suit against Google over it. Read more from cNet.com.
Special Offer for Buying and Selling eContent Event
SLA has formed a partnership with Information Today, Inc. to support their upcoming event, Buying and Selling eContent, taking place 9-11 April, in Scottsdale, Arizona (note the ad in this edition of Connections). A special discounted rate of USD 995.00 is being offered to SLA members only for this event, which brings together representatives of information industry companies and purchasers of electronic content to discuss their current and future needs. If you have questions, please contact John Crosby at SLA Headquarters.
Cool Site: Inform
In her remarks to the 2006 SLA Leadership Summit, SLA Chief Executive Officer Janice Lachance referred to a new technology designed by a mathematician that is called a “robotic librarian.” (See Janice’s remarks here). That technology is utilized through the Inform Web site, and it’s worth taking a spin to see how it works.
Have You Voted Yet?
The polls are open in this year’s SLA Board of Directors Election! Go to www.sla.org/evote2006.
Eligible voting members have until 3 March to cast their ballots to select officers and other members of the Board. Voting members are encouraged to use the SLA eVote Web site. Paper ballots were mailed to members who have not provided SLA with an email address. Paper ballots must be return postmarked by 3 March. Members may vote online or on paper but each is entitled to only one vote.
Candidate's biographies are in this month’s issue of Information Outlook. Read about the candidates and review their speeches from the 2006 SLA Leadership Summit online at www.sla.org/BODcandidates.
The candidates are:
• President – Stephen Abram and W. Davenport “Dav” Robertson
• Treasurer – N. Bernard “Buzzy” Basch and Sylvia R. James
• Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect – James E. Manasco and Libby Trudell
• Division Cabinet Chair-Elect – Robyn C. Frank and Lawrence S. Guthrie II
• Director (two seats) – Kate L. Arnold, Carol L. Ginsburg, LaJean Humphries, Tamika Barnes McCullough
2005 SLA Annual Report & Performance Review
The Association’s annual report, financials, performance highlights, and more are now available. To access them, read more…
CEO Janice R. Lachance delivered the 2005 Annual Report and Performance Highlights at the January 2006 Leadership Summit in Houston, Texas.
Click here for the Annual Report.
Click here for a downloadable, printable brochure of the 2005 Performance Highlights.
SLA Survey Season Coming
Look for a series of surveys in the coming months from either your peers or from SLA Headquarters. Several SLA task forces are designing surveys to gauge your thoughts and opinions about the future of the profession and SLA. SLA staff is also coordinating the distribution of the quinquennial (every five years) SLA Membership Study, which helps to define your needs and the products/services you get from SLA. Additionally, the 2006 SLA Salary Survey and Workplace Study will be conducted in the coming months.
Finally, many SLA members will be asked to participate in a survey as part of the “Future of Librarians in the Workforce” study being funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information on all of these activities, contact John Latham at SLA Headquarters.
Member-Get-A-Member Campaign Winners
The Grand Prize in the 2005 Member Recruitment Campaign is Susan Brewsaugh of the Southern California Chapter.
Susan recruited five new SLA members! Her prize includes complimentary full registration for SLA 2006 in Baltimore (valued at up to US$395), two complimentary nights’ stay at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore (a US$292 value), VIP passes for two to Baltimore attractions, and a Baltimore amenity gift basket.
Unit prizes of free full conference registration:
• Largest Percentage Increase—Government Information Division (28%)
• Largest Number Increase—Competitive Intelligence Division (60)
• Largest Number Increase—Washington, D.C., Chapter (45)
• Largest Percentage Increase—Asian Chapter (10%)
In all, 108 members recruited 124 new members during the 2005 Member-Get-A-Member Campaign. This year’s campaign begins 1 October and runs through the end of the year.
Register for SLA 2006 Now and Save Up To $100
SLA Annual Conference registration is off to a gallop.
SLA 2006 promises to be one of the largest, most well-attended SLA events in years. That may be due to the strong programming and keynote speakers -- Gwen Ifill of “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” and Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal. Also, Baltimore, with its Inner Harbor, is a great conference town, with lots of attractions and diversions.
SLA 2006 is set for 11-14 June in Baltimore, Maryland. This year’s theme is “Baltimore—Where Tradition and Transformation Converge.” By registering prior to 1 May, SLA members can save US$50. Non-members can save $250 on registration costs by joining SLA now. Register online at www.sla.org/baltimore2006.
SLA 2006 Overview
• Saturday, 10 June – Sunday, 11 June – Pre-Conference Learning Sessions
• Sunday, 11 June – Tuesday, 13 June – SLA INFO-EXPO
• Sunday, 11 June – Keynote Speaker Gwen Ifill of public television’s “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer”
• Monday, 12 June – Wednesday 14 June – Conference Programs
• Tuesday, 13 June – SLA Annual Business Meeting
• Tuesday, 13 June – 2006 SLA Awards & Honors Reception
• Wednesday, 14 June – Keynote Speaker Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal
• Thursday, 15 June – Post-Conference Events
New—Hotel Deposits Required
Following an industry trend, hotels in Baltimore have established reservations policies that are new to SLA attendees. When you make your reservation, you will be required to put down a deposit toward your room.
As seasoned travelers know well, requiring deposits is standard procedure for most hotels these days. In addition to protecting the hotel, it protects the guest and it helps SLA conference attendees as a whole by making the hotel reservations process more efficient and effective.
Deposits will be about the cost of one night’s stay and will be charged at the time of reservation. When you check out of your hotel, a corresponding credit will appear on your bill. Should you decide to cancel by the appropriate date, your deposit will be refunded in full.
SLA 2006 INFO-EXPO To Set Record
The INFO-EXPO has already met its exhibit sales goal for the 2006 Annual Conference—the earliest that mark has ever been achieved. That means that the enthusiasm level among the companies in the information industry is very high, and they will be excited to meet with you and talk about your professional needs.
“Normally, it takes until April or May to reach our goal,” said DeVonne Henry, SLA’s INFO-EXPO sales director. “Our early success is due to the Baltimore location—eastern U.S. locations are attractive to our attendees—and exhibitors know the INFO-EXPO is an exciting, well-executed show—the premier show for information professionals. With more than 5,000 conference participants, exhibitors will see thousands of people touring the hall.”
INFO-EXPO Numbers-At-A-Glance (as of 10 February):
• More than 230 exhibitors
• More than 400 booths
• More than 30 new exhibitors
SLA’s INFO-EXPO, the largest information management exhibition on the planet, is open 11-13 June at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Visit the Virtual INFO-EXPO Center
You’re Invited to Celebrate SLA Awards & Honors
Unlike previous years, 2006 SLA Awards & Honors will be presented during Annual Conference general sessions.
That way, all attendees can participate in the presentation and celebrate SLA’s “shining stars.”
The 2006 SLA Awards & Honors Reception will be held separately, and, thanks to generous sponsorships, the cost is lower than previous years. Tickets will be limited for this unique event—reserve yours early.
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SLA Awards & Honors Reception Aboard the U.S.S. Constellation Anchored in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Tuesday, 13 June, 8:00 p.m.– 10:00 p.m. Ticketed event #745, US$55 Menu: Fresh Seafood, Landlubber Fare, Ample Liquid Refreshment |
Member Service Focus—SLA News Connections
As an SLA member, you have exclusive access to news tailored specifically to your needs.
"News Connections" is available exclusively to SLA members through our Web site. Throughout the week, Carolyn Sosnowski, MLIS, in the SLA Information Center, utilizes the services provided by Factiva and Nexcerpt to continually collect and update industry news. The content in News Connections focuses on copyright issues, competitive intelligence, Web design, vendor news, and blogging.
We know some of you may prefer a summary emailed to you, but SLA’s licensing prohibits that. Members are, however, entitled to a 10% discount on Nexcerpt subscriptions.
Click on the link above and bookmark it. It’s one of the many tools and services available under the “Resources” tab on our Web site.
Lesley Ellen Harris' Winter/Spring 2006 Schedule of Courses
Lesley Ellen Harris is a Copyright, Licensing, and E-commerce Lawyer/Consultant who works on legal, business, and strategic issues in the publishing, content, entertainment, Internet, and information industries.
Lesley's clients range from individuals to governments, associations, unions, and corporations. She also works with libraries, archives, museums and educational institutions. Her topics include:
| Term | Course |
| Winter/ Spring 2006 |
Canadian Copyright Law Online 6 March – 28 April (8 Week Course) |
| US Copyright Law Online 6 March – 28 April (8 Week Course) | |
| Spring 2006 | Digital Content Management 6 March– 28 April(5 Week Course) 1 May - 23 June(8 Week Course) |
|
Managing Copyright Online | |
| Primer on International Copyright Law 1 May – 19 May (3 Week Course) | |
| Digital Licensing Online 1 May- 30 June (9 Week Course) |
15 February 2006
Negotiating in the Workplace Without Making Enemies
Presented by Nan Siemer, BREAKERS
15 March 2006
Market Research for Libraries
Presented by Samantha Chmelik, Knowledge inForm, Inc.
28 March 2006
Communities of Practice - Knowledge at Work!
Presented by Deb Wallace, The Kennedy Group
Funds Flow for Open-Source Document Management Co.
Highbeam Research Adds Content, Makes More Articles Free
LexisNexis Introduces Total Search v.4.0
NetLibrary Offers New eAudiobook Collections
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