*Note: The following is from our archived collection of older documents, and may not reflect the most current information.
Dear Director Ridge,
I write to you on behalf of thousands of information experts who are ready to put their knowledge and skills to work to protect our freedom. Following the events of September 11th, it became abundantly clear that the efficient management of information would be the vital component of President Bush’s National Strategy for Homeland Security.
The Special Libraries Association represents thousands of information resource experts who are responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating information to facilitate accurate decision making in their organizations. Using the Internet and other innovative technology as their resource tools, they organize, package, and present information in a way that maximizes its usefulness. These information experts understand the vital role of credible information in respect to our nation’s security and possess the best competencies to serve those needs.
Corporations and academia have known the value of these skills for many years, relying on information experts as Web masters, corporate information officers, database consultants, digital library managers, information brokers and knowledge managers. If the bill to create the department of Homeland Security is passed, I encourage the new department, as well as the reorganized agencies, to continue to seek qualified information experts and strategically place them in key positions to efficiently manage and navigate the inevitable, overwhelming flow of information that it will be faced with.
In closing, homeland security will be an enormous task that will not occur overnight. It will require fundamental cooperation, information sharing, innovation and knowledge exchange. However, if it is to succeed, we must aggressively seek new solutions to existing and future problems. It is our obligation - our necessity – our national responsibility.
Sincerely,
Lynn K. Smith, CAE
Acting Executive Director
Special Libraries Association
RSS
Feedback form
