Currently over $60,000 a year, in the form of scholarships and travel stipends, is given by the association, its chapters, and its divisions to support new students in various activities. Stipends help to finance part of their library education, attend chapter meetings, participate in local continuing education activities, and attend the annual conference. This is a significant financial investment to which we, as an association, have committed ourselves in order to ensure the future health and vibrancy of both SLA and the profession. We have also been able to underwrite research that has helped shape the curricula of library and information science schools and that has provided new information practices which practitioners have been able to utilize in developing leading edge information services.

More specifically, the association, through its Professional Development Committee and headquarters staff, provides videoconferences, distance learning opportunities via the Internet, selected continuing education courses offered under chapter auspices, and the professional development program at annual conference. A relatively new professional development activity involves chapters joining together to sponsor regional conferences. All of these activities either have fees attached to them or are underwritten by the chapters, but greatly contribute to our professional development.

It is not just in mere dollars that we, as members or as SLA, show our commitment to our professional growth. At annual conference, we provide a Career Advisory Service for recent library school graduates and for those considering mid-career changes. Prior to conference each year, we ask for volunteers to sign up as counselors or advisors. Many of our members in management positions participate. In conjunction with this activity, we provide both résumé and interviewing workshops at conference, as well as assistance during the year. Many chapters also offer similar workshops for their student members. Additionally, we offer a variety of mentoring opportunities for both students and new professionals. Some of these activities are organized while others happen on a personal level. It has been obvious to me that both the mentors and the mentees benefit greatly from this interaction. I know that I continue to enhance my professional skills each time I have the opportunity to work with a new member. Mentoring is easier to do these days with e-mail and I carry on several advising sessions with either students or members each year.

Another area in which our members participate is writing articles for their chapter or division newsletters. The best of these are often reprinted with credit in other newsletters--again emphasizing our willingness to share. Other members regularly contribute to Information Outlook. Many members regularly serve as speakers for their chapters and division programs. Another example of how they share their expertise is by conducting tours of their libraries and by giving talks to library school students as part of a class activity.

The strength of the Special Libraries Association has always been founded in your willingness to volunteer your time, share your expertise with others, and give advice and guidance to library and information science students. These are the significant traits that have helped make SLA the strong, productive, and respected organization it is today.

This is my last letter to you in my capacity as President of the Special Libraries Association. It has indeed been my pleasure and honor to serve in this role as spokesperson for so many talented, creative, and respected information professionals. As President, I have been able to help with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors to position SLA more strategically. I have also had the opportunity to meet more members on a more personal level and to promote the value of SLA to library and information science schools. The latter I was able to do by promoting our competency document. I have also been given the opportunity to work closely with the excellent staff at SLA headquarters and have seen how they have been rapidly adapting to the new virtual environment.

So to all of you I say "thank you" for this past year and I wish for Suzi Hayes the same wonderful experience.

Judith J. Field
President