LibWorm: Special Librarianship

Reference librarian for the sciences | vassar college

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:38:00 +0100

US - NY - Poughkeepise, NY, ALA-accredited MLS, or equivalent experience. Undergraduate degree in the sciences; experience teaching in an academic setting and demonstrated knowledge of traditional and electronic reference (gener (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Research | performance search soluiton

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:27:00 +0100

US - IL, Bachelor's degree research in Healthcare (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Practice support specialist | hogan lovells us llp

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:19:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, REQUIRED SKILLS: Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with both technical staff and attorneys. Basic understanding of general technology and/or law firm applications. Basic HTML ski (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Acquisitions manager | hogan lovells us llp

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:13:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, We are seeking candidates with prior acquisition management experience and/or experience managing a library or library branch. Knowledge and familiarity in the use of library management systems is a (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Extra aside bar -- from the editor

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The immediacy of a blog makes the subject of this post seem a little outdated, but we'd normally be addressing the SLA conference in New Orleans in the Summer issue and I didn't want it to go unmentioned.My SLA experience was largely colored by the fact that I was wheelchair-bound thanks not to a parachuting accident but sheer clumsiness the week before. A special thanks to Amy Disch for helping me get around, as well as the random librarians I met along the way who volunteered to help push me here and there.This year, the sessions to me seemed more informative than full of whiz-bang ideas to take back to your shop. Not that this is a bad thing; I still learned a lot.The conference really started up Sunday night with the annual News Division Silent Auction and Networking Reception -- if you could find it. Just like rumors on the internet, news researchers had to separate tales of the real room number from the false reports. We thought we could just follow the noise, but with fewer of us present than in years past, we had to get to the right floor first. Then, the fun began and the goodies were bidded upon and won.Bright and early on Monday, at Reality Check: Adapting to changes in media and dissemination, Angie Holan told us about Politifact.com and then Marcus Zillman told us about his bots and deep web research. Later, Tom Corbett, executive director of Cushing Academy's library, discussed how his facility went all-electronic at The All-Digital School Library: Managing Electronic Resources.I moderated Evolving Roles: Conversations in the Round, a session co-sponsored with the Knowledge Management Division. Karen Huffman of the National Geographic Society, Cindy Hill of Hill Information Consulting Group, Jessica Baumgart (lately of Needle) and I all discussed how the role of librarian has changed over time and what we see for its future. We also took questions from the audience and had a great discussion. ...

Public services/ reference librarian | inter-american development bank

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:14:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, • Education: Masters degree in Library Science (preferred) or Licenciatura en Bibliotecología y Documentación from an accredited institution. • Experience: Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Archivist | american academy of arts and sciences

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:07:00 +0100

US - MA - Cambridge, • Masters or Doctorate in library/information science with a concentration in archives management, or MA/MS/PhD in research oriented, historically related field (American History, American Studies), w (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Senior information researcher | duff and phelps llc

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:04:00 +0100

US - CA - Los Angeles, Requirements: •M.L.S. with at least three years experience in a corporate library, preferably in a virtual setting, including some general management responsibilities •Demonstrated proficiency (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

School librarian of the year 2010 – profiles

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:17:09 +0100

We are profiling our School Librarian of the Year Honour List - one per week until the announcement at the ceremony on 4th October - watch the website every week for a new profile. We hope you will find reading about these exemplary librarians interesting. We have started with the Scottish librarians who are on the Honour List as they are already back at school.... (Source: SLA Weblog)

Summertime....

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:13:47 +0100

This summer seems to have flown by - and all the ‘catch up' time I thought I had has gone! Seems like it was ever thus - and I'm sure many of you feel the same as school starts (in Scotland) and the first day of term looms (in England and Wales).I have just returned from a stimulating and invigorating IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Sweden. The variety of libraries represented from all over the world makes this a fascinating and challenging experience. The programme is still available to view and many of the sessions I attended, including the pre-conference arranged in conjunction with the Swedish School Library Association, are available to watch on the Nordic Ning for School Librarians - do have a look. I also managed to visit an Upper School library (ages 16-19, equivalent to 6th Form college combined with FE college), as well as a community library whilst in Sweden - and I am sure the pictures I took there and the information I gleaned will make an interesting talk for the future! One of the great advantages of this sort of conference is the opportunity to talk to colleagues from around the world. To get an appreciation of the Herculean effort people are making the world over to get reading and literacy higher onto all government agendas and to show the immense value that libraries in general, and school libraries in particular, can have on enabling universal literacy. Plenary speakers included Jan Eliasson, former President of UN General Assembly and Henning Mankell, author and campaigner, both gave impassioned and compelling speeches on the life giving necessity of literacy - you can see these and other presentations on the IFLA video stream. This was the first IFLA congress where much added activity was available on line as blogs and tweets in multiple languages adding to sessions as they happened. ...

The other side of the booth

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:22:17 +0100

APS booth at StampShow 2010 I’ve written before about my experiences attending technology conferences as a librarian outsider. Last week I got another perspective on conferences and trade shows as I sat on the other side of the booth at the American Philatelic Society’s StampShow in Richmond. It was an exhausting–but exciting–four days. Many APS members came to the booth looking to meet “the new librarian.” It was great to meet so many library users in person, because most of them use the library remotely. I got used to saying, “I don’t know, but I’ll see if I can find out,” pretty quickly. When interviewed for this job, I said that I would learn about philately in part from library users, and I learned quite a bit at the show, both from talking to people at the booth and from listening to my coworkers answer questions. I’ve gotten a taste of being behind the scenes at conferences before, by doing program planning for APLIC and for the SLA Social Science Division, but now that I’ve done everything from shake hands with a famous keynote speaker at a fancy dinner to pack up the booth at the end of the show, I have even more appreciation for what it takes to put on an event like this. (Source: DIY Librarian)

Research services manager | greenberg tarurig, llp

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:58:00 +0100

US - CO - Denver, Required qualifications: - An advanced degree in library science, law or business - At least three years of legal and/or business research experience, preferably in a virtual setting - At least (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Competitive intelligence analyst | news america marketing

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:32:00 +0100

US - CT - Wilton, Educational Requirements BA/BS required (marketing concentration preferred), MBA or library science background with focus on business applications a plus. Professional Experience At least two (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Information specialist | townsend & associates, inc.

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:09:00 +0100

US - PA - Exton, • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Information Studies, Computer Science, Library Science, Information Systems or related field. • Understanding of classification schemes including taxonomy and th (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Kids' lit quiz world final winners

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:03:19 +0100

The 2010 Kids' Lit Quiz came to its exciting conclusion at the World Final in Edinburgh on 14 August. The final results were:1st. City of London School for Girls, England2nd. Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh, Scotland3rd. Belmont Intermediate School, Auckland, New Zealand4th. Wheatley Park School, Oxford, England5th. Wellington College, Belfast, Northern Ireland 6th. The Ridge School, Johannesburg, South Africa7th. Howells College, Llandaff, Wales.Congratulations to all who took part, and look out for news of the forthcoming regional heats for 2011. (Source: SLA Weblog)

Chemical reference librarian | asrc management services

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:17:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, Requirements: Minimum education level: MLS or equivalent from an ALA accredited institution. Minimum two years experience providing professional librarian services in the field of chemistry or al (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Librarian | asrc management services

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:07:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, Requirements: Master's degree in library science or equivalent. 2-4 years of professional level experience. Applicant must be experienced in taxonomy development, information architecture, web cont (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Information architecture librarian | asrc management services

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:56:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, Minimum education level - - Master's degree in library science or equivalent. 2-4 years of professional level experience. Applicant must be experienced in information architecture, web content man (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Aside bar -- from the editor

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the next incarnation of News Library News!With the troubles in our industry, the News Division has been shrinking, and with it our budget. As a result, we cannot afford to publish News Library News, even as a pdf anymore.When the Division board met at SLA in New Orleans in June, they decided to try moving the content to NewsliBlog, whose content had become less regular over time.Your Summer 2010 issue would be coming out about now, so here I am with the editor's column to start us out. Instead of receiving all of your content at once in a newsletter format, we'll be posting all of the usual features on a rotating basis. The content can be more timely and our contributors can even post more often, if they choose.Plus, if you have an idea for content -- one-off posts are fine! -- you are welcome to run it by me and become a contributor yourself. Since this is a blog, it'll be a little less formal in style and length and more conducive to links and other such techie stuff.I'm specifically interested in content from SLA in New Orleans. If you went to a cool session, especially a News Division program, and want to tell us about it, let me know ASAP. I'll be posting my own comments about SLA in the days to come.--Julie Domel, NLN Editor (Source: NewsliBlog)

American craft council - librarian | american craft council

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

US - MN - Minneapolis, 1. MLS or MLIS from ALA-accredited program. 2. Supervisory experience in specialized library setting. Experience in art/craft library collection is very desirable. 3. Cataloging experience with OCLC (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Announcement of candidates-sla kentucky chapter nominating committee

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:57:27 +0100

The nominating committee offers the following slate:For President-Elect (three year commitment): Valerie PerryValerie is Head Agricultural Librarian at the University of Kentucky. She is very active in SLA and is currently the Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Division Chair. She is the Strategic Planning Chair of KY-SLA. She has been a member of SLA since 1998.For Treasurer (two-year term): Alex GriggAlex is the Library Manager at Lexmark. If elected, he will be serving his second term as Treasurer for KY-SLA. He has also been a Director-At-Large for KY-SLA. He is presently the IT Division Program Planner for the 2011 SLA Annual Conference. Alex has been a member of SLA since 2004.For Director-at-Large (two-year term): Stephanie CarrStephanie is the Head Librarian at National College in Louisville. She has worked at the NIMAC department of the National Printing House for the Blind. Stephanie joined KY-SLA in 2009.-----Other nominations must be submitted within 15 days of this notice (by 5:00 pm EDT on August 28, 2010) to the Chair of the Nominating Committee (jan.berry@gmail.com). Such nominations must be accompanied by the signatures of ten chapter members. The election will be held 45 days from today (voting would begin on September 27, 2010), by electronic ballot. Details will be announced closer to time. The Nominating Committee would like to thank the candidates for their willingness to serve. If anyone has any questions, please direct those to the Chair.Respectfully submitted,2010 SLA-Kentucky Chapter Nominating CommitteeJan Berry, ChairTerry BucknerShawn Livingston (Source: SLA Kentucky Chapter)

Director of library and information services | california academy of sciences

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:26:00 +0100

US - CA - San Francisco, QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, a (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Exit google wave

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Nogen gange når jeg ikke engang at skrive om et Google-fænomen før det forsvinder igen. Det gælder for Google Wave. Jeg havde ellers et indlæg under udarbejdelse i forbindelse med at Google Wave fyldte et år den 28. maj i år. Og det var jo også noget enestående at det var to danskere som stod bag.Men ganske kort tid efter fødselsdagen var det altså slut. Det står nu fast at Google Wave ikke kommer til at opleve 2011, i hvert fald hvis man skal tro Googleblog som den 4. august (lidt indpakket) konstaterede, at på trods af teknikernes begejstring, så tog publikum aldrig Wave til sig.Jeg må indrømme at jeg heller ikke tog det til mig. Ikke fordi jeg er afvisende over for sociale redskaber. Jeg har da en profil på Facebook. Men jeg kunne simpelt hen ikke finde ud af det. Og antallet af brugere på det var for lille til at jeg synes det var spændende. Trådene var mere noget med: Hvordan pokker fungerer det her egentligt?I det hele taget ser det ikke særlig godt ud for Googles sociale værktøjer. Tænk blot på Orkut. Vist nok større end Facebook i lande som Brasilien og Indien, men andre steder slet ikke slået igennem. Lively er et andet af Google strandede produkter, som tidligere beskrevet på Internetsøgning.Jeg hører ikke til dem der beklager lukningen. I hvert fald ikke så længe Google stadig holder fanen højt hvad angår de ting de er virkelig gode til. Suverænt gode. Nemlig web-søgning og specialsøgning. Forbedringer, konstante vedligeholdelser af søgealgoritmen og de enorme data af alskens slags, som Google gang på gang har vist at de er i stand til at omsætte i enkle, effektive og brugbare søgeredskaber. Ikke perfekte, men altid bedre end konkurrenternes.LinkGoogleblog.ComOn.Google blogoscoped. Google Wave Blog. (Source: Internetsøgning)

Research coordinator | navigant consulting

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:20:00 +0100

US - IL - Chicago, Job Requirements: Bachelor degree required; Master’s in Library Science degree preferred Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with all levels of staff and management. (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

2010 keeneland meeting

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:20:39 +0100

The next Kentucky Chapter meeting will be held at Lexington's Keeneland Racetrackon Wednesday, October 20. We have reserved 30 seats in the Phoenix Room and are making those tickets available on a first come, first served basis. Register here to ensure that you will have a seat. Registration and payment must be received by 5pm on Thursday, September 30. For those of you who have not already heard, SLA's President, Anne Caputo, will be joining us as our guest for this event. The following is the schedule of events: 9:30-10:00 Tour of the Keeneland Library 10:00-10:45 Business Meeting & Awards 10:45-11:30 President Anne Caputo Cost: Free We will be having an all day event with a business meeting in the morning and then lunch and the races in the afternoon. You can attend the morning activities in the Keeneland Library without paying for admittance to the races and lunch in the Phoenix Room, if time or money is a concern. A reserved seat at the Phoenix Room will be $50 for members and non-members and $40 for students. If paying by credit card there will be a $2 service charge. Also, for those who choose to join us in the Phoenix Room, keep in mind that there is a somewhat strict dress code for admittance. “Gentlemen - collared shirt, dress slacks. Coat and/or tie optional. No open shoes. Ladies - dresses, pantsuits. No denim. No athletic attire." We will also be enjoying a dutch treat dinner at Malone's (Tates Creek Rd.) after the races. Dinner reservations are for 6:30pm. You may pay by check or credit card for lunch in the Phoenix Room at Keeneland Make checks payable to: SLA – KY Chapter. Please mail checks to: Alex Grigg Lexmark Library 740 W. New Circle Rd. Lexington, KY 40550 To pay by credit card use the button below: Prices Regular Price $52.00 Student $42.00 (Source: SLA Kentucky Chapter)

Assistant librarian | american institute of physics

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:27:00 +0100

US - MD - College Park, MLS degree (ALA approved) and one year of professional experience are required. Experience/familiarity with library automation, cataloging standards, conservation, and digital formats are desired. M (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Head of science collections and scholarly communic | university of georgia libraries

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:33:00 +0100

US - GA - Athens, Required Qualifications: MLIS from an ALA-accredited library school; Three to five years professional experience relevant to collection development in a research library and/or scholarly communicatio (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Knowledge services sector manager | mit lincoln laboratory

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:41:00 +0100

US - MA - Lexington, Requirements: Bachelor of Science in the sciences or engineering; an ALA accredited Master of Science in Library Science 10 years of professional library experience, preferably in an R&D environment; (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Slya 2010 honour list announced!!

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:11:26 +0100

This year we are delighted to announce that there are six exceptional school librarians on the SLA School Librarian of the Year Honour List.For the first time there are two men on the Honour List and there are also two librarians from Scotland, one from the Isle of Bute and one from Edinburgh.The 2010 Honour List librarians are:Sue Bastone - Licensed Victuallers' School, AscotRebecca Jones - Malvern St James, WorcestershireShiona Lawson - Rothesay Academy, Isle of ButeDenise Reed - Hurst Prep School, Hurstpierpoint, SussexKevin Sheehan - Offerton School, StockportDuncan Wright - Stewart's Melville College, EdinburghTheir work will be celebrated on 4th October at a ceremony to be held in London on International School Library Day when the SLA School Librarian of the Year 2010 will be announced. (Source: SLA Weblog)

Practical academic librarianship: the international journal of the sla academic division

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:51:34 +0100

Practical Academic Librarianship: The International Journal of the SLA Academic Division - Peer-reviewed journal for librarians serving academic departments or affiliated institutions including centers, institutes, specialized collections, & special units within or related to academic units (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog)

Now available: business & finance poster session materials from special libraries association annual conference, 2010

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:58:03 +0100

The SLA Business & Finance Poster Session Event took place on June 14, 2010, at the SLA Annual Conference in New Orleans. The title of the event, “Innovations & Best Practices in Business Librarianship.” You can find all of the materials from the sessions listed and linked here. Here are the titles and authors of all the poster session. We will circle back and add links asap. For now, you can find links to all sessions on this page. To Review the Titles, Authors, and Affiliations, You’ll Need to Make An Extra Click Off to a Good Start! Librarian and Faculty Collaboration on Financial Literacy Christine Adams Youngstown State University Using a Symposium to Market a Business Information Center at Ford Motor Co Alicia Biggers Ford Motor Company Supporting Global Entrepreneurship Alex Caracuzzo Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harvard Business School Technical Notes: Tools for Research Emilie Codega, Ann Cullen & Meghan Dolan Harvard Business School Characteristics of the BUSLIB Listserv: A Content Analysis Evelyn L. Curry Texas Women’s University Purdue University: Changing Spaces/Changing Instruction/Changing Perspectives Kelly Evans & Hal Kirkwood Purdue University All Sessions Listed and Linked Here Competencies for Corporate Research Professionals Dolly Goulart QUALCOMM Inc. ...

Slg survey of school libraries published!

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:36:28 +0100

There is a growing gap between the best services and those where resources and management support are failing, according to a new CILIP School Libraries Group report, published yesterday.The national survey of UK school libraries has just been completed, with detailed replies from 1,547 secondary, middle, special and independent schools and exhaustive activity reports from over 1,000 of these, supplemented by information from 655 primary schools.The final report School Libraries in the UK: a worthwhile past, a difficult present - and a transformed future? concludes that the vision and support of senior management is vital to success. It is crucial that school management recognise the difference that a good school library can make. Read the full story about the survey and the report on Cilip's website. (Source: SLA Weblog)

Paper & poster: special collections and social media: a study of two north carolina collections

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0100

At a poster session sponsored by Academic; Education; Museums, Arts, and Humanities; and Social Science Divisions of SLA, Katherine-Rose (Katie-Rose) Repp presented a poster based on her Master’s Paper in Information Science entitled "Special Collections and Social Media: A Study of Two North Carolina Collections" (60 pages). Abstract:Special collections staff are duty-bound to promote their collections and ensure continued access. The challenge of the digital age is that many would-be patrons now assume that “everything is on the Internet,” and they do not pursue non-digital resources. Special collections staff can meet this challenge through the use of social media tools. This paper examines what tasks these tools can accomplish, and how they are used successfully by two specific collections. These collections’ usage of social media was evaluated through semi-structured interviews with staff, informed by analysis of their websites and use of commercial social media sites. This research finds that each collection used tools differently, and was most successful in promoting and providing access to their collections when they kept their audience's needs in mind. From this study, other special collections staff will learn how to successfully approach the use of these tools for their own collections. For her paper, Repp interviewed staff involved in the Hugh Morton Collection at the University of North Carolina's Photographic Archive and the Duke Digital Collections at the Duke University Libraries, studied their websites in light of their usability, and examined how they are using social media tools. These collections are reaching out to potential users with blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter and more. ...

Paper & poster: special collections and social media: a study of two north carolina collections

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Librarian skill share event!

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Yes, I *know* it's been an unconscionable while. But look, I have good stuff to share. Here goes:---------------------------------------------*What? Library Workers' Skill Share* When? Tuesday, July 13 from 4:30pm - 7:00pm* Where? Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library* Why? An effort to provide support for all library workers in NYC who are job hunting, unemployed, facing potential layoffs or simply looking to freshen up their skillsFeaturing:• "Locating and Using Local Career Development Opportunities", Tom Nielsen from the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO)• "E-Portfolios and Profiles: Using Free Web Tools to Prepare for the Job Market", Susanne Markgren from ACRL/NY• Speed mentoring sessions: Meet one-on-one with library workers from academic, special, medical and public libraries for advice and networking - arrive early to sign up for a time slot• Resume review roundtables• Workshops• Spotlight sessions• Networking and resource tables: Meet with representatives from various associations and agencies and find out about available resources and services• And much more!This is a free event. Please register by July 6 at http://tinyurl.com/libraryworkersevent.The Library Workers' Skill Share event is sponsored by the New York Chapter of SLA, the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO), ACRL/NY and REFORMA Northeast. (Source: The Disorganized Librarian)

Weekend course - contact information

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:57:38 +0100

For urgent contact with SLA staff at the Weekend Course in Nottingham, please use this special number:0780 706 9557Please note that SLA HQ will be closed on Friday 24 June - urgent messages only should go to the above number. (Source: SLA Weblog)

Science: databases: chemspider wins ‘most innovative software’ award and two sla presentations about chemspider

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:28:34 +0100

The very popular ChemSpider database and community is now an award winning web resource. ChemSpider, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s online chemistry community and database, scooped the Innovative Software Award at the iExpo/KM Forum 2010. [Clip] Presented by Didier Benard, from Sanofi Aventis R & D, the award recognises a non-commercial initiative in enhancing information online whether for the professional community or for the general public. The jury selected ChemSpider as an award winner for providing free access to data on chemical information (both text and structure-based), which is reliable and controlled by an international expert community. ChemSpider links together compound information across the web, providing free text and structure search access of millions of chemical structures. With an abundance of additional property information, tools to curate and use the data, and integration to a multitude of other online services, ChemSpider is the richest single source of structure-based chemistry information available online. Access the Complete Announcement Did You Know that ChemSpider Now Has a Mobile Version? (Overview) Direct to ChemSpider Mobile Source: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) See Also: Two Presentations From Special Libraries Association, 2010 Annual Conference by Antony William, ChemSpiderman (aka VP of Strategic Development ) 1) Mobilizing Chemistry – Chemistry in Our Hands 2) ChemSpider Overview Presentation at Special Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf)

Kentucky librarian | wku kentucky library & museum

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:24:00 +0100

US - KY - Bowling Green, Requirements: • MLS from an ALA-accredited program. • Second master’s degree in a related field, or 10 years experience in library special collections or relevant field. ADVERTISEMENT Kentucky (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Sla in the big easy

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:11:58 +0100

SLA (aka Special Libraries Association) is holding its 101st annual conference in New Orleans. Attendance is nowhere near the numbers we saw in Washington DC, which will have some serious impacts on the financial condition of the association. We’ll hear more about that at the annual business meeting this afternoon. It’s a shame, really, because SLA members who are here are learning a lot and the exhibitors had so much to demonstrate. From the still-warm beignets at the Financial Times booth (fresh every day from Cafe du Monde!) to Factiva’s “Factinis” (in a breathtaking shade of blue), exhibitors did their level best to entice SLA conference goers into their booths. The FT has a iPad version that is fascinating–and has just (on June 8th) won a design award from Apple for the app. This is a major accomplishment, as there were only 5 winners worldwide. Congrats, pink paper! As for buzz at SLA, I’d have to say it was around platforms. Many vendors were showing either a new platform or a prototype for a new platform. Ovid has one, Dialog has one almost completed, and ProQuest’s will follow Dialog’s. Factiva has added many new sources and plans to expand its language capabilities from the 23 it presently has. Westlaw was showing its Westlaw Next product (reviewed by Amy Affelt in the May/June 2010 issue of ONLINE) and LexisNexis is rolling out its new Academic interface. I could go on and on, detailing all the interesting and innovative products on display at SLA, but that laundry list would probably bore everybody to tears. ...

A new issue of education libraries (spring, 2010) is now online (free)

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:15:51 +0100

The Spring, 2010 issue (33.1) is now available as a PDF (48 pages). The title of this issue of Education Libraries is “Beyond the Role of Guardians.” Articles Include: + A Collaborative approach to implementing 21st Century Skills in a High School Senio rResearch Class By Michael K. O’Sullivan and Kim B. Dallas + Using a Student-Generated Survey to Inform Planning For a User-focused Learning Commons By Sharon A. Weiner and John M. Weiner + Shhh! No talking about Retention in the Library! By Heidi Blackburn + Librarian as Professor: A Dynamic New Role Model By Martha Fallahay Loesch Access the Complete Issue Education Libraries is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Education Division of the Special Libraries Association (SLA). It is edited by Jacqueline Snider. (Source: ResourceShelf)

Sla2010: digitization-related vendors at the special libraries association annual conference

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:00:00 +0100

For those of you that are attending this, the following digitization-related vendors are exhibiting at the SLA Annual Conference. The exhibit hall (INFO-EXPO) is open Sunday, June 13 - Tuesday, June 15. Access Innovation - taxonomy, conversion servicesBackStage Library Works - conversion servicesThe Crowley Company - hardwareCuadra Associates - DAM softwareData Harmony - taxonomye-ImageData - hardwareEx Libris - DAM softwareInMagic - DAM softwareNorthern Micrographics - conversion servicesOCLC - DAM software, services PTFS - DAM sofrware, conversion servicesS-T Imaging - hardwareVTLS - DAM softwareIf I missed anyone, please let me know.By the way, as a candidate for the SLA board of directors, I'll be in booth 1329 (SLA Marketplace) on Sunday from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. with the other director candidates. Please stop by and say "hello"!This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. (Source: Digitization 101)

Sla2010: digitization-related vendors at the special libraries association annual conference

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Aall spectrum article on library marketing to prove your value

Sun, 30 May 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The June 2010 issue of AALL Spectrum, the monthly publication of the American Association of Law Libraries, is now available.One of the articles is Public Relations: Bite-Sized and Buzzworthy (subtitle: "Two books from the American Library Association can help you promote your library’s value"):"Over and over, we are reminded that the number one challenge faced by all types of libraries is communicating value to their parent organizations. Another obstacle is overcoming the natural aversion to the 'M' word — marketing. When asked what we are doing for public relations, we find it difficult to give an answer because it all seems overwhelming.""Fortunately, the American Library Association has come to the rescue with two recent publications that you can use to promote the value of libraries and librarians: Bite-Sized Marketing: Realistic Solutions for the Overworked Librarian by Nancy Dowd, Mary Evangeliste, and Jonathan Silberman, and Building a Buzz: Libraries and Word-of-Mouth Marketing by Peggy Barber and Linda Wallace.""Both books offer practical yet powerful tools for librarians to use in designing public relations campaigns. The solutions, ranging from simple to complex, come with detailed instructions."Earlier Library Boy posts on the same topic include:Law Library Branding and Recruitment (February 15, 2006): "Why should libraries care about brands? Because whether it has been given careful thought or not, every institution has a brand. Whether the brand is strong enough to be favorably remembered by clients is another matter. This article will give you the tools to identify your brand and to understand how useful it can be in your marketing efforts."Newest Issue of AALL Spectrum: Marketing, Preservation and Katrina (January 30, 2007): "The February 2007 issue of the AALL Spectrum (American Association of Law Libraries) is available online. Among the offerings ... ...

Sla 2010 virtual conference

Thu, 27 May 2010 18:06:10 +0100

Not able to go to New Orleans in June? You can still participate in SLA 2010's two general sessions and ten spotlight sessions in real time. The registration fee for the Virtual Conference is only $200, and if you register by June 4 using the special promotional code you will save $50 on the registration fee. Learn more about the virtual conference sessions and get the promotional code.As a former division chair, I heard from so many members that we needed to offer more virtual programming. This is a great opportunity to participate in the Annual Conference without traveling. In addition to the Virtual Conference, you can follow #sla2010 on Twitter. "See" you there! (Source: Blogging Section of SLA-IT)

Wicked young writers award

Fri, 21 May 2010 14:59:03 +0100

The hugely successful West End musical WICKED launched a groundbreaking new educational award on Monday 22 February 2010 to recognise excellence in writing, encourage creativity and help develop writing talent in young people nationwide. Spearheaded by bestselling author and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, the WICKED Young Writers' Award is the first of its kind to seek entries from young writers between 5 and 25 years old across all backgrounds and areas of the UK.Entries for the WICKED Young Writers' Award will be sought from children across the UK and Northern Ireland who will then be separated into four categories in between the ages of 5-16: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-16. An individual Gregory Maguire Award for 17-25 year-olds will encourage writing that, in the same style as Gregory Maguire's WICKED novels, takes a well-known story and examines it from a different perspective. Twenty winners will be chosen from every category, with one overall winner then selected from each. All of the winners will be invited to a special autumn ceremony held at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, where WICKED is currently being performed. Each of the winning entries will then be published in an anthology celebrating the 2010 WICKED Young Writers' Award. An overall winner from each of the categories will win tickets to see WICKED with their family and a writing master-class from one of the esteemed judges. The two schools that encourage the most entries will win books for their respective libraries. The final date for entries is Saturday 31 July 2010. Schools and individuals can download entry forms and find tips on entering the WICKED Young Writer's Award at http://www.wickedyoungwriters.com/ (Source: SLA Weblog)

Everyone's reading - extension to prus and special schools

Mon, 10 May 2010 11:52:38 +0100

We are delighted to announce that the Everyone's Reading project has been extended to include state funded Pupil Referral Units and Special Schools. Registration is open from today (10th May) until 5th June and schools can choose 15 books for their libraries.The book gifting scheme is funded by the DCSF (Source: SLA Weblog)

Copyright for creativity—a declaration for europe

Mon, 10 May 2010 04:00:00 +0100

A coalition of organizations, including the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the German Library Association (GLA), the Stichting LIBER Foundation (LIBER), the Special Libraries Association (SLA), and others, has released Copyright for Creativity—A Declaration for Europe. Here's an excerpt from the press release: Copyright is based on both protection of creative works and exceptions to that protection, which allow for businesses and creators to innovate, make creative reuses of content, and to build on the work of others. For example, copyright protects a novelist’s rights over her novel, while an exception recognising parody would allow another writer to create a new work of parody based on the original. While copyright protects an academic’s published research, exceptions allow for others to cite, copy in-part, and quote from that research. A balance is therefore struck between the need to protect creators’ rights, and the public benefit that can be realised through reuses, references, and other derivations of the work being created. These exceptions are key to enabling legitimate reuses and innovation, and the activity of a number of socially and economically important stakeholders depends on them. While the public debate and political agenda around copyright focuses heavily on measures to protect ownership of creative works, the Copyright for Creativity declaration sets out a positive agenda by identifying a set of objectives that need to be achieved if copyright is to fully drive digital competitiveness, creativity and innovation. Among its recommendations, the declaration calls for European copyright law to act as a spur to innovation, support education and research, facilitate digital preservation and archiving, and harmonise exceptions further across the EU. ...

Copyright for creativity—a declaration for europe

Mon, 10 May 2010 03:05:44 +0100

Knowledge management specialist, pew research cent | pew research center

Tue, 04 May 2010 08:22:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, Education/Training/Experience • M.L.S. from ALA-accredited library science program. • Five or more years of experience working in a special library environment. • Database and content management ex (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Sla2010: me the candidate for the board of directors

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 04:00:00 +0100

As I mentioned before, I have been nominated to run for a position on the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Board of Directors (2011-2013). Yesterday, I made my first presentation as a candidate and I thought I would share here some of the information that I provided.First, people wanted to know why I was running for the Board. Running for a Board position is something that I've thought about for several years. And I'm pleased that this year I was asked to run. But why run? I have been an SLA member since 1990 and attended my first conference in 1992. (I've been to ever conference since then.) I began volunteering at the Chapter level soon afterward. I've held leadership positions at the chapter and division levels. I've also chaired two association-level committees. So I have a long history with the Association and it is the professional organization that I consider "home". Through SLA, I've found friends, colleagues, clients and mentors. SLA has provided ways for me to hone my leadership skills. It also provided many ways for me to give back to the profession. Because of all of that, I want to see the organization continue to grow and succeed, and I want to help with both by contributing by experience and knowledge to the Board. Yes, I know that being a Board member is a huge time commitment. Besides attending two conferences per year (Leadership Summit in January and the Annual Conference in June), there are monthly conference calls and additional activities that a director must attend to (i.e., special projects assignment by the Association President). One of the things that a candidate must do is receive the written support of his/her employer because of the commitment involved. ...

Sla2010: me the candidate for the board of directors

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Upcoming speaking gigs & bringing me to your own library

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:54:41 +0100

Greetings fellow battlers in the libraryverse! I’m rather busy for the next few months presenting, writing, and oh yes, working my regular job too. Below is a list of my upcoming presentations. If you are going to be at one of these events, drop me a line! And please contact me if you are interested in having me speak for your group or event (either in person or via webinar [I'll supply the technology]). If you’re not quite convinced that I’m right for your library’s needs, check out my past presentations and speaking topics. Where You Can See/Hear Sarah Speak May 4, 2010 – “Best Free Web & Technology Services for Libraries” webinar for the California Library Association May 11, 2010 – “Quick and Easy Library Mobile Services” for the Bay Area Special Library Association May 12, 2010 – “Coordinating a Social Media Presence for the Library” webinar for the Innovation for Libraries in the 21st Century Online Conference June 8, 2010 – “The Future of Libraries and Technology: The Phoenix Rising from the Ashes” for ALS/TAP Information Services Futures for Libraries conference June-July, 2010 – “Advanced Web Searching” (four-week online class for Infopeople) July 22, 2010 – “The Future of Libraries and Technology: The Phoenix Rising from the Ashes” – Keynote for the SEFLIN Annual Conference August 4, 2010 – “Battling Information Overload: Information Professional Skills to Help You Through” – SLA Webinar August 25, 2010 – “Battling Information Overload: Key Techniques for Different Technologies” – SLA Webinar (Source: LibrarianInBlack)

Your school library

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:44:12 +0100

This innovative online learning programme has just announced a new course entitled Reading 2010. Topics to be covered include - Reading research, Boys and books, Success stories: Integrating fiction across the curriculum, Promoting reading through graphic novels, Using author visits to promote reading, Comprehension competitions, special reading contests, literature festivals, Reading to advance social justice, Bibliotherapy: New trends, Reading and digital libraries for children, Writing for children. To find out more visit the website.The course will run from 25th May to 10th June and uses Sosius the online collaboration platform. Dr Stephen Krashen (University of Southern California) is the keynote speaker announced to dateOffer for SLA members - if a minimum of 20 current SLA members opts to follow the course then YSL will offer a 25% discount on the fee. If you are interested in this offer please email info@sla.org.uk to gauge take up. (Source: SLA Weblog)

Research library assistant | library systems & services, llc

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:23:00 +0100

US - DC - Washington, LSSI seeks an energetic individual with library experience—both technical and customer service—to serve as a full-time special assistant in the Research Library of a downtown DC-based federal interna (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Proving the value of the special library

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:00:00 +0100

On his Stephen's Lighthouse blog, Stephen Abram has written a post about the Value of Special Libraries:"Having spent many years working in special libraries, I am very aware of their position. You are under constant pressure to justify your services, role and budget in the specialized environment in which you practice."The post describes various studies that demonstrate the impact of information specialists and special libraries that include entities such as government, courthouse, law firm, medical, scientific libraries.Earlier Library Boy posts on the same topic include:Law Library Branding and Recruitment (February 15, 2006): "Why should libraries care about brands? Because whether it has been given careful thought or not, every institution has a brand. Whether the brand is strong enough to be favorably remembered by clients is another matter. This article will give you the tools to identify your brand and to understand how useful it can be in your marketing efforts."Newest Issue of AALL Spectrum: Marketing, Preservation and Katrina (January 30, 2007): "The February 2007 issue of the AALL Spectrum (American Association of Law Libraries) is available online. Among the offerings ...: 'Public Relations: Marketing Inspiration - How to move the law library to the center of your organization’s culture' (...) "New Articles on Marketing and Impact of Law Libraries (November 13, 2007): "The November 2007 issue of AALL Spectrum, a publication of the American Association of Law Libraries, contains 2 articles that are related to marketing: 'Public Relations: Selling Law Librarianship' ... 'Perspective: What is Your Impact on Society' (...)"Blog Series on How to Increase Your Value in Your Workplace (March 4, 2010): "The SLA Blog has started a series called 'Alignment Steps' that contains advice on how librarians and information professionals can prove and increase their value in their workplace. ...

Resources: stephen abram’s on the value of libraries

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:36:16 +0100

Stephen Abram***, former SLA President, VP at Gale/Cengage; Founder and Editor of Stephen’s Lighthouse, and that’s only a start. We could go on and on for an entire post with a list of what he’s done. Needless to say, Mr. Abram is at or near the top of the “librarian chain” (similar to the “food chain) for many people (including this publication). Almost forgot, he’s also a Canadian and we’re big fans and major admirers of all things Canada and Canadians at ResourceShelf. In fact, Gary is proud to be called a Canuckaphile, a title Stephen gave him a couple of years ago. Btw, we need to mention that Stephen has been a longtime friend and a mentor to the ResourceShelf team. Now, back to the post, already in progress. During the past week or so, Stephen has been posting about the value of libraries and including links to numerous resources including library value studies and related reports. A visit to this post on “Lighthouse” will provide you with direct links to the six “link rich” postings that cover: The Value of: + Public Libraries + School Libraries + Academic and College Libraries + Special Libraries Plus, you’ll have access to a list of “save the library organizations” and links/info about “springboard stories.” Stephen writes, “Proof of the value and impact of libraries is not enough. Sad but true. You have to combine these proofs with the power of storytelling.” And springboard stories can assist in making this task successful. Block off some time and take a look at the links and commentary that might be most helpful to you. Source: Stephen’s Lighthouse (Source: ResourceShelf)

Library news & events april 9-15th

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:13:23 +0100

Community Virtual Library The Library Art Gallery is proud to present an exhibition by real life New Zealand artist Amanda Tomasoa (AmandaT Tamatzui) showing for the first time in Second Life. Join us for the opening of the new gallery and meet the artist on Saturday 10 April at 5:00pm SLT. Music will be supplied by DJ Eye Morpork and possibly by SOAR. Dress to depict your favourite painting or artist. Library Art Gallery @ Info Island, Info Island (34, 62, 33) Come into Second Life on Tuesday, April 13 to hear Hypatia Dejavu, Rocky Vallejo, and Abbey Zenith discuss the new Community Virtual Library. Hypatia, Rocky and Abbey have banded together to take over the administration of the former Alliance Virtual Library that had been administered by Lori Bell and the Alliance Library System since its establishment in 2006. Starting in February 2010, the new Community Virtual Library took over the management of the core islands in the Info Island Archipelago–Info Island, Info Island International, Imagination Island and Cybrary City II. If you have not yet explored Second Life, check out the free Introduction to Second Life webinars for SLA members at http://www.sla.org/content/learn/members/webinars/secondlife.cfm Library Buzz: The New Community Virtual Library–Lear More About It Presented by Hypatia Dejavu, Rocky Vallejo, and Abbey Zenith When: April 13, 2010 – 6pm PT/SLT Where: Info Island Auditorium, Second Life SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/62/114/33 Wednesday, April 14th: Guided tour of Info Island at 4 pm, SLT SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/110/37/33 For more information, or to arrange a group tour contact Mucaro India via IM or notecard. ...

Value of special libraries

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:26:17 +0100

Having spent many years working in special libraries, I am very aware of their position. You are under constant pressure to justify your services, role and budget in the specialized environment in which you practice. For example, just take health librarianship as one example: Two studies which I particularly admire were done by Joanne Gard Marshall. The Rochester Study of 1991 sought to discover the impact of the medical library on the decisions of doctors. Physicians asked questions related to a current clinical case and then evaluated its impact on the care of their patients. The reported changes in: • Diagnosis 29% • Choice of Tests 51% • Choice of Drugs 45% • Reduced Length of Hospital Stay 19% • Advice Given to the Patient 72% Physicians also noted an impact their ability to avoid the following: • Hospital Admission 12% • Patient Mortality 19% • Hospital-Acquired Infection 8% • Surgery 21% • Additional Tests or Procedures 49% Yes! You do see in these data that working with librarians shows reduced patient mortality. Librarians save lives! Excitingly, the physicians rated the information provided by the library more highly than that provided by other information sources such as diagnostic imaging, lab tests, and discussions with colleagues. Professor Marshall also did another impact study for SLA. In 1995 she studied the impact of the library on corporate decision-making in five major Canadian banks. This study showed the impact of corporate research and library services which often changed the course of the research of the end user and/or saved significant money (i.e. over $1 million CDN). Again, there is too little hardcore research and study, but what is out there is very compelling. Special Libraries Selected Resources and Studies Joanne Gard Marshall’s studies on the impact of special libraries: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender. ...

Summer reading challenge 2010

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:12:40 +0100

The Summer Reading Challenge can help primary schools avoid the "summer holiday dip" in pupils' reading motivation and attainment, widen pupils' reading range and repetoire and boost their desire to read at home, research by the UK Literacy Association (UKLA) shows. So The Reading Agency is calling upon all UK head teachers to champion use of the Summer Reading Challenge in their school.The Summer Reading Challenge is an immensely popular and successful reading initiative. Now in its twelfth year it reaches 725,000 children aged four to 12 years annually via the UK library network. It is created and run by The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to inspire more people to read more, and is supported by children's publishers.Each year the Summer Reading Challenge to children is simple. They're encouraged to read six or more books of their choice during the summer holidays with collectable incentives and rewards, plus a certificate or medal for every child who completes the Challenge. Children can sign up at their local library and all materials are free. The UKLA research Summer Reading Challenge 2009 impact research report looked at the impact of the 2009 Summer Reading Challenge, focusing on a range of aspects of good practice in schools and library services in five different local authorities: Brighton & Hove, Coventry, Manchester, Staffordshire and Wiltshire. As well as stemming the "summer holiday dip" in children's reading achievement, teachers questioned for the research noted the social benefits of involvement with the Challenge, and praised the materials and website resources which it made available. ...

Jill's schedule: spring 2010 (cil, sla and me the nominee)

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

I've had a busy winter, which at times has meant "running" through the weeks, airports and train stations. The next few months are also going to be busy and let me take a moment to tell you where I'll be. April 11-14: Computers in Libraries, Arlington, VA April 13, 11:30 a.m. - Reaching Reluctant Learners (presentation with Sophia Guevara and others)April 14, all day, moderating track E entitled "Learning: Expanding our Knowledge"April 20, 7:00 p.m.: Syracuse Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals®, Syracuse, NY -- "The Virtual World – How can e-mail, IM, and Social Networking Help You & Your Career" (presentation May 5, 2:00 p.m.: SLA Click U, "How Digitizing Materials Can Increase Information Flow & Access" (Webinar)May 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Rochester Regional Library Council, Rochester, NY -- "Planning and Management of Digitization Programs" (workshop)June 14, 10:00-11:30 a.m.: SLA Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA --The Consultant's Toolkit: Tips, Techniques and Words of Wisdom (moderator)The SLA conference this year will be a very special event for me because I have been nominated to serve on SLA's Board of Directors. Proposing someone for the Board is not something that the Nominating Committee does in haste and so I am very honored to have been considered and nominated. While the actual election will be held in September, the SLA conference is where many Association members will be able to meet me face-to-face and learn more about me. For those that won't be at the conference, videos and other information from all of the candidates will be made available through the SLA web site and the publication Information Outlook. ...

Jill's schedule: spring 2010 (cil, sla and me the nominee)

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Sunshine week 2010 shines light on government transparency

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:29:17 +0100

[UPDATE: Scroll down for list of library happenings for Sunshine Week] Spring has sprung with a vengeance here in SF. And that could only mean one thing: Sunshine Week!! Yes it's time once again to feel the warm FOIA on your cheek, to discuss and raise awareness of the importance of free and open government information, transparency and the Freedom of Information Act. Be on the lookout for editorials in your local newspaper, discuss FOIA with your friends and family (you'll be glad you did :-)) and highlight it in your libraries -- perhaps by having a public showing of the OpenTheGovernment Webcast! OpenTheGovernment.org is having a Sunshine Week Webcast 12-2PM EST on Friday March 19 entitled "Building Transparency." The Webcast will include a host of great speakers including Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, John Wonderlich, Policy Director at the Sunlight Foundation, Kevin Goldberg, American Society of News Editors (ASNE) counsel, Miriam Nisbet, Director of the new Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), Melanie Sloan, Executive Director, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Melanie Pustay, Director of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Information Policy (OIP), Eric Gundersen, President and co-founder of Development Seed and Sean Moulton, Director of Federal Information Policy at OMB Watch. It should be a great discussion so hope you can tune in. What libraries are doing for Sunshine Week: Northern CA Association of Law Libraries (NOCALL), in association with the Special Library Association Sierra Nevada Chapter, is sponsoring 2 Sunshine Week events; one in Sacramento and one in San Francisco. Both have interesting lists of speakers and require registration for a small fee ($20 for Sacramento event and $15 for SF event). ...

Special libraries association names research grant recipient

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:27:03 +0100

From the Announcement: Dr. Tao Jin, assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Science at Louisiana State University (LSU), is the recipient of the 2009 SLA Research Grant. His proposed research project, “Understanding the Value of Corporate Libraries in Competitive Intelligence Practices,” was selected from a number of submissions by the SLA Research & Development Committee. Using a multi-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, Jin will survey both competitive intelligence (CI) practitioners and information professionals and conduct four case studies at four different organizations. His research will explore how and to what extent CI practitioners use their corporate libraries, how CI practitioners value their corporate libraries and the information professionals with whom they work, and how information professionals view their role in the CI process. According to the 2009 SLA Annual Salary Survey, information professionals in the United States who identified CI as their primary job responsibility earned an average salary of $75,411. Of that group, those who reported they had been with the same employer for 11-15 years earned as much as $169,500 annually. Source: SLA (Source: ResourceShelf)

Weekend course bookings online

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:57:37 +0100

Full information about the SLA's weekend training course for 2010 is now available on the website and was sent to members with the Spring edition of The School Librarian.The 2010 course, The Magic Threshold: Step Into New Worlds, will be held from 25-27 June at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.Due to the popularity of the course we recommend that you book your place early - online booking is now open. You will also qualify for an extra discount on bookings up to 31 March 2010.Members of the SLA receive a special rate for the course, but application is open to all. The course is widely seen as an essential element of professional development for many school librarians and represents great value for money. (Source: SLA Weblog)

A tool for archiving your facebook content, twitter too!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:22:38 +0100

The archiving of social media content is an interesting and important topic that requires a dialogue between social net providers, the archive and library communities, and if possible, users. If social media continues becoming the primary way we communicate with each, who will be collecting and permanently saving this record? Does it need to be saved in the first place. Will/Should every user be responsible for their own material on their own computer or should these archives be in the cloud? Or, will it just be ephemeral and gone in a few days after posting? This topic is briefly touched on in this post by Susan Thomas from the futureARCh blog. The focus is Facebook and she reports that there is possibly some automated “friend” who will archive your content. She never heard of this service and neither have we. Have you? Thomas does introduce us to an experimental Firefox add-on that will archive some of your Facebook content on your computer. It’s called ArchiveFacebook 1.1. This is how the developers describe the add-on: ArchiveFacebook is a Firefox extension, which helps you to save web pages from Facebook and easily manage them. Save content from Facebook directly to your hard drive and view them exactly the same way you currently view them on Facebook. Why would you want to do this? Facebook has become a very important part of our lives. Information about our friends, family, business contacts and acquaintances is stored in Facebook with no easy way to get it out. ArchiveFacebook allows you to do just that. What guarantee do you have that Facebook won’t accidentally, or in some cases intentionally delete your account? Don’t trust your data to one web site alone. Take matters into your own hands and preserve this information. ...

Sla names five fellows for 2010

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:42:08 +0100

News from SLA We’re happy to report that the complete list of 2010 SLA Fellows was posted today and ResourceShelf would like to congratulate the new fellows. Well done and we will see you in New Orleans! The 2010 Special Libraries Association Fellows Are: + Rebecca Jones + Dee Magnoni + James E. Manasco + Jill Strand + Libby Trudell Source: Special Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf)

Blog series on how to increase your value in your workplace

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The SLA Blog has started a series called Alignment Steps that contains advice on how librarians and information professionals can prove and increase their value in their workplace.So far, the blog has published 3 posts:Seek and Destroy Jargon (October 8, 2009): "Using language that people important to your career will understand is not 'dumbing down.' It is smartening up to the reality that we become our own worst enemies when we put barriers between ourselves and the people we serve. Look at your Web site, job description, and any materials used to market or inform people about your services. Find every word that would not be immediately understood by a person outside of the library profession. Replace it or explain it."Compare Strategies (December 9, 2009): "Start by obtaining a copy of your organization’s latest strategic plan. Don’t settle for whatever is posted on your Web site; ask the appropriate office, department or executive if it is up to date or under revision (...) Now compare your organization’s strategic plan with that of your library or information center. (If you do not have your own strategic plan, this is where to start.) Are there disconnects? Does your strategy do the best possible job in supporting your organization’s priorities? What can you do now to change that? "Align With Other Departments (March 3, 2010): "Set up meetings with other departments to learn more about their current and upcoming priorities and the information they will need to be successful (...) Tell them about the internal and external information resources that you can make available to them."SLA, or Special Library Association, is an international organization of information professionals in over eighty countries worldwide. It has a very active Legal Division whose past chair is a Canadian law librarian. (Source: Library Boy)

Young human rights reporter of the year competition

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:16:04 +0100

Learnnewsdesk, the Guardian's online news service for schools, has got together with Amnesty International UK to launch a Young Human Rights reporter competition. Children between 7 and 14 years old are being asked to write 200-250 words on a human rights story. It could be from personal experience (e.g. bullying or what it's like to be a refugee) or their interpretation of a human rights news story.Primary and secondary/post primary winners will be invited on an expenses paid VIP trip to the Amnesty International UK and Guardian HQs in London (one child winner and one adult guardian for each category). Extracts of the winning articles from each age category will be published in the Education supplement of The Guardian newspaper on 1 June 2010, in an article by award-winning journalist Ian Cobain who won the Amnesty International UK newspaper reporter of the year 2009. The full text of the winning articles will be published on the Guardian and learnnewsdesk websites. Winning articles and the runners up will also be showcased at the prestigious Amnesty International UK main media awards on 1 June 2009. More prizes!In addition to their trip, the primary and secondary/post primary winners will also receive an Easi-speak MP3 recorder and microphone, Amnesty and learnnewsdesk goodie bags (including exclusive Amnesty International media awards 2010 T-shirt), a specially made Amnesty International media award 2010 (one for the winner and one for their school in each category) and a subscription to either the learnnewsdesk or the Guardian's newsmaker package.Two runners up in each category will receive Amnesty and learnnewsdesk goodie bags (including exclusive Amnesty International media awards T-shirt), Amnesty International media awards 2010 certificate and an annual subscription to either the Guardian's newsmaker package or learnnewsdesk. ...

Special libraries association (sla) announces candidates for 2011 board of directors

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:54:01 +0100

From the Announcement: The SLA Nominating Committee has identified ten candidates for election to the 2011 SLA Board of Directors. The committee is responsible for soliciting names of potential candidates from the membership and putting together a slate of candidates that has exceptional talent, is professionally diverse, and provides regionally balanced representation. Members will have several opportunities to hear from and get to know candidates at the SLA 2010 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO in New Orleans. The election will be held electronically in mid-September 2010. The candidates running for election to the 2011 SLA Board of Directors are: For President-Elect: + Brent Mai, Concordia University, Portland, Ore. + David Stern, Maximize Information, Providence, R.I. For Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect: + James E. Manasco, University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky. + Ulla de Stricker, de Stricker Associates, Toronto For Division Cabinet Chair-Elect: + Scott Brown, Social Information Group, Longmont, Colo. + Richard Huffine, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va. For Director (two positions): + Nerida Hart, HartKnowledge Consulting, Murrumbateman, NSW, Australia + Jill Hurst-Wahl, Syracuse University/Hurst Associates Ltd., Syracuse, N.Y. + P.K. Jain, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi Enclave, Delhi, India + Sara Tompson, University of Southern California, Los Angeles Source: Special Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf)

Graphicology

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:26:40 +0100

The SLA is making available a special offprint of the article "Graphicology" by Chris Brown from The School Librarian, Volume 57 Number 4, Winter 2009. At a time when graphic novels are receiving increasing amounts of attention, school librarians who extend their stock by incorporating graphic material may well find they are challenged to justify such expenditure. The article is designed to make the case for the value of graphic novels, to address some of the concerns that librarians often have about introducing them, and to help you engage staff and pupils. Including a roundup of web resources, this special four-page offprint is a free PDF download. (Source: SLA Weblog)

Congratulations! barbara semonche and donna scheeder named recipients of 2009 sla hall of fame award

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:58:39 +0100

This is great news. We’re thrilled. ResourceShelf friends (and mentors) Barbara Semonche and Donna Scheeder have been named 2009 recipients of the SLA Hall of Fame. We couldn’t think of two people more deserving of this honor. We’ll have more to say soon when we have a few minutes to reflect on all of the help and friendship both Barbara and Donna have given us over the years. Make sure to visit the announcement page to view a video about this years recipients. Here’s the official announcement: SLA named Donna Scheeder and Barbara Semonche as the 2009 recipients of the SLA Hall of Fame award in honor of their pioneering work in the field of news librarianship and their prolonged and distinguished histories of service and leadership to SLA. Hall of Fame recognition is reserved for SLA members at or near the end of their active professional careers to recognize service and contributions to the association. “The names Barbara Semonche and Donna Scheeder have been synonymous with mentorship, service, and leadership in this profession for many years,” said Gloria Zamora, 2010 past president of SLA. “Their contributions to this association have had a lasting impact on so many. From young emerging leaders to former presidents and board members to their colleagues in the SLA News Division and their local chapters, one would be hard pressed to find an SLA member who hasn’t been touched in some way by either of these amazing professionals. Barbara and Donna are so deserving of this award, and I am so pleased that we are able to honor them in this way.” Source: Special Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf)

Youngminds calls for submissions for 2010 book award prize

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:57:09 +0100

YoungMinds are asking publishers, librarians, and young people to put forward submissions for this year's YoungMinds book award. Books must be works of fiction or biography for young people aged 12+ published between 1 June 2009 and 31 May 2010, which encourage self-esteem and help them to cope with the stresses and challenges of growing up. Nominations are open until 24th April 2010. 10 books will then be chosen for the longlist. Young people, children's authors and mental health professionals will then take part in the judging between May and October to choose the winner. The £2,000 prize which is, sponsored by the national reading charity Booktrust, will be presented at an awards ceremony in November 2010. YoungMinds Chief Executive Sarah Brennan said: "This special award highlights the vital role books play in promoting the mental and emotional well being of young people. Books can really help to break the isolation experienced by young people and demonstrate that their feelings and problems are not unique."Booktrust's Chief Executive Viv Bird said: ‘Booktrust is delighted to be returning for the second year as the sponsor of the YoungMinds Book Award, which recognises the immense value that books add to the emotional well-being of young people.' Last years winner Chris Higgins said:" I was absolutely thrilled to win the YoungMinds Book Award for 'A Perfect Ten'. I set out to explore the issue of bullying from the perspective of the bully. Following her sister's death, Eve has to deal with survivor's guilt, anorexia and a grieving mother. I hope that 'A Perfect Ten' will provide insight and understanding into both bullies and their victims, and show that these two apparently contradictory roles have more in common than we think."Please contact hannah.smith@youngminds.org. ...

2010 joint spring conference registration

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:40:13 +0100

It is Joint Spring Conference time again! The conference will be held April 28-30, 2010. This year it will be held at the General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton, KY. This is the address and contact information for the park: 1608 Highway 227Carrollton, KY 41008-0325Telephone: (502)-732-4384Toll Free: (866) 462-2253 Mention you are with the Special Libraries Association KY Chapter. Overflow housing is also available at the Holiday Inn Express. Their phone number is 502-732-6770. Online registration is available through SurveyMonkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JWMPJ6M, or you can mail in the paper registration form that will be mailed out shortly. The mailed registration brochure (http://units.sla.org/chapter/cky/files/JSCBrochure2010.pdf) and registration form (http://units.sla.org/chapter/cky/files/JSCRegistrationForm2010.pdf) can also be downloaded directly to your computer. The registration fees are: Full Conference, Member – Thursday and Friday, April 29 & 30: $70.00Full Conference, Non-Member – Thursday and Friday, April 29 & 30: $80.00Per Day Registration, Member (Thursday or Friday): $45.00Per Day Registration, Non-Member (Thursday or Friday): $55.00Student: $25.00Late Fee (for registrations after March 31): $20.00 You can pay by check or credit card. Make checks out to: SLA Kentucky Chapter Mail checks to: Alex GriggLexmark Library740 W. New Circle Rd.Lexington, KY 40550 Credit card payments will incur a $3.00 service charge and can be made using the PayPal buttons below: Conference Registration Fees: Member - Full Conference - April 29 & 30 $73.00 Member - Per Day Registration - Thursday, April 29 $48.00 Member - Per Day Registration - Friday, April 30 $48.00 Non-Member - Full Conference - April 29 & 30 $83.00 Non-Member - Per Day Registration - Thursday, April 29 $58.00 Non-Member - Per Day Registration - Friday, April 30 $58.00 Student $28. ...

Cla-caslis ottawa event: customer service skills 101

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Please join us for a panel presentation about customer service and communicating the value of library service. Panelists will discuss what management needs to do to create an environment in which good customer service is the norm, the training, policies and performance appraisals that support customer service, customer service standards and communicating the value of library service using a Value Proposition approach. Speakers:Margaret Sampson, Manager, Library Services, Children’s Hospital of Eastern OntarioYvonne Van Lith, Coordinator, Sunnyside Branch, Ottawa Public LibrarySonia Bebbington, Manager, Library Client Services, Department of Finance CanadaWhen: Wednesday February 17, 2010 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.Where: Ottawa Public Library Main Branch, Meeting room, lower level120 Metcalfe St. Ottawa, ON K1P 5M2Register by sending your name and membership/student status to: rsvp@caslisottawa.on.ca. If you require a receipt for this event please include a request with your RSVP before February 16, 2010.Cost:CLA members: $20Non-members: $30CLA student members: $10Student non-members: $15New Professionals (those working in the field for less than two years): $15Members of other professional associations (SLA, OALT, etc.): $25 (Source: Special Info)

Awards: sla honors david shumaker as exceptional educator with 2009 rose vormelker award

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:10:35 +0100

From the Announcement: David Shumaker, associate professor at the Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C., was recently honored by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) with the 2009 Rose L. Vormelker Award for excellence in guiding and mentoring future information professionals and librarians. Since joining the faculty at CUA, Shumaker has actively recruited students to the library profession and promoted the values of special librarianship. The students in his Marketing Information Services class participate in real-life practicum assignments in libraries all over the Washington, D.C., area. “I think that one of the best things that Dave has his students do is actual fieldwork,” says SLA member Eileen Boswell, a former student of Shumaker’s. “It is really critical for library and information students to apply what they’re learning in the classroom out in the real world. Dave is definitely a good influence on students because he encourages us to keep striving and creating, and to keep asking questions for the rest of our careers. Learning doesn’t stop with our diplomas.” Access the Complete Announcement (Includes a Bio of Shumaker) Source: Special Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf)

Prof david shumaker receives sla award for excellence in lis education (vnunet.com)

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:00:37 +0100

IWR News Desk, Information World Review , Thursday 4 February 2010 at 15:41:00 David Shumaker, associate professor at the Catholic University of America (CUA), has received the 2009 Rose Vormelker Award for excellence in guiding and mentoring future information professionals and librarians awarded by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Since joining the faculty at CUA, Shumaker has actively ... (Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for librarianship)

Janice r. lachance named recipient of 2009 dialog member achievement award

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:59:23 +0100

Congrats and Kudos to ResourceShelf Friend Janice LaChance!!! From the Announcement: The Special Libraries Association (SLA) has named its chief executive officer, Janice R. Lachance, as the recipient of the 2009 Dialog & ProQuest Member Achievement Award. The award is bestowed on an SLA member for raising visibility, awareness and appreciation of the information profession or the association at large. Lachance was honored for her six years as SLA’s leader and representative and her work to enhance the profile of the association and the information profession. “Janice has elevated the status of SLA and the profession in general and has served us extremely well as a global ambassador,” says 2010 SLA President Anne Caputo. “I am so pleased to be able to recognize her achievements with this honor, and I know that she will continue to live up to the spirit of this award for many years to come.” [Snip] “What I have tried to do as the CEO of SLA is to get out there and tell the world about the great work our members do,” she says. “I hope that I can be their ambassador and their emissary to people who don’t understand their value, or who may undervalue or take their work for granted. I am determined to turn that around.” Source: Special Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf)

Mirror, mirror

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:01:40 +0100

What is it about lawyers and librarians that we spend so much time thinking, talking and trying to change the way our professions are perceived? A search through the literature of both disciplines reveals what amounts to an obsession. I suppose that I shouldn’t be surprised, given that “client-focused” is a key characteristic of both groups. We worry about how we are perceived because otherwise we run the risk of losing business. If we don’t articulate our value, we’re expendable. SLAWyer Jordan Furlong has taken on the task of articulating the value of the legal profession in his Law 21 blog. In his thoughtful, thought-provoking way, he has challenged lawyers and firms to rethink the practice and the business of law. Complacency is not an option. In his December 22 post, “Ready or not, here come the clients”, Furlong looks back on the significant changes in the legal culture, and sketches out his vision for the future. Lawyers have long felt like a special breed, in part because the loyalty and concern we show our clients sets us apart as a profession first, a business second. Noble sentiments, easy enough to espouse when we run the show. How well are we going to express those sentiments now that we’re losing our grip on power in this marketplace, sharing it not just with new competitors but also with clients? If we adopt the approaches of the music, media and automotive industries before us — ignoring the changes, fighting with our customers, raising barriers to competition, insisting that “we’re different”– we’ll end up in the same graveyard. How can the future of the law librarian be any different? The profession has arguably grown up on the margins of firms, government departments and other organizations, seen in hard times as a handy opportunity for cuts, and even in good times a luxury according to some. Relegated to the ranks of “support staff”, we’ve never had the power mentioned in the quotation above. ...

Salary survey: results show 2009 salary increases for information professionals

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:43:49 +0100

From the Announcement: For the third year in a row, average salaries for information professionals in the United States and Canada have increased, the Special Libraries Association (SLA) announced today in releasing the results of its annual salary survey. [Snip] According to the 2009 Annual SLA Salary Survey report, the average salary of an information professional in the United States was US$ 73,880, compared with US$ 71,812 reported in 2008. The average earnings for Canadian respondents was CAN$ 72,705, compared with CAN$ 69,971.The 2009 salary data were collected in July and August 2009. For 2009, SLA used its salary survey data to create mini-reports for 17 different primary job functions, including legal research, knowledge management, reference, and competitive intelligence. Each mini-report is available individually. Access the the complete report (or mini-reports) along with an interactive calculator is fee-based. Details here. Source: Special Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf)

Literacy forum @ the education show

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:18:41 +0100

The Education Show has teamed up with the National Literacy Association to bring you The Literacy Forum, held on Friday 5th March 2010, NEC Birmingham. This one day conference has been developed to get into the heart of reading, its challenges in schools today and asking the difficult question... What is the future of reading?Attend the conference and be part of the development of a manifesto/ set of guidelines that target objectives to develop the pursuit of reading in our future learners.To book simply register to attend the Education Show (for free) then follow the steps to book onto the Literacy conference. Places are charged at £150 + VAT per person.Confirmed speakers include:Michael Rosen, Author and former Children's Laureate - 'Reading real books'.Aidan Chambers, School Library Association - 'The political landscape for reading'Chris Mead, Institute for the Future of the Book- 'Is there a future of reading?'Sally McKeown, Consultant, Educational Technology and Special Needs, -'Reading for pleasure: Technology and the future of literacy'The full conference programme, with full details can be found on the website.The SLA will be at the Education Show and attending the conference too! (Source: SLA Weblog)

Bootstrapping your library web-site with drupal, an open source content management system

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Please join us for a panel presentation about using the open-source content management system Drupal as a back-end for your library website and library applications. Panelists will provide an overview of Drupal: what it is; pros and cons; features and benefits. They will share their experiences throughout the development stages, including how to plan and design a Drupal site, out-of-the box vs. custom built applications, modules created for and used by libraries, and more. Panel members are from academic and special libraries and will provide attendees with a realistic understanding of how people from diverse backgrounds with different requirements can approach Drupal. The session incorporates interactive components for demonstrations and step-by-step instruction. Refreshments will be provided.Speakers: Dave Kisly, Web DeveloperRon Jerome, National Research Council of CanadaAnthony Petryk, Carleton UniversityWhen: Thursday, January 21, 2010 1:00-4:00 p.m. Where: Ottawa Public Library Main Branch, 120 Metcalfe St. Ottawa, ON K1P 5M2Register by sending your name and membership/student status to: rsvp@caslisottawa.on.ca. If you require a receipt for this event please include a request with your RSVP before Jan. 20, 2010.Cost:CLA members: $20Non-members: $30CLA student members: $10Student non-members: $15New Professionals (those working in the field for less than two years): $15Members of other professional associations (SLA, OALT, etc. ...

My way! launch

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:21:10 +0100

I was delighted to be able to battle through the inclement weather to get to 10 Downing Street yesterday. It was quite an experience walking through the door that features so often on the news! I was attending the launch of My Way! by First News in association with Walker Books, DCSF, Pritt and the Teaching Awards. There were welcome speeches from Sarah Brown and Nicki Cox MBE - the editor of First News - announcing a tour of schools in June. My Way! aims to raise awareness of the fact that one in five children have learning challenges and to dispel the myth that these children are less intelligent and show that every child can succeed. In his speech Henry Winkler expressed a wonderful image, of travelling on a river of the arts - without which he may have fallen off and he emphasized the need for every citizen to function at the top reach of their potential. Minister Ed Balls quoted a Y5 child from a special school he had visited recently ‘we're all different but we're all the same' emphasizing the need for different approaches.I am sure we shall hear a lot more from Henry Winkler (aka The Fonz) as he is one of our speakers at our 2010 Weekend Course and will talk about My Way!, his Hank Zipzer books and how he coped with dyslexia when he is in conversation with Nicky Cox on Friday 25th June. (Source: SLA Weblog)

Librarian instruction-delivery modality preferences for professional continuing education.

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Librarian instruction-delivery modality preferences for professional continuing education.

J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Jan;98(1):57-64

Authors: Lynn VA, Bose A, Boehmer SJ

OBJECTIVES: Attending professional continuing education (CE) is an important component of librarianship. This research study identified librarians' preferences in delivery modalities of instruction for professional CE. The study also identified influential factors associated with attending CE classes. METHODS: Five instruction-delivery modalities and six influential factors were identified for inclusion in an online survey. The survey completed by members of the American Library Association (ALA), Special Libraries Association (SLA), and Medical Library Association (MLA) provided the data for analysis of librarian preferences and influential factors. RESULTS: The majority of respondents were MLA members, followed by ALA and SLA members. Librarians from all three library associations preferred the face-to-face instructional modality. The most influential factor associated with the decision to attend a professional CE class was cost. ...

Endings and new beginnings

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0100

Dear Friends, As you may have heard, I have decided to embark on a new chapter in my life and will be leaving SirsiDynix. It's been a wonderful ride for almost five years. We've done a lot of good work together and I have been afforded a lot of special opportunities. The highlights of my time at SirsiDynix include the continuing encouragement of innovation in product development and work processes, working on cool projects such as Library 2.0 portals, marketing innovation, SchoolRooms, Enterprise, and opening up the ILS to innovation through API's, market research, and more. I was especially happy with the speakers and programs of the SirsiDynix Institute and the executive sessions at our user group conferences for UUGI, CODI and COSUGI. With the SirsiDynix team it was exciting to be involved in building the largest ILS company in the world, with a significant presence in all types of libraries. I've traveled the world and met my professional colleagues on every inhabited continent and spoke to folks about the challenges facing all of us to thrive in the emerging knowledge economy. Bringing the diverse perspectives of users and librarians back to the SirsiDynix teams has, I believe, made them one of the best informed vendors in the world. I'll miss them. I've made a lot of friends at SiriDynix and with our library clients. Indeed, the experiences I have shared with library folk globally have provided me an invaluable education and the relationships we have built are lasting and valued. The library sector is filled with passionate, inspiring people who I am honored to call my friends, and I will take those friendships with me wherever my new opportunities take me – from interactions and speeches at library events to the drinks at the pub after a long day on the floor of a major conference. ...

Sla membership vote to keep name

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:21:45 +0100

Back in October I reported that the Special Libraries Association was gearing up for a vote to change its name. The vote was closed yesterday, and the results have just been released. Members voted 3225 to 2071 to keep the SLA Name. Today’s full SLA press release is reprinted below the fold: SLA Press Release – 10 December 2009 SLA Contact: Cara Schatz P: 703.647.4917 cara@sla.org SLA Name Will Stay: Alignment of Association to Continue Alexandria, Virginia, December 10, 2009- The Special Libraries Association (SLA) announced the results of its association-wide vote on a new name today. Voting in record numbers, SLA members failed to approve a proposal to change the organization’s name to the Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals. 50 percent of those members eligible to vote participated in the referendum, with 2071 voting yes and 3225 voting no. “The active discussions, online and in local meetings, are a testament to the passion and commitment that knowledge and information professionals feel towards their association and their profession,” said Gloria Zamora, SLA 2009 President. “This level of engagement will help make SLA and its members more effective advocates for the information profession in the years ahead.” The name change proposal stemmed from the findings of the Alignment Project, an intensive two-year research effort aimed at understanding the value of the information and knowledge professional in today’s marketplace and how to best communicate that value. “Our name will remain,” Zamora continued, “but we will go forward with developing opportunities for our members to use the Alignment findings to demonstrate their contributions to the organizations that employ them. ...

Voting results are in: sla will not be changing its name

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:50:39 +0100

From an Announcement: Voting in record numbers, SLA members failed to approve a proposal to change the organization’s name to the Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals. 50 percent of those members eligible to vote participated in the referendum, with 2071 voting yes and 3225 voting no.’ [Snip] “Our name will remain,” Zamora continued, “but we will go forward with developing opportunities for our members to use the Alignment findings to demonstrate their contributions to the organizations that employ them.” “Information and knowledge professionals are critical assets to the organizations that employ them, yet their contributions and capabilities are too often underestimated,” said SLA CEO Janice R. Lachance. “The findings of the Alignment Project research will guide SLA in developing services and programs that will more successfully position these professionals in the marketplace and attract the recognition and compensation they deserve.” Source: Special Libraries Association (SLA Blogger) (Source: ResourceShelf)

National surveys of primary and of secondary/middle/special/ independent school libraries

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:24:08 +0100

Please help us to build up a full UK picture of school libraries by completing a questionnaire. This work was instigated by the School Libraries Group (SLG) of CILIP (the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and supported by the School Library Association and CILIP Scotland, with funds provided by the Wendy Drewett Bequest. The survey is being managed by Information Management Associates.If you have any questions about this survey please contact David Streatfield at streatfield@blueyonder.co.ukThe surveys can be found at:Primaryhttp://www.informat.org/slp/primary/index2.html Secondary, Special, Middle, Independenthttp://www.informat.org/slpsurvey/ (Source: SLA Weblog)

Philip trueman: reverted edits by the muffin93 (talk) to last version by 88.201.200.20

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:40:02 +0100

Reverted edits by The Muffin93 (talk) to last version by 88.201.200.20 ← Previous revision Revision as of 12:40, 25 November 2009 Line 44: Line 44: [[Academic library]]: Libraries that serve a post-secondary institution. Depending upon the institution, the library may serve a particular faculty or the entire institution. Many different types, sizes, and collections are found in academic libraries and some academic librarians are specialists in these collections and archives. A [[Academic library|university librarian]], or chief librarian, is responsible for the library within the college structure, and may also be called the [[academic administration|Dean of Libraries]]. Some post-secondary institutions treat librarians as faculty, and they may be called professor or other academic ranks. Some universities make similar demands of academic librarians for research and professional service as are required of faculty. Academic librarians administer various levels of service and privilege to faculty, students, alumni and the public. [[Academic library]]: Libraries that serve a post-secondary institution. Depending upon the institution, the library may serve a particular faculty or the entire institution. Many different types, sizes, and collections are found in academic libraries and some academic librarians are specialists in these collections and archives. A [[Academic library|university librarian]], or chief librarian, is responsible for the library within the college structure, and may also be called the [[academic administration|Dean of Libraries]]. Some post-secondary institutions treat librarians as faculty, and they may be called professor or other academic ranks. Some universities make similar demands of academic librarians for research and professional service as are required of faculty. Academic librarians administer various levels of service and privilege to faculty, students, alumni and the public. ...

The muffin93: /* workplaces */

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:38:57 +0100

Workplaces ← Previous revision Revision as of 12:38, 25 November 2009 Line 44: Line 44: [[Academic library]]: Libraries that serve a post-secondary institution. Depending upon the institution, the library may serve a particular faculty or the entire institution. Many different types, sizes, and collections are found in academic libraries and some academic librarians are specialists in these collections and archives. A [[Academic library|university librarian]], or chief librarian, is responsible for the library within the college structure, and may also be called the [[academic administration|Dean of Libraries]]. Some post-secondary institutions treat librarians as faculty, and they may be called professor or other academic ranks. Some universities make similar demands of academic librarians for research and professional service as are required of faculty. Academic librarians administer various levels of service and privilege to faculty, students, alumni and the public. [[Academic library]]: Libraries that serve a post-secondary institution. Depending upon the institution, the library may serve a particular faculty or the entire institution. Many different types, sizes, and collections are found in academic libraries and some academic librarians are specialists in these collections and archives. A [[Academic library|university librarian]], or chief librarian, is responsible for the library within the college structure, and may also be called the [[academic administration|Dean of Libraries]]. Some post-secondary institutions treat librarians as faculty, and they may be called professor or other academic ranks. Some universities make similar demands of academic librarians for research and professional service as are required of faculty. Academic librarians administer various levels of service and privilege to faculty, students, alumni and the public. ...

Association for strategic knowledge professionals: why i will be voting "yes" to the sla name change

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

I have remained fairly quiet about the proposed name change for the Special Libraries Association until now because I have been giving it some good thought, and watching the various conversations unfold. Change is not always easy, and it has amazed me how seriously people take the names and labels we apply to ourselves. This is why I will be voting "Yes" to the name change. Take from it what you will:I have always found "Special Libraries Association" to be problematic. The term "special library" is not clear, and people outside librarianship do not understand what it means. I always say "specialized library" to clarify, and still that is not completely accurate. Aren't all libraries specialized in some way? I also object to it being "libraries" instead of "librarians" because it is not our libraries that are members. And even so, SLA includes more than librarians, so that would not be accurate as well. And ever since the Symbionese Liberation Army, the abbreviation SLA has had negative connotations in my book. At any rate, I have been waiting a long time for the opportunity to move on to another name.We all can come up with a name that we prefer for the Association, but the truth is everyone else will think his/her own idea is better. We are never going to come up with a perfect name that everyone adores. SLA is just too big an association for that, and our many members are just too diverse to all completely agree. This is not a bad thing in my books--the diversity is what helps us to see things from other perspectives and makes us strong as an organization, and helps feed me as a member.In today's world, one cannot just make up a name and go with it. There has to be availability as far as business name, trademark and domain name. And it has to work on a global level, not just in the U.S. ...

A special event in cambridge, ma: the library is dead. long live the library! the rebirth of libraries in the 21st century

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:20:17 +0100

From time to time we’ll post info about a special event on ResourceShelf and this is one of those times. This sounds like one interesting day of presentations and discussion. We’re working to find out if the the event will be webcast live and/or available as an archived event online. On Tuesday, December 08, 2009, NEASIS&T (New England Chapter of the American Society for Information Science) is sponsoring and all day program (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (ET)) about libraries in the 21st Century. The event will take place at the MIT Media Lab – Bartos Theater in Cambridge, MA. From a Blog Post: Library closures, slashed budgets, user apathy – everything’s online, right? It’s a story many of us have heard too often or experienced ourselves, especially with the recent downturn in the economy. But many libraries are re-inventing themselves, offering new services and transforming into very different entities while still at heart performing the same role they always have – helping communities connect with information. Come to this NEASIS&T program to hear: + How changes in publishing are driving changes in libraries. How can we radically change an ancient institution that evolved from providing shared print copies into one that effectively provides online content (that we often don’t even own). It’s time to get past the kludges in our processes and organizational structures and embrace our future. + What it takes to be a librarian these days. What skills and interests are necessary? In 10 years will we be librarians or technologists? + Success stories from libraries that have radically changed their roles and services. + How to design your library around user expectations and keep your organization relevant. ...

Special libraries association (sla): alignment & name change research: who was surveyed and how

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:49:56 +0100

In a new post on the SLA Blog, SLA member and Alignment Ambassador, Jill Strand, provides a number of stats and facts about who was surveyed and by what method, during the alignment process. The blog post opens with this paragraph: Would you do your job without trying to understand the views of your clients, students, faculty, engineers, patrons or information end-users? Of course not and neither would SLA. In trying to learn how best to position information professionals, the Association and the profession, SLA sought to understand the needs and perceptions of both info pros (us) and our clients / patrons. Sections of the post include: + What the Alignment Project Set out to Learn + Key Finding: Corporate executives acknowledge the value and importance of good information. + Phase I – Define (Reviewing Existing Literature) + An International Online Survey Designed by Outsell and Fleishman-Hillard in collaboration with SLA Statistics are given about the make-up of those who answered the survey + Phase II – Translate: This included international language analysis and international dial testing + You’ll also see the geography and function of the people participating in testing sessions and study groups. Finally, you’ll read the perspective of a person in academia, David Shumaker from Catholic University in Washington, DC. Source: SLA Blog (Source: ResourceShelf)

Special collections librarian | etr associates

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:32:00 +0100

US - CA - Scotts Valley, Required qualifications include a Masters degree in Library and/or Information Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association (by the end of Summer semester 2009). Ideal candida (Source: SLA Career Center Search Results [])

Event: good im uses the evidence: implementing evidence-based practice

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Good IM Uses the Evidence: Implementing Evidence-Based PracticeThursday, November 26, 2009, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pmOttawa Public Library Auditorium (120 Metcalfe)Are your daily decisions justifiable and based on real evidence?Evidence-based practice (EBP) seeks to use the best available research evidence to inform everyday practices in information management.This workshop introduces participants to:the process of applying EBP in your organization;the free and not-so-free resources available; andthe steps you can follow to determine what the best evidence is.A hands-on component of the workshop will focus on skills needed for critical appraisal.Speakers:Virginia Wilson is Coordinator of the Saskatchewan Health Information Resources Partnership.Laura Newton Miller is a Science and Engineering Librarian at Carleton University.**********************************When: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pmWhere: Ottawa Public Library Auditorium (120 Metcalfe)Cost:CLA Members - $35CLA Student Members - $10Non-Members - $45Student Non-Members - $15Personal Members of Other IM Associations (ARMA, LANCR, OALT, SLA, etc) - $40Light refreshments will be served.Register at http://tinyurl.com/cla-ebligPayment by cash or cheque will be taken at the door. We are unable to accept debit or credit cards. Invoices can be arranged in advance of the event by emailing caslis.govlib@gmail.com.(This workshop is presented by the CLA-CASLIS Government Section in partnership with the CLA Evidence Based Librarianship Interest Group.)For more information, please contact caslis.govlib@gmail.com (Source: Special Info)

Library news & notes 11/6/09

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:55:17 +0100

Rowland Institute at Harvard Library News & Notes November 6, 2009 Quote of the Week ““The question once was, ‘What can a library be?’ Today the question is, ‘What can a library do?’ Formerly it was a question of resources, of number of books, of wealth, of material. Now, it is rather a question of effectiveness, of vitality, of influence in the community.” —Springfield (Mass.) Public Library Director John Cotton Dana, 1898, in Chalmers Hadley, John Cotton Dana: A Sketch (Chicago: ALA, 1943), pp. 40–41. (Source: Judith Seiss) Also – from Highwire Press publishing symposium in DC (10/28/09 – OK, it’s last week): Question about open access rep at Harv – from publisher “Do the faculty like the policy that their bad version is published in Dash?” (Source: Bill Mayer) Also – A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere-Groucho Marx (Source: CliftonWiens) Internet Sites of the Week Books/eBooks Dream of a Universal Bookstore E-Readers May Not Solve Publisher Woes Yet E-readers: To be open or not to be open — that is the question (Source: Open Access Tracking Project) The Future of Reading (Source: beSpacific) Getting the best read on your smartphone (Source: Library Web) Harvard Square book stand back, despite lack of permit Kindle for the Academic Computers and Internet Bend Your Browser: Customize Firefox 3. ...

Re: call for papers: computer-mediated communicationacross cultures: international interactions in online environments

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Hello, I am a library and information science graduate student, and I'm interested in contributing to the paper... somehow. Here's an October 28th snippet of my email to Gloria Zamora, President of Special Libraries Association (SLA): Isn't it interesting that the word "die" has an English meaning equivalent to death, but the German "die" is pronounced differently and it means "the"; and the way English people pronounce "die" is similar to the Filipino way of saying "day", short for "inday", which means "[young] girl." And there's also "dye" as in "color dye." Sincerely, Christy Nini 310.308.1365 Independent Contractor Research| Writing| Sales | Education (Source: gmane.education.web4lib)

Report from sirsidynix on open source ils platforms leaked… oops

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:20:18 +0100

Stephen Abram has lived a bit of a charmed life. He’s somehow managed to be the Vendor That Everyone Kind Of Thinks Has Our Best Interests At Heart Even If He Is A Vendor. Meanwhile, he’s also headed up the Special Library Association. Meanwhile, he’s also been a sought-after voice in the library community. And did I mention he’s done all this while being a vendor? No small feat. There’ve been some bumps along the way, to be sure (I’m lookin’ at you, SLA realignment name change drama), but for the most part he’s managed to keep people from looking too closely at his vendor status. And then he authored a report on open source ILS platforms. From WikiLeaks: This document was released only to a select number of existing customers of the company SirsiDynix, a proprietary library automation software vendor. According to our source it has not been released more broadly specifically because of the misinformation about open source software and possible libel per se against certain competitors contained therein. SirsiDynix is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with one of the largest public libraries in the U.S. (Queens Borough, NY) and this document does illustrate the less-than-ethical nature of this company. The source states that the document should be leaked so that everyone can see to what extent SirsiDynix will attempt to spread falsehoods and smear open source and the proponents of open source. I’m sure that others far better versed in these matters will write cogent and thoughtful responses to the document itself. I know of an effort underway to mark up the report and respond with some actual research to back up the counter-claims. With all of this serious thinking going on, I think I’ll just play court jester and point out my four favorite bits of the report. ...

Christmas is coming...

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:02:05 +0100

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas? No, I'm sure lots of planning and preparation is well underway in many schools - you might not have bought all your library Christmas cards yet. So why not help support the work of IBBY UK by purchasing a special Christmas card? The cards feature one of Michael Foreman's superb illustrations from "Michael Foreman's Christmas Treasury" (Pavilion), which he has kindly donated. Look at the IBBY website for more details. (Source: SLA Weblog)

An in-depth look at the proposed sla name change

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:31:45 +0100

Cindy Shamel Writes: Last week, Special Libraries Association (SLA) leadership announced that members will soon vote on a new name. After 100 years as SLA, research now shows that this name does not convey the value that librarians and information professionals bring to their organizations. The proposed name, Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals, has unanimous support of the board. Members, however, give it mixed reviews. [Snip] Speaking to SLA’s Texas Chapter, board member Tom Rink stated that the goal of a name change is to “get a name that resonates with everybody, but especially with those who make hiring and firing decisions.” Criteria used to narrow the list included eliminating names used by or too close to other organizations, those containing unpopular or confusing terms, input from attorney due diligence, direct member input and postconference discussions, and a preference for short names with strong acronyms. Names tested were Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals (ASKPro), The Knowledge Society, and Knowledge and Information International Association, with results pointing to Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals. The SLA board announced the proposed name to the members on Oct. 14 following a unanimous vote on Oct. 8. SLA registered the domain name ASKPro.net that same day. Much More Including Reaction to the ASKPro Name in the Complete Article Source: Info Today NewsBreaks (Source: ResourceShelf)

Guest post - what's in a (sla) name?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0100

This is a guest post written by two librarians at the U of Calgary about the proposed name change for the Special Libraries Association. In November the membership will be voting whether to change the name of their organization to ASKPro (Association of Strategic Knowledge Professionals). I have no stake in the matter, but Justine Wheeler and John Wright are heavily invested as the Directory of the Business Library and the Head of the Military Museums Library here at the UofC. Justine writes:I’ve been reading the discussion about the SLA proposed name change with great interest. I must admit when I first heard Association of Strategic Knowledge Professionals (ASKPro), I was hesitant. My main reservation being that the moniker “librarian” is a strong, identifiable brand that is working quite well in academic special libraries – at least in my opinion. Nonetheless, the profession is moving and *needs* to move to a more inclusive understanding of knowledge work.I thought I’d ask a student assistant in our library what she thought of the name. She thought it sounded “haughty”. Hmmm. Are we trying to put on ‘airs’ or over value ourselves, or is this yet another perfect example of how we and others devalue and misunderstand our work?As I’ve been mulling this over, I keep coming back to an experience I had at the beginning of the semester. I was asked to present at a PhD orientation. I was given a short amount of time to discuss the library services and resources available to help PhDs conduct their research. When the Associate Dean Research introduced me she said something pretty close to: “the people at the Business Library are so great, we think of them as colleagues not librarians”. Hmmm. At the end of the session one of the PhD students asked me: “what is your background, you seem to know so much about business”? Hmmm again. I had after all been speaking on the topic of business research not business theory. ...