Welcome to SLA Connections, your source for news and information from the information profession and industry.
Info Pros and International Relations
August and September have been busy for me, as I traveled to Korea two weeks ago for the IFLA World Library and Information Congress, and will be in Amsterdam this week for the SIIA Global Information Industry Summit. I'm beginning to forget which time zone I'm in right now but, otherwise, I'm working hard to advance your cause with the profession's stakeholder and peer organizations around the world. Parenthetically, I ask you: with all of this active participation, is there any question that SLA is a GLOBAL community of information professionals?
I audioblogged while in Seoul for the WLIC, mostly about the growing level of awareness and concern for the rights of information users in a world that is strengthening copyright and intellectual property rights more and more each year. You can listen to that message on InfoX, my blog, at www.sla.org/infox. I've attended four WLICs since 2003, and this year marked a high point in the intensity of the dialogue and conversations surrounding this very challenging issue for both users and suppliers of content and information. The message I was asked to carry back to you is that now is the time for us to pay attention to the changes taking place and to challenge the prevailing opinion that copyright law is absolute and inflexible.
Take note that, in previous communications about this topic, I've also emphasized the need to adopt a dual mindset about this: on the one hand, you need to work with your content/information suppliers to deliver what your organization needs - in other words, you need to partner with them. On the other hand, as an information professional, you are obligated to do what is right for your profession and your organization if the laws governing your use of protected content are increasingly limiting your ability to succeed.
You'll see more from SLA on legislative and regulatory debates about copyright protection as we move forward towards the end of 2006 and into 2007. We will need your help in communicating the needs of the profession to our stakeholders.
On a completely related topic, my involvement at the Global Information Industry Summit this week has several purposes. First, I'm seeking to deepen our connections with the information industry that serves you, through outreach to existing partners and introduction to companies we've yet to engage. Second, I'm expecting to hear a lot of excellent presentations and dialogue about the trends and challenges facing the industry that will have a direct impact on your organizations. I'll be sure to audioblog while there, so look for something from me on the InfoX blog later this week.
Later this year, I'll be continuing my participation in the global debate on the digital divide by attending the Internet Governance Forum in Athens. It looks like SLA is growing as an influencer of global information management, and I'll continue to share my thoughts with you as I learn more and more from these experiences.
Burning Question
What manner of SLA international involvement would affect you the most, either positively or negatively? Is there a topic, event, or other activity in which you believe SLA should be involved? I want to hear from you!! Send me an email at Janice@sla.org.
Janice's List
Tripping the Prom Queen: The Truth About Women and Rivalry (St. Martin's Press, 2006) by Susan Shapiro Barash. This is a departure from other books I've read, in that it will likely stir up some controversy and dissension among friends and colleagues. But hey, isn't that what life is all about?
Barash, a professor of critical thinking and gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College in New York, examines the competitiveness of women; why it's considered a "taboo" topic; how women and men compete differently; and what moves women to undercut and disparage successful females. Although uncomfortable, Barash's conclusions likely will inspire more self-awareness by working women. Read an excerpt from ABC News (US).
Consider This
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices."
William James, American philosopher and psychologist (1842-1910)
| OUTSIDE THE BOX |
Will Wikipedia Mean the End Of Traditional Encyclopedias?
The Wall Street Journal Online invited Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales to discuss the topic with Dale Hoiberg, editor-in-chief of Britannica. Read More.
Is it Competitive Intelligence or Plain Ole' Spying?
"Corporate spying may be as simple as a company president visiting competitors' stores to see what's on sale, as elaborate as engaging outside experts to learn about a rival's business or as high-tech as hiring a hacker to try to breach a company's own security measures to identify weaknesses." Read the whole article in the 12 September edition of The San Francisco Chronicle.
From the Free Pint Universe: Excellent FREE TOOL for Info Pros: ResourceShelf
Updated daily by Gary Price, Shirl Kennedy and other library and information professionals, ResourceShelf collects and comments on freely available web-based tools, resources and reports. Full-text, database, real-time and multimedia are special interests of the team. A free weekly newsletter of highlights and an RSS feed are both available, along with searchable archives. Check it out! http://www.ResourceShelf.com
Online Information Conference 2006
VNU's Online Information Conference is 28-30 November in London and attracts over 800 delegates from over 40 countries across all continents providing a forum dedicated to learning, debate, professional development, technology reviews and assessments, expert discussion as well as case-study presentations and the sharing of research results and opinion.
This year's keynote speaker is Thomas A. Stewart, Editor of Harvard Business Review. Stewart's presentation - Ideas, Creativity, and Knowledge Are Capital: Everything Else Is Just Money Now - will review how organizations are using intellectual capital based on his insight as the world's most pre-eminent management journal. This year's track keynote speakers represent thought leaders from around the world including America, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and the UK. Learn more or register.
The International Information Industry Awards 2006
The 2006 nominations are now open! Click here to make your nominations. Nominations deadline is 29 September 2006. The winners will be announced by a celebrity host on Wednesday 29 November during a gala evening with dinner co-hosted by Online Information and Information World Review, followed by dancing and live entertainment.
Organized jointly by Online Information 2006 and Information World Review, the categories for this year's awards are as follows:
PROJECT AWARDS
1. Innovation in Knowledge Management
2. Innovation in Content Management
3. Best Intranet / Extranet Project
4. Best Implementation of a Business Blog
PRODUCT / VENDOR AWARDS
5. Best User Experience
6. FreePint Award for Best Customer Service Team
7. IWR Readers Award for Technology of the Year
8. Best Business Information Product
9. Best STM Information Product
10. Best Specialist Search Product
11. Best Product for Libraries - NEW CATEGORY
BEST INFORMATION / KNOWLEDGE TEAM AWARDS
12. Best Team in an Academic Environment
13. Best Team in a Business Environment
14. Best Team in a Public Sector Environment
15. Best Team in a Scientific Environment
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
16. CILIP / Online Information Personal Development Award
17. IWR Information Professional of the Year
18. Lifetime Achievement
| INSIDE THE BOX |
SLA Forms Knowledge Management Division
Thanks to the efforts of your fellow members, SLA HQ is happy to announce the creation of a new professional interest division for SLA members who are currently practicing or have an interest in knowledge management in their organizations. The Knowledge Management (KM) Division of SLA will focus on the characteristics and processes through which organizations facilitate the creation, sharing and use of knowledge. The creation of the new KM Division was unanimously approved by the SLA Board of Directors last month. Read more.
Support the Orphan Works Act of 2006
SLA, in collaboration with the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA), continues to participate in a dialogue with members of U.S. Congress expressing support of legislation that will alleviate the problem of orphan works. Take Action!
We encourage information professionals in the U.S. to write a letter in support of H.R. 5439, the "Orphan Works Act of 2006," to the U.S. House Committee on Judiciary. This legislation, once enacted, will tremendously assist in making cultural heritage more broadly available to the public.
Go to SLA's Legislative Action Center at http://capwiz.com/sla/home/ to write a letter now. You can instantly identify if you have a representative on the Judiciary Committee by entering your zip code.
Background information on Orphan Works can be located at:
http://www.copyright.gov/orphan/
SLA comments are located at:
http://www.sla.org/pdfs/032505orphanworks.pdf
http://www.sla.org/PDfs/PublicPolicy/orphanworks.pdf
Members of the Judiciary Committee are included below by state.
Alabama --Hon. Bachus
Arizona, Hon. Flake
Arizona, Hon. Franks
California, Hon. Sánchez
California, Hon. Berman
California, Hon. Gallegly
California, Hon. Issa
California, Hon. Lofgren
California, Hon. Lungren
California, Hon. Schiff
California, Hon. Waters
Florida, Hon. Wasserman Schultz
Florida, Hon. Keller
Florida, Hon. Feeney,
Florida, Hon. Wexler
Illinois, Hon. Hyde
Indiana, Hon. Hostettler
Indiana, Hon. Pence
Iowa, Hon. King,
Maryland , Hon. Van Hollen, Jr.,
Massachusetts, Hon. Delahunt
Massachusetts, Hon. Meehan,
Michigan, Hon. Conyers Jr., Ranking Member
New York, Hon. Nadler
New York, Hon. Weiner
North Carolina, Hon. Coble
North Carolina, Hon. Watt
Ohio, Hon. Chabot
South Carolina, Hon. Inglis
Tennessee, Hon. Jenkins
Texas, Hon. Gohmert
Texas, Hon. Jackson Lee
Texas, Hon. Smith
Utah, Hon. Cannon
Virginia, Hon. Boucher
Virginia, Hon. Forbes
Virginia, Hon. Goodlatte
Virginia, Hon. Scott
Wisconsin, Hon. Green
Wisconsin, Hon. Sensenbrenner Jr., Chairman
Last Call for SLA 2006 Photographs
The Photo Group will remove the pictures from the Annual Conference in Baltimore on 22 September. If you still haven?t ordered your pictures, you have a few more hours. To view the images visit here www.thephotogroup.com, click on "Online Proofing," and enter sla06 when asked for the password.
Receive Up To USD 6,000 Toward Advancing Your Education
Ease the financial burden of paying for graduate school, apply for an SLA scholarship today! SLA's Scholarship Program consists of awards for graduate study leading to a Master's Degree, graduate study leading to a Ph.D., and for post-M.L.S. study. Eligible students are awarded up to USD 6,000 in scholarship funds. Details of the SLA Scholarship Program and applications can be found on the SLA Web site. Get your application in today to meet the 31 October 2006 deadline to apply.
New Student Group in Denver
The University of Denver LIS program now has an official SLA Student Group! The Student Group has received official approval from SLA and has already held two meetings. Any student members of SLA or students interested in joining SLA are welcome. For more information contact Lori Dubois at ldubois@du.edu.
| CLICK UNIVERSITY |
What's happening at Click University? This online learning system is an exclusive member benefit of SLA. Please log in when prompted. Click University is the foundation for all of SLA's educational and professional development programs.
Professional Improvement Libraries
Click U also offers a range of recorded courses through our Professional Improvement Library. Information professionals can learn more in core skills such as software and technology use; management, communications, and leadership strategies; and effective practices and methods for the collection, sharing, and use of information and knowledge in the modern working world. These courses are offered in packages that range from $29 to $249 (USD). To see the full Click U program listing, please go to www.clickuniversity.com.
Lesley Ellen Harris' Schedule of Courses for Remainder of 2006
Canadian and international copyright lawyer Lesley Ellen Harris is teaching courses online to SLA members through Click University.
Lesley is the author of several books, including Canadian Copyright Law (McGraw-Hill Ryerson.) The courses begin on 18 September and 30 October (2006) and you can register anytime before the start of the courses. Her topics include:
Canadian Copyright Law Online
US Copyright Law Online
Managing Copyright Online
Digital Content Management
| SLA GRAPEVINE: YourSource for SLA Member News, Achievements, and Opinions |
A Day in the Life: A Q&A with Carolyn Sosnowski, SLA?s In-house Info Pro
Carolyn has been with SLA as its information specialist since September 2003. Prior to SLA, she worked in both non-profit and for-profit settings conducting research, creating web content, and managing information center services. Former employers include Medco Health Solutions, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Carolyn received her MLIS from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1996, and a BA in History from the University of Virginia. Meet Carolyn and find out what makes her tick!
When/Why did you decide to become an information professional?
I worked in public libraries during and immediately after college. My good friends were librarians, and what they did seemed interesting to me--helping people find out what they needed to know and where to find it. For the most part, the patrons were so appreciative. This was before the Internet explosion, so the reference and research work was mostly tracking down the answers in books. It was, and still is, real detective work at times.
What is your favorite part about being an IP?
The thrill of the chase! Finding the answer (or answers--sometimes it's not so simple!) gives me a huge sense of accomplishment.
What is your day like?
I do a variety of things over the course of the week. I read a lot of information industry blogs and publications so I can keep staff and members up to date on our world--news and larger issues in the information world, which is constantly changing. I publish Factiva and Nexcerpt News Connections each day to share that information. I do research for staff, answer member requests for information, and work on content for the information resources section of the website, mostly the information portals. "Web Sites Worth a Click" is my column in Information Outlook; I'm always on the lookout for sites to include. Five sites a month doesn't seem like a lot, but it does when I am under a deadline! I also work with the learning staff to gather resources for Click U Live! seminars and develop the continuing education course program for the annual conference.
What is the weirdest info request you have ever received?
In a few previous positions at other organizations, I developed a reputation for being the go-to person for the answers to those trivia questions that pop up randomly. Somehow, the subject of apostles came up, and I had to get all their names. Song lyrics and movie trivia were also very popular diversions. Now that everyone has access to the Internet and knows about the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), those questions are much less frequent these days.
What is your favorite part of being an SLA member?
I've been a member for about ten years. My first conference was in Seattle in 1997, and since then I've enjoyed learning and networking with other members. To me, that's SLA's greatest benefit. I am always inspired by what others are doing.
What do you feel is the most interesting thing happening in SLA?s world right now?
The entwined topics of format, digitization, and copyright are very interesting to me. Time marches forward and technology progresses, but is everything available electronically? No. How can we truly preserve access and the information itself? It's a very complicated issue that will take a long time (and creativity and resources) to negotiate and resolve.
The 'Librarian' Job Title - "GEDOVERIT!"
An Editorial Rant by Stephen Abram
It is undeniable that your job title can set the tone of many, even most, of your new internal, organizational relationships, and often the perception of the community at large as to your value and role in society.
The debate over a single, best title for practicing librarians or the word librarian is distracting and truly counter-productive. The ultimate, important task of a job title is to communicate your role within your organization in the context of its unique culture and style. Think carefully about your title and review if it reflects your status and role within your enterprise or if its meaning is only clear to your external professional colleagues. Does it cause your users to make assumptions that aren't in your best interest? It matters not that your co-workers and peers call you "librarian" but that they understand what you offer and do and the high value you add.
Most lawyers are called lawyers, and most doctors are called doctors and nurses are called nurses. However, they certainly don't let that stop them from having position titles like Partner, Chief of Surgery or Professor of Obstetrical Nursing. Medical professionals have thousands of job titles, despite a fairly narrow range of health professional degrees. They apply their high medical and hygiene literacy in many environments.
Financial professionals like CA's practice their profession in a colorful multitude of positions from bookkeeper to financial analyst, through consultant and CEO, without insisting (or having their colleagues insist) that they should call all of those positions "accountant". I can think of no profession that has as much difficulty as we do in separating our profession from the work opportunities and roles that present themselves.
Nearly everyone has minimal print literacy, arithmetic, civics, and hygiene skills. However, when we need a professional with advanced skills in these areas we seek out professionally qualified journalists, writers, accountants, financial analysts, attorneys, pharmacists, doctors, dentists and nurses. Indeed, most people have basic information literacy skills - maybe they can use tables of contents and back of the book indexes, maybe they've learned their card catalogue skills or can do a simple Google web search - BUT when someone needs someone with advanced information literacy we want them to seek out a librarian as often as necessary. For this to happen we have to BRAND ourselves as individuals with the right title to draw them in - in the specific context where we are practicing librarianship. We also need to brand out the profession more clearly too. If you're a web designer whose talents are informed by an MLS, then give yourself that specialty in your title. Imagine an Auditor calling themselves a bookkeeper. It just doesn't describe them well or to their advantage. Their clients and users wouldn't understand what value they have to offer. Your title buys you time to make the sale - selling yourself.
Being a "librarian" is about being a highly information literate professional whose professional expertise is in information and knowledge transfer. We improve the quality of questions and that?s a valuable skill. While it is intriguing to try to choose the best library job titles, it is also important to realize that most salary administration and job evaluation systems are designed to avoid the influence of job titles. It is perhaps a generally accepted cynicism that anyone can get a fancy title but getting the pay to go with it is quite another story. For pay to improve you must tie your skills, competencies and deliverables to the important aspects of your organization's mission. One part of this is your position description but a good reputation and good performance will get you farther. Another part is branding yourself in the process with a role title to build internal understanding.
Many of the library titles in the corporate world seem to have been pulled from the academic or public library setting (Head Librarian, Reference Librarian, Head, Technical Services, etc.). I suppose this is a result of our history, but I don't believe that this is the optimum strategy. Your job title should match your corporate or organizational culture in order to serve the strongest internal communication function. It may be more appropriate to use a title like "Manager, Library" or "Manager, Competitor Intelligence" in a corporate setting or "Information Research Officer" in a banking environment or "Information Scientist" in an R&D Centre.
Librarians too often have difficulty separating our profession from our jobs. I think this reflects the passion we bring to our work. Librarianship has a long and honorable history and a clearly bright future. The single job title "librarian" is insufficient on its own to describe the breadth of opportunity opening up in today's world. Even though the word "librarian" does describe several jobs that are wonderful, valid and available to us with our education and training, professional librarianship can be practiced in a wide variety of roles and environments. We need to describe the entire vista of librarianship as well as the whole ladder of information opportunity.
So, once more with feeling:
Librarians do NOT need a 'Library' to practice librarianship - we're more than bricks, clicks or relationships. We transform information into knowledge and put knowledge to work ®. You can still be a librarian without necessarily calling yourself by that title in your job (although I am a proponent of having your degree on your business card).
Librarianship understands the knowledge tapestry, the fabric of the information future by being, as a group, the threads of information literate professionals who apply their skills for the advantage of their users, enterprises and society. We're not about retrieval and delivery; we're about transformations and building knowledge ecologies.
Librarianship is not a narrow profession like an eight crayon box with a limited range of nice, serviceable colors. We're a profession that has opportunities as big and diverse as the big Box-o-Crayola's? with more colors than you can count - and the sharpener in the back!
So how do we describe the membership of SLA? What describes a home for the full range of special librarians, information professionals, information scientists, CKO's, and more? Once we've branded ourselves with the right title for the role, the communication, advocacy and membership development strategies of our professional association should fly too.
Do you have an item to include in SLA Grapevine? Email the editor.
| THE BIG FINISH |
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Endeavor Information Systems Announces General Availability of Endeavor AnalyzerTM
Web-based reporting module delivers business intelligence capabilities to libraries focused on increasing patron service and satisfaction, improving productivity and decreasing operating costs.
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Twenty-seven "Thomson Scientific Laureates" Recognized for Their Contributions to the Advancement of Science
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