*Note: The following is from our archived collection of older documents, and may not reflect the most current information.
Dear SLA Member,
As you know, President Bush recently unveiled a plan for homeland security. This broad new strategy titled “National Strategy for Homeland Security” calls for the reorganization of several government agencies and the consolidation of more than 100 domestic security operations into the new Homeland Security department. The President has asked Congress to quickly approve his plan to strengthen our current state of national security.
At SLA, we have developed a campaign whose main purpose will be to educate, inform and promote special librarians and information professionals to congressional leaders and government officials as these decisions are being made. SLA is not endorsing the Homeland Security terminology or the various components of the bill before Congress. Our initiative is related solely to the value that special librarians and information professionals can offer in the functions related to knowledge management, content management, competitive intelligence, etc. We seek to inform executive, legislative, and corporate decision makers in the process. If the Homeland Security Bill is passed, government agencies will require fundamental change and a new way of finding solutions to problems. It is imperative that we communicate our agenda and promote our value to government.
In the coming weeks and months, we will be distributing a series of letters to key congressional leaders, heads of government agencies and targeted media outlets, informing them of the important role information professionals can play if the new strategy for homeland security and government reorganization is approved. We will also reach out to other library organizations for industry wide cooperation and collaboration. I urge the SLA membership to get involved by contacting their representatives in Congress. In the end, this campaign will expand our visibility, strengthen our image and forge new partnerships.
The SLA Board of Directors and headquarters staff would like to hear your feedback on what our members’ role should be in regard to the reorganization of key government agencies and the creation of the Homeland Security Agency. There is also a link on the front page of Virtual SLA. Please send your comments and suggestions to lynn@sla.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Lynn K. Smith, CAE
Acting Executive Director
Special Libraries Association
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