Share What You Know: Write for Information Outlook
Should information professionals be involved in making decisions about what data gets collected and how it is curated? What special or unique challenges does the library and information profession pose for associations? What are the implications and best practices of delivering content and services via new and emerging distribution methods?
These and other questions will be addressed in 2014 in Information Outlook, SLA’s digital online magazine. The Information Outlook Advisory Council, a group of seven SLA members, discussed issues and trends facing the information profession and selected six topics to serve as themes for the magazine’s content.
The Advisory Council encourages SLA members to contribute articles about these themes or about any other topic of interest to the information profession. Contact Stuart Hales if you would like to submit an article proposal.
Assisting organizations with recruitment, retention and instruction
January-February
What are librarians and info pros doing (and what more can they do) to assist their organizations and academic institutions with recruitment, retention and instruction? With growing numbers of under-prepared students entering colleges and universities, and employers having trouble attracting workers with the proper skills, librarians and information professionals need to be prepared to offer innovative services to help all parties succeed.
Measuring value using research productivity and learning outcomes
March-April
Are any libraries or information centers being assessed based on their impact on research productivity and learning outcomes (or similar measures) at their organizations or academic institutions? What measures are being used to identify and measure this impact?
The meaning and impact of big data
May-June
Should information professionals be involved in making decisions about what data gets collected and how it is curated? Are they prepared to do so? Which fundamental library practices and skills are useful when working with big data, and which can hamper productivity? How will working with big data affect the role and value of info pros within organizations?
Managing the library and information center of the future
July-August
What new roles will libraries and information centers play in 2020 and beyond? What skills will be needed to staff and manage them? What technologies will be critical to their success, and how will their value be measured?
How can associations best serve our profession?
September-October
What are association best practices related to member recruitment and retention, education, certification and/or accreditation programs, etc.? How do/can these best practices inform SLA initiatives? What special or unique challenges does the library and information profession pose for associations? What are the major challenges in our profession that associations should tackle in the next 5 years? 10 years?
Beyond the desktop: Delivering content to new devices
November-December
What are the implications and best practices of delivering content and services via new and emerging distribution methods? Will libraries and info centers be developing apps, and if so, for which platforms? Will the iPhone/iPad vs. Android battle be largely settled by then?
Any large business structure consists of several units, and local teams are formed in each department who are competing with each other. Spy app can play a key role in this struggle.
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