Pack Your Bags. It's Time to Roll!

Come on a journey with me toward the new millennium with our Philadelphia 2000 Annual Conference theme, "From Independence to Interdependence: The Next Phase in the Information Revolution." This is indeed an era of interdependence, among individual information professionals, types of libraries, countries of the world, etc. Focusing on that interdependence can almost certainly strengthen us.

Those of you who heard Eugenie Prime at the Seattle Annual Conference in 1997 may remember that she quoted George Bernard Shaw who said, "You see things and you say, ‘Why?' But I dream things that never were and I say, ‘Why not?'" I'm inviting you to join me this year in asking "why not." For one year, let's erase "why" from our vocabulary. Whenever something occurs where we would have asked "Why?" in the past, let's make a concerted effort to turn the quandary into a new challenge and declare, "Why not?"

Too often we hear of colleagues faced by a questioner with some version of the tired and erroneous view, "Now that we all have PCs with access to the Internet, where we know we can find everything we need for free, why do we need librarians?" In frustration, we ask "Why?" Together, as interdependent individuals and as an association, we can educate these misguided folks! Why not? As part of my program for 1999-2000, with the help of SLA's staff and lots of willing volunteers, we will create a program to give all of you the tools and encouragement you need to mount a vigorous campaign within your organization to advocate for the value of special libraries.

Special libraries are being closed without careful analysis of the bottom line implications—without a clear understanding of the value that these libraries bring to their organizations. Again, we wring our hands and ask "Why?" In spite of the fact that we all work hard, with the good of the parent organization in mind, bringing into play "Competencies for the Special Librarians of 21st Century," we are missing the mark-not reaching those who need to be taught, or not delivering the message in terms that are meaningful to them, not in the right places, or often enough. It's time to revise our methods. SLA's staff and Board of Directors are looking at the association's governance structure, adapting revisions with a view to making it a leaner, more responsive, more viable, valuable, virtual organization as we move into the twenty-first century. Both SLA and its members should enter the Year 2000 having rethought and revised what they do and how they do it. Part of the process of rethinking must consider what pieces of the past to bring forward into the future. In this, SLA's ninetieth anniversary year, the tried and true slogan that has been with us since the beginning, "Putting Knowledge to Work®," is back in favor and in the limelight. As an association, and as individual members, our challenge is to emphasize the valuable pieces of our traditions while reinventing ourselves for a secure future.

Over the years since they were issued, there has been a great deal of emphasis on the "Competencies for Special Librarians of the 21st Century." The document has been an impetus for information professionals to look at themselves and the work they do with a new sense of accomplishment and pride. The competencies document has become a valuable "C" word in our collective lexicon. A public statement of our competencies, and our adherence to them, will not, alone, ensure success. I have selected a list of additional "C" words, mastery of which I believe is essential to our success as a profession and as individuals. They form a second journey, taken alongside our journey to interdependence. I call it the journey "From ‘C' to Shining ‘C."' I will be sharing these "C" words, and the concepts behind them, with you over the next few months. They include Communication, Competitive edge, Correlation, Culture, Cheering, Courage, and Chutzpah! They are ingredients in our campaign to educate those who need to understand the value of special librarians.

Get ready for the journey, and prepare to celebrate yourself and cheer each other along the way. Why not?

Susan DiMattia, President