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Congratulations to the 2013 Louise Leckner Memorial Travel Stipend Recipients!

Since 2009, IOP Publishing, a generous and long-time supporter of libraries and librarians, has provided funding for new PAM librarians with four $1,000 stipends to help defray the costs of traveling to the SLA Annual Conference. This year, the PAM Travel Stipends were renamed the Louise Leckner Memorial Travel Stipends to memorialize our dear friend and colleague because Louise was so proud to be a part of this program which both supports new librarians and deepens the relationships between those librarians and the PAM Division.

For 2013, IOP Publishing doubled the stipend value to $2,000 apiece for the recipients who will be attending the 2013 SLA Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. Qualifying applicants had to be recent graduates of a library science graduate program, in their first three years of professional librarianship, employed by a physical sciences library or as a subject specialist for one or more of the PAM disciplines, and first-time attendees of the SLA Annual Conference as a professional librarian or first-time attendees in a PAM discipline.

We would like to thank all of the new librarians who applied for this stipend. We appreciate the time and effort you put into your application letters and we look forward to welcoming you into the PAM Division. 

Here are the 2013 Louise Leckner Memorial Travel Stipend Recipients:

 

Melissa Cheung is the Science and Engineering Librarian at the University of Ottawa. She received her MIS from the School of Information Studies at the University of Ottawa in 2011. Melissa holds a BS in Biology (Carleton University) and worked for two years as a research laboratory technician at the Ontario Cancer Institute.

 

 

Manuel de la Cruz Gutiérrez is the Science and Technology Librarian at the University of Houston Libraries. He received his MLS from the Texas Woman's University in 2011. His educational background include a B.S. in Physics (U. de Guadalajara), a Ph.D. in Optics (U. of Rochester), and postdoctoral training in neuroimaging (Baylor College of Medicine; U. of Houston).

 

 

Kathleen Gregory is the Interim Science & Engineering Librarian at the University of Denver. She received her MLIS from Drexel University in 2010. She holds a BS in Neuroscience (Regis University) and a MA in Instruction and Curriculum (University of Colorado). Prior to entering the academic arena, she worked at a military library in Stuttgart, Germany, and taught high school chemistry in Denver, Colorado.

 

Shirley Zhao is the Physical Sciences Librarian at Kresge Physical Sciences Library of Dartmouth College. She is a core member of the Education & Outreach program and is the Physics and Astronomy liaison. She received her MSLIS from LIU’s Palmer School in 2011. She holds a BA in Mathematics (Smith College) and a MS in Mathematics (NYU’s Courant Institute).

 

If you have the opportunity, please introduce yourself to Melissa, Manuel, Kathleen, and Shirley at the SLA conference in June.  Help them feel at home in our division, which as we all know is a very special part of SLA.

The PAM Division is deeply grateful to IOP Publishing for their continued involvement with and support of librarians at the SLA conference, and most especially for their generous commitment to the professional development of new science librarians. 

Three cheers for IOP Publishing!

Selection Committee Members:
Sharice Collins, Vice President, Marketing, IOP Publishing, Inc.
Stella Ota, PAM Chair
Margaret Lam, PAM Professional Development Chair
Kathleen Lehman, PAM Mentoring Sub-Committee Chair

Conference Registration, Membership Renewal Solutions

SLA 2013 Conference registration is now fully functional. The Early Bird Registration Deadline has been extended to April 19th. Hope to see you in San Diego on June 9th!

SLA launched a new Website to better serve the needs of our members and the information profession. This site is linked to several of our operating systems, including our member database, conference registration systems, and professional education software.

Unfortunately, the process of migrating these systems to new servers has caused disruptions to our membership  systems.

While we are urgently working with our hosting partners to restore full functionality, please use this interim solution to  join/renew your SLA membership.

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR SLA MEMBERSHIP

1. New members can go to www.sla.org and click the join button to join online.

2. Renewal / Current members can renew by phone (1-703-647-4900) or fax your renewal statement with payment to 1-703-647-4901.

3. Changes to your membership (e.g. adding or deleting units, changes to member type, or any other changes) call 1-703-647-4900 or e-mail membership@sla.org.

For any assistance with your membership, call 1-703-647-4900 or e-mail membership@sla.org

We appreciate your patience as we work to ensure that you receive the level of service you expect from SLA. We will let you know when SLA.org and our operating systems are fully restored.

 

What Would You Tell Your Past MLIS-Student Self? #SLAtalk Roundup!

Thanks to the many participants we had in our second installment of #SLAtalk! We were thrilled to see new twitter handles and current MLIS grad students.

Below are highlight-answers for each of the 4 questions. For a full listing, check out the TAGS archive set up by Emma Davidson or use browse through the tweets in the order they were shared.

1. What subjects or skills do you wish you were taught or exposed to in library school?
 

Q1: Definitely more finance and accounting, as it specifically relates to a library environment. #SLAtalk

— Library Sherpa (@LibrarySherpa) April 9, 2013

Q1: What subjects or skills do you wish you were taught or exposed to in library school?Coding. #slatalk

— Megan Wiseman (@LibraryatLaw) April 9, 2013

Training in instruction and teaching - reference touched on it some, but not much. — Caryn Wesner-Early (@CarynSWE) April 9, 2013

Q1 - More stuff about project management and usability. Especially in a more universal, less OMG PROGRAMMING kind of way. #slatalk

— Kendra K. Levine (@tranlib) April 9, 2013

I wish I had learned more about budgeting, electronic resource management, licenses and contract signing. Grant-writing, also. — Stephanie L. Gross (@NYLibrarians) April 9, 2013

Q1: Wish I had been exposed to more marketing, business, and competitive intelligence skills #slatalk

— Kim Schultz (@klyall) April 9, 2013

I wish my MLS program had devoted more time to the necessity of networking within and without your field #SLAtalk

— Bob Kosovsky (@kos2) April 9, 2013

I wish I had learned more about analyzing information, information visualization, and more coding and programming skills— Megan Rush (@inforush) April 9, 2013

2. What was your favorite class or project in LIS school? How have you applied what you learned to your career?

Best LIS project: Give 30 hours of help to sm biz or nonprofit to get info they needed. 1st experience w "client", now I have many! #slatalk

— Brandy King (@KnowldgeLinking) April 9, 2013

Q2 torn between historical bibliography & manuscript studies - not used either of them for real (yet...!) but I loved doing them — Emma Davidson (@el399) April 9, 2013

Fav class was Library Management (which I thought I'd hate); opened the world and I've been a fan of mgmt ideas ever since — Bob Kosovsky (@kos2) April 9, 2013

I quite liked the modules covering management, budgets & policies, but the thing I enjoyed most was my dissertation — Sarah Wolfenden (@SarahWolfenden) April 9, 2013

Info Eval class- usability testing project. Served me later when I needed to customize an ILS for a special user group.— Laura Pike-Seeley (@LauraPikeSeeley) April 9, 2013

gov docs--one of most eye-opening classes. Serves as a constant reminder that so much info is available if we avail ourselves. — ORSLA (@ORSLA) April 9, 2013

Best class was definitely Social Informatics. Really made the point that systems are for people and we can't ignore that.— Kendra K. Levine (@tranlib) April 9, 2013

Government Information was one of the most useful courses. Have used it in all my jobs so far.— Tara Murray (@diylibrarian) April 9, 2013

Best LIS project: Designing db to track ref question metrics, resources used, etc. Good basics for doing similar project in ZenDesk — Jill Strand (@jillinfopro) April 9, 2013

Ref. Interviewing- Knowing that when asked,” Do you have the NY Times?” the user really wants to know “Who’s the CEO of IBM?” — Stanford Friedman (@StanfordF) April 9, 2013

 

3. What formal supplemental education, if any, did you pursue after library school?
 

You can start with these: 17 Free Live Webinars for Librarians in April lnkd.in/AXbfi8 — Tom Rink (@coplibrarian) April 9, 2013

One of the best prof dev activities for me is the conferences etc. that my users attend. Hear what questions they ask each other — Tara Murray (@diylibrarian) April 9, 2013

Going for my CAS in Data Science at @ischoolsu in the fall. Other than that, buckets of CEs — Elaine (@ElaineLibrarian) April 9, 2013

Mostly have taken vendor and tech courses: drupal, InMagic, ESRI ArcGIS. Aside from that, constant conferences, webinars, etc — Ischool Research (@IschoolResearch) April 9, 2013

Lots of asking questions of my users. Buying them coffee and asking, "What's the deal!" "I'm here to help!" — Kendra K. Levine (@tranlib) April 9, 2013

I am working on an MBA. Changing the way I approach issues, and also the way I can position my role. Already seeing value. — Colleen Shannon (@CollShannon) April 9, 2013

I did a formal course about e-learning - combination of face-to-face teaching and online work. Very useful. — Clare Aitken (@LibClare) April 9, 2013

Information Ethics at Pitt. Can't tell you how often that comes into play in today's electronic world — Amy Watson (@librarianamy) April 9, 2013

After MA,I did a chartered management institute course in line management & a Teaching in Lifelong Sector course.Each 10months — Sarah Wolfenden (@SarahWolfenden) April 9, 2013 

4. What recommendations would you give a library school student?

The future is important, but students need to know library past in order to put it all into context to be successful, IMO. — Library Sherpa (@LibrarySherpa) April 9, 2013

Become active in professional associations and NOT just the student chapters. Working in a library even as a volunteer also.— Elaine (@ElaineLibrarian) April 9, 2013

I tell students to JOIN SLA w student discount! Meet so many great people and u learn about job types u wouldnt even imagine! #slatalk

— Brandy King (@KnowldgeLinking) April 9, 2013

Apply for any job that interests you. DO NOT rule yourself out (that's HR's job). — Joan Thomas (@msjoanthomas) April 9, 2013

Remain engaged on/offline. PDCE is critical. But balance life & work. Work on self-confidence & leadership via prof orgs e.g SLA.— @NYLibrarians April 9, 2013

Get a job in a library function. Stop thinking about books. Don't freak out. HAVE FUN.— Kendra K. Levine (@tranlib) April 9, 2013

Get as much work experience as you can. Also second everyone saying be open-minded about your career path. — Linsey Chrisman (@spoontragedy) April 9, 2013

I tell students to JOIN SLA w student discount! Meet so many great people and u learn about job types u wouldnt even imagine! — Brandy King (@KnowldgeLinking) April 9, 2013

Join SLA. Go to local meetings. Work registration table. Meet everyone. Visit them. Follow up. Repeat. — Lorene Kennard (@WalnutResearch) April 9, 2013

Network and get to know people. Socialize with your MLIS peers. Be a sponge and absorb info from the established librarians. — Library Sherpa (@LibrarySherpa) April 9, 2013

Learn about data -- how to organize, analyze, and disseminate: useful in any field. — Brandy Zadrozny (@BrandyZadrozny) April 9, 2013

SLA Signs onto Letter Regarding Federal Employee Travel

On March 18, 2013, the American Association of Association Executives (ASAE) and 350 signatories, including the Special Libraries Association, sent a letter to every U.S. Senate office expressing opposition to Senate Amendment #67, the Coburn Amendment. The Colburn Amendment would arbitrarily restrict the number of government employees who can attend any meeting or conference to 25.

On March 20, the Continuing Resolution passed the Senate by a 73-26 vote, but did not include Coburn amendment #67 limiting federal employee attendance at meetings.

Read Letter

 

Only 2 Weeks Left Until the Early Bird Deadline!

The early bird deadline for SLA 2013 is Friday, 12 April. Don't miss this opportunity to save on conference registration costs!

Need to share information with your boss about the conference? The "Dear Boss" letter will help you explain the importance of this education and networking event.

Conference Highlights:

Register for SLA continuing education courses and you will add more value to your organization!

Keynote speaker Mike Walsh is sure to be inspiring and thought-provoking!

The INFO-EXPO will be packed with industry leading companies!

Connect, Collaborate, and Strategize at SLA 2013!  Register today!

SLA Expresses Concern over CISPA

On March 11, 2013, several organizations, including SLA, wrote a letter to the U.S. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence expressing concerns with Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). As drafted, CISPA constitutes a wholesale attack on public access to information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

In the interest of encouraging private companies to share cybersecurity threat information, the bill unwisely and unnecessarily cuts off all public access to cyber threat information before the public and Congress have the chance to understand the types of information that are withheld under the bill.

Read Letter.

SLA Launching New Website

SLA is in the process of switching over to its newly redesigned Website. The new Website has a simpler and cleaner design, task-based terminology, and easy-to-find links to favorite tools.

During the next several days, users may experience some periodic access interruptions. We appreciate your patience during the transition, and anticipate that the new Website will be up and running by early next week.

Please send an email to sla@sla.org with any questions, or call us at 703-647-4900 if you require immediate assistance.

 

#SLAtalk: What would you tell your past MLIS-student self?

Our second #SLAtalk will take place on Tuesday, April 9^th, and will seek participation from new and veteran information professionals, as well as current students at graduate schools of library and information science.

When:

2 choices on Tuesday, April 9th:
Session #1 at 18:30 GMT (1:30 pm Eastern / 10:30 am Pacific)
Session #2 at 00:00 GMT (7:00 pm Eastern / 4:00 pm Pacific)

Questions to Answer:

1. What subjects or skills do you wish you were taught or exposed to in library school?
       -Session #1: 18:30 – 18:45 GMT
       -Session #2: 00:00 – 00:15 GMT
2. What was your favorite class or project in LIS school? How have you applied what you learned to your career?
       -Session #1: 18:45 – 19:00 GMT
       -Session #2: 00:15 – 00:30 GMT
3. What formal supplemental education, if any, did you pursue after library school?
       -Session #1: 19:00 – 19:15 GMT
       -Session #2: 00:30 – 00:45 GMT 
4. What recommendations would you give a library school student?
       -Session #1: 19:15 – 19:30 GMT
       -Session #2: 00:45 – 01:00 GMT  

In the Spirit of Organization:

By splitting the questions into 15-minute intervals we can keep the discussion organized and make it easier for participants to interact. We’ll help by tweeting the appropriate question from @SLAhq at the start of each interval, so take that as your queue to move on.

New to this?

Check out “How to #SLAtalk” for helpful tips, as well as the recap of the first installment to see example-tweets from several participants.

Prepare with some light reading:

“Preparing Future Professionals through Broad Competency Planning,” from the Jan/Feb ’12 issue of Information Outlook.

Not an SLA member? To access these articles, join SLA, or contact us to receive temporary access.

Following the session:

Check back into this SLA Blog post after the #SLAtalk, where we’ll post some of the best ideas that you all have tweeted. Notice your tweet being favorited from @SLAhq? Your handle and tweet will be posted here!

Highlights of San Diego Tour

Headed to San Diego for SLA 2013? Come and check out the San Diego sites on a guided bus tour so you can get the lay of the land before the conference kicks off on Sunday morning.

On Saturday, 8 June, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., tour attendees will have a chance to see city sites such as the exciting Gaslamp District, stunning Balboa Park, picturesque La Jolla, historic Old Town, world famous Coronado Island, unique Little Italy, the waterfront Embarcadero and more!

Aboard the motorcoach, the San Diego tour guide will display a photo of a notable building or landmark. The first attendee to spot the actual item from the photo will win a San Diego-inspired prize, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled!

The cost for this bus tour is $50.00, and tickets can be purchased through the online conference registration system.  Register for the conference and buy your tickets today!

If you’ve already registered, it’s easy to add this event to your registration record! Access the registration system and use the username and password that you created during registration to log in. Once you are logged in, scroll down to the purchased items section and select "purchase registration items." You will be taken to a page where ticketed items are organized by day. Click on the “+” next to a day to expand the ticketed event list and make your selections. You can then proceed to checkout.

Special thanks to Wiley-Blackwell for sponsoring the tour!

See you in San Diego!

Contributed Papers: A Showcase of Results

Are you interested in research and scholarship? Are you wondering what other SLA members have done in these areas, and how you might do it, too? Come to the Contributed Papers sessions at SLA 2013!

Each year, a set of Contributed Papers are chosen through a competitive selection process to be presented by SLA members at the annual conference. A few of the papers are presented each day of the conference, offering multiple opportunities to hear directly from your peers about experiences they’ve had, research they’ve conducted, and best practices they’ve developed.

Here are this year's times, topics and presenters:

Metrics, Ranking, and Discovery
Sunday, 9 June, 1:30-3:00 pm

• Linda Galloway and Anne Rauh, "Social Media and Citation Metrics"
• John Coll, "Outgoogling Google: Connecting Your Users to Content through a Single Search"
• Margaret Carroll, "Determining Value: Using Rank to Identify Library Characteristics that Contribute to the Bottom Line"
• Giovanna Badia, "Comparing the Indexing of Cited Journals to Identify the Premier Database for a Specific Discipline"

Mobile, Remote, and Distributed Information
Monday, 10 June, 4:00-5:30 pm

• William Cook, "Peeking Over Cubicles: An Ethnographic Approach to Knowledge Management"
• Louisa Verma, "Using Mobile Technologies to Connect Face-to-Face"
• Helen Poot and Bill Patterson, "There's an Elephant in the Room, but Your Staff Isn't: Connecting and Collaborating with Your Offshore Team"
• Hildy Dworkin, "After the Storm: Establishing Library and Information Services from a Temporary Location"

University Faculty Issues and Knowledge Management
Tuesday, 11 June, 2:00-3:30pm

• Merle Rosenzweig and Bethany Harris, "Supporting National Institutes of Health Grantees through a Collaboration between the University of Michigan Taubman Health Sciences Library, the University of Michigan Medical School Office of Research, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects"
• Cindy Elliott, Jim Martin, Mary Feeney, and Ricardo Andrade, "A New Approach to Needs Assessment and Communication to Connect and Collaborate with Faculty"
• Robin Dasler, "Beyond the Repository: Rethinking Data Services at the University of Maryland"
• Cindy Romaine, "Modern Tools Solve Ancient Riddle"

I hope you'll add these sessions to your schedule and come see what your peers have been up to!

Ruth Kneale
Chair, Contributed Papers

Connect, Collaborate and Strategize for Your Best SLA Annual Conference

The theme of SLA 2013 is Connect, Collaborate, Strategize. Use that directive as your roadmap when you arrive in San Diego!

Connect with--

• colleagues with whom you can share your challenges and successes

• your favorite publishers, digital content providers, data warehouse companies, and library automation companies, as well as newly-discovered ones, in the INFO-EXPO

• your inner geek, some hardcore technologies, and a widget or two

• library ninjas, experts offering career advice, authors of contributed papers, and many more speakers who can help you demonstrate your value to management and clients

• fellow attendees at the fabulous parties and receptions

Collaborate with--

• colleagues at Division meetings to help move your Division toward the future

• attendees in CE courses that explore copyright, sales calls, taxonomies, social media, CI and many other topics

• SLA as you consider a volunteer role for a unit or the HQ board

• the many students and first-timers that attend conference so you can share your conference tips and continue to network with them after returning home from San Diego

Strategize about--

• the future of our Association by taking the time to share your opinions and dreams with an SLA Board member

• new ways to help your Division or Chapter bring top-notch programming to its members

• how you can best be a leader to the members of the Association

• what leadership training you need to help you succeed in your career

There are many opportunities at SLA 2013 to learn and network. Check out the online planner to design your conference experience.

See you there!

Sara Davis
2013 Annual Conference Advisory Council member
Engineering Division member

Deepen Your Knowledge of Copyright and KM in San Diego

SLA is offering courses from both its Copyright and Knowledge Management/Knowledge Services certificate programs in San Diego in June. It's a perfect opportunity to get hands-on, in-depth education on topics of utmost importance to modern organizations.

CCM700 Teaching Others About Copyright and Licensing (Friday, June 7; $395/$495) covers the critical aspects of instituting enterprise-wide copyright education, including developing a copyright policy and explaining difficult legal concepts in plain language. Instructor: Lesley Ellen Harris of Copyrightlaws.com

CCM600 Copyright Compliance and Management (Saturday, June 8; $395/$495) provides pointers for avoiding copyright infringement lawsuits, negotiating and working with license agreements, and dealing with unlocatable copyright owners. Instructor: Lesley Ellen Harris of Copyrightlaws.com

KMKS102 The Knowledge Audit: Evaluating Intellectual Capital Use (Friday, June 7; $495/$595) is an exploration of using the needs analysis and information audit data to evaluate an organization's knowledge assets. Instructors: Dale Stanley, Gilead Sciences; Robin Jourdan, Ford Motor Company; Guy St. Clair, Columbia University

KMKS101 Fundamentals of Knowledge Management and Knowledge Services (Saturday, June 8; $495/$595) links KM theory with knowledge services, which encourages informed decision-making, accelerated innovation, and leadership support for efforts related to maximizing KM/KS efforts. Instructors: Guy St. Clair, Columbia University; Dale Stanley, Gilead Sciences

Each course takes place over a full day, which allows for meaningful discussion, learning exercises, and networking.  These courses are part of Click University's certificate programs, but may be taken à la carte.

Contact Click University for more information.

SLA 2013: Make Your Boss Look Good

Some of the best reasons to attend SLA 2013 in San Diego have nothing to do with you and everything to do with your boss.

Yes, you read that correctly--attending SLA 2013 is about making your boss look good. At least, that's what you want him or her to think.

If you're like a lot of information professionals, you need to get management approval to attend a conference. And if you can only attend one conference this year, SLA 2013 is it. So you want to be sure you make a strong argument to be in San Diego this June.

From your standpoint, that's an easy case to make. SLA 2013 will offer dozens of educational sessions and networking events, an exhibit hall packed with vendors showcasing new products and services, and an environment that lends itself to sharing ideas, making new connections, and brainstorming new strategies for success.

But getting management approval to attend SLA 2013 isn't about what the conference will do for you--it's about what it will do for your boss (and, by extension, your organization). Things like helping him or her make better decisions, convert information to intelligence, and gain an edge in the market. These are the kinds of conference benefits that will resonate with management; your challenge is to communicate them.

SLA is making it simple for you to do just that. Go to the SLA 2013 Website and download the Employer Approval Letter and the Conference Preview. Together, these materials make a persuasive case for giving you the green light to travel to San Diego in June.

Of course, getting approval to go is only half the battle--the other half is convincing your boss that the conference was worth the investment. SLA is helping you with that as well. At SLA 2013, you'll receive a publication in your tote bag filled with advice about how to make the most of your conference experience, both while you're in San Diego and after you return to your workplace.

So don't delay--start helping your boss make the smartest decision he or she will make this year. See you in San Diego!

 

Enhance Your SLA 2013 Conference with Social Networking

A few simple and fun activities can go a long way to make your conference experience more interactive, educational, and memorable to you. Here are a few recommendations from SLA staff:

1. Follow the handle, use the hashtag
   When at the conference, either follow or tune in via your Twitter app to @SLA2013. Because the handle is programmed to retweet everything with #SLA2013, this is a great way to hear what people are saying about certain sessions, capture key takeaways & quotes from sessions you can't be in, and hear when something you don't want to miss is just beginning (read: IT Dance Party). 
   
   And when tweeting, tag your tweets with #SLA2013. This is a great way to connect with your fellow attendees (watch your followers count increase after your first tweet at the conference), develop your professional network, and meet people you will continue to converse with after the conference.
2. Get your tips, starting now
   SLA members Tracy Z. Maleeff and Jill Hurst-Wahl have already tweeted a plethora of interesting, fun, and useful tips about San Diego. From everything to conference event info to hot tips on local dining, attractions, transportation (you name it), the @SLA2013tips account has it all. Follow the account today to make the most of your experience.
3. Build, then share, your online planner
   SLA staff recently blogged about using the online planner. Included in that post was filling out your personal schedule. Try logging in using your Facebook account to see which sessions your friends are interested in. Once you've fleshed out your schedule, share it via Facebook and Twitter so all of your social media contacts can see what you're interested in. Sessions with colleagues can be interactive, productive, and fun. 
4. Check out SLA's Fan Page for daily photo posts
   This year SLA is making room on its photographer's schedule to capture and post Facebook photos each day. Check out the Fan Page each evening and if you see yourself, tag yourself!
5. Look for the blog roundup after the show
   Like last year, we'll be scanning #SLA2013 for all the great conference takeaway blog posts that our    attendees publish, and posting them in a roundup here on the SLA Blog after the conference. Hearing key takeaways from others can inspire action-item ideas, give you ideas for new things to do next year, and contextualize some of the experiences you had at the show. 

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments.

Enhance Your San Diego Travel Experience

Be sure to check out the SLA San Diego Chapter’s hospitality wiki and @sla2013tips for helpful info as you plan your SLA 2013 trip.

The San Diego International Airport is conveniently located just three miles from the San Diego Convention Center. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can walk to your conference hotel! If you’d like an alternative to schlepping your bags a few miles down the road, not to worry! There are plenty of transportation alternatives outlined on the wiki.

Once you’ve mapped out how to get around, pop over to the local attractions section of the wiki to see what activities are available when you are in need of a break from the fluorescent lighting in the convention center. It will be hard to decide whether to soak in some vitamin D at one of the local beaches, parks, or at the renowned San Diego Zoo.

The wiki's restaurant guide lists a variety of dining options in the area. Additionally, you may want to sign up on one of these sites to begin receiving restaurant deals for the San Diego area:

Groupon San Diego
SD Reader City Deals  
U-T San Diego Deals 

Many of the restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter in particular have been known to run deals on these sites. FYI, convention center-area restaurants will have the zip code 92101 so keep an eye out for restaurants located there.

If you’re looking for even more information about visiting San Diego, the San Diego Convention and Visitor Bureau’s site is chock full of things to do and places to see. See you in San Diego!

Sunshine Week Event on March 15: Register Now

Sunshine Week 2013 will take place March 10th to 16th, throughout Washington, DC, and across the United States.

On Friday, March 15th, OpenTheGovernment.org and the First Amendment Center, with support from several organizations including SLA, will host a Sunshine Week celebration of National Freedom of Information Day at the Newseum in Washington, DC. Download the agenda HERE.

Registration is free. To Register: e-mail or telephone Ashlie Hampton of the First Amendment Center at ahampton@freedomforum.org or 202/292-6288. When registering, please provide your name, title, affiliation and contact information for agenda updates and other news.

 Read full details at OpenTheGovernment.Org  

#SLA2013: Tips for Using the Online Planner

Whether you’re registered for the SLA 2013 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO, or still thinking about attending, the Online Planner is a good way to take a look at the schedule of events for the conference.

Sorting

You can easily sort the planner to jump to exactly what you're interested in. Sort by event category, or by sessions presented by a specific chapter, division or sponsor.

For instance, if you are interested in what tours are available, simply click on Tours located in the right hand column. 

If you are interested in which sessions your chapter or division is hosting, hover over Presented by: located in the right hand column and select your unit.

To view session descriptions you can hover over any listing, or click the session title. 

Building Your Schedule

Creating your own schedule is a good way to organize your time at the conference. After logging in, add a session to your schedule by clicking the white star next to the session title. A black star indicates that this session is on your personal schedule. You can also click the button add to my schedule located at the bottom of each session description.

To view your schedule click the arrow next to your photo at the top right of the screen and click my sched. Your personalized schedule will appear and you're ready to share your SLA 2013 schedule with your colleagues!

Sharing and Exporting

With the online planner, you can connect your favorite social networking sites to see which sessions your friends, followers, and connections will be attending. You can also export your planner to Outlook, Google Calendar, and Apple iCal. Exporting provides you with offline access to your calendar, and allows you to add your own personal events and reminders.

When you're done building your personalized schedule, you can share your itinerary on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the icons located above the search bar, or e-mail it to other attendees. Be sure to add #SLA2013 to your tweet. It'll be retweeted by @SLA2013 so others can view your schedule to see what sessions they might be interested in!

Mobile Site

The online planner is also accessible on your iPhone, Droid, or Blackberry. Visit http://www.sla2013.sched.org/mobile from your device to add the mobile site to your home screen.

Thanks to our Sponsor

Be sure to thank Factiva for making the online planner and mobile site possible. They will be at booth #300 in the INFO-EXPO in San Diego.

Questions

Let me know if you have questions about using the planner at jgrady@sla.org. 

Using Google Images? Think about copyright permissions

From guest blogger Lesley Ellen Harris, copyright lawyer and editor of The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter.

Search engines such as Google have opened up a huge world of images to us. In fact, Google Images is the first stop for many of us looking for the perfect image on our blog, e-book or presentation slide. Once you find that image, what can you legally do with it? Can you copy and paste it, perhaps even adapt it for your own purposes? In other words, are Google images free for the taking and using?

Assume Google Images Are Protected by Copyright

Although some images found in search engines may be in the public domain, you should actually assume the opposite – that all online content is protected by copyright law. Even content from other countries may be protected by copyright law in your own country.

One way to instill this message in others you work with and want to educate about copyright law is to remind them that Google is a search engine. Search tools such as Google Images locate content such as images and photos. Google is not a content depository nor is it a collection of public domain or copyright-free works. Google directs us to images and photos according to our search criteria. Once you find that perfect image or photo, you must take certain steps before you may legally use it.

No ©, No Copyright?

Even if the located image does not have a copyright notice, the familiar © symbol, it may still be protected by copyright. As with any other content you use, you will need to conduct research to see whether the image or photograph is in fact protected by copyright law or whether it may be in the public domain. If protected by copyright, find out if there are any terms of use attached to the image or photograph. These terms may be stated right beside the image, or you may need to dig deeper into the site to look for copyright information and permissions. Once you find any terms of use or copyright information, read the information carefully to determine whether the illustrator or photographer allows you to use the image or photo for certain purposes without obtaining permission. Similarly, if there is a Creative Commons license attached to the image or photograph, read that license carefully – does it permit limited or unlimited use of that image without communicating with the copyright owner?

Bottom line: Never assume that online images are free for the taking. Do your research. When necessary, obtain permission before using the image or photo.

Learn More: More information about managing digital content and social media copyright issues will be shared in CCM400, an online course from SLA's Click University. CCM400 starts March 18. Register today! Questions? Contact Click University staff or Lesley Ellen Harris. Follow Lesley on Twitter.

Job Hunting and Career Growth Tips from #SLAtalk Participants

Thanks to everyone who participated in #SLAtalk: Job Hunting and Career Growth.

Below are some highlights from both sessions from March 5th, which encompass a great career resource.

For a full listing, and other interesting statistics, check out the TAGS archive set up by Emma Davidson. 

1) What’s a successful job hunting method that helped you land you your current job?

@LibrarySherpa: Networking, networking, networking. SLA has been a tremendous resource for me to accomplish this and get results.

@KatefromUK: 1. successful job hunting: let your prof network know you're looking for a job; they'll be great at identifying suitable jobs

@DigLiberry: A successful job hunting method that helped me land my last 2 jobs was using my alumni career center.

@LauraPikeSeeley: Casting a wide net and being open to nontraditional library jobs led me to my position as Brand Archivist for a fashion company.

@SLAhq: create e-portfolios: http://slidesha.re/UMk6YX  & http://bit.ly/XR15K9

 

@yankeeincanada: Keyword optimization on LinkedIn!

@LibrarySherpa: Don't be afraid to apply for a job in which you don't meet every requirement. You may have other skills they are looking for.

@infopioneerlib: NETWORK for hidden jobs. HR experts claim 80% of jobs are never advertised. Networking is a good reason to be an ACTIVE SLA member

2) What’s a profession-specific way you’ve prepared for an interview that worked for you?

@KnowldgeLinking: I prepare for interviews by reviewing SLA Core Competencies so I can speak eloquently abt skill areas http://bit.ly/XocHoe

@tiffanybrandlib: C.A.R works (Challenge, Action, Results) describe how you met a challenge at your previous job. Quantify results.

@WoodsieGirl: Research! Current employers were impressed I knew my way around their social media presence b4 I joined

@tranlib: Q2. Did my homework, looked at the posting and researched what similar orgs and similar positions did. Align with the mission.

@LibraryatLaw: Personal doesn't = unprofessional . . . Remember, if all goes well these people will be coworkers! Have hobbies, a life

@TRAKJulieA: be warm/engaging, w/out oversharing/getting too personal. Walk that line. Answer ?'s fully & completely w/out getting off topic

@kama_sue: I always try to make the person interviewing me say "I hadn't thought of that" - shows innovation, creative thinking.

@TRAKJulieA: plan out a 2-3 min walk through of your resume, covering experience, education & motivation, explaining any gaps or missteps

@KatefromUK: draw up list of likely questions based on job description & practice answers, drawing on examples of previous roles

@klyall: Leverage SLA experience in resume: program planning, fundraising, budgeting, and leadership skills are a major asset!

‏@TLWhippie: Knowing that I was going to be interviewed by non librarians, I practiced with people that didn't know library lingo.

 

3) What are key organizational traits you look for during an interview or online job search?

@tranlib: I want an org that encourages experimentation and discovery and that they value me as a person.

@henare: why is the incumbent leaving? another question where the delivery of the answer is as important as the content.

‏@pomponijada: open mindedness, eagerness to innovate, learn and apply new skills

@TRAKJulieA: Look for strong tenure in the company - if people tend to stick around, it says a lot.

@jokrausdu: I want to be in a place that encourages innovation, creativity, & the willingness to try new technologies

@ElaineLibrarian: I ask "how do you describe office culture here" when they ask if I have any questions. What they don't say is often telling.

 

@kate_thornhill: Management and leadership. if there isn't vision/mission/leadership the ship might sink or get real work cray cray

@CyberV: It's important to me that the people I interview w appear to get along & work cooperatively. Morale is crucial to job happiness.

 

4) How did you empower yourself to move ahead at your job? or what skills did you learn which led to your career growth?

@tranlib: Learned from my SLA peers how to talk like an infopro. Translated it to the needs of my org and WHAMO they value me

@library_zone: As our colleague @MaryEllenBates always suggests, challenge yourself! Learn something new-run a webinar, learn social media

@MMichelleMoore: I ask when I have a possible project or suggestion, the worst that can happen is I'm told "no"

@KnowldgeLinking: Early adopter of social media for my org. Changed my career into one of sharing info instead of only collecting/organizing. #slatalk

 

@kate_thornhill: take initiative and start personal projects to show value/worth/knowledge

@LibrarySherpa: At the risk of repeating myself, being active in SLA is what empowered me to excel in my job/career.

@SJLeeman: Ask your new coworkers for their opinions- and value them. If you're a new librarian, this will be helpful in many ways.

@kama_sue: Q4 For legal-specific libs: see if you can attend practice group mtgs, find out their needs, then you're poised to help

@LibWig: career growth doesnt seem right word as still new, but for prof development, SLA has done wonders - confidence with vendors etc

@klyall: I moved ahead by taking on an entirely new project (social media) outside of regular work...don't be afraid to try something new

@rbateswilfahrt: Volunteering as #rmsla chapter president gave me confidence to network and land my freelance side-gig

@el399: I got involved with every project & cross-departmental working opportunity that I could, fun as well as good for development

 

 

Free webinar on copyright

It's time for the Ask the Copyright Experts Spring Update.  Join us for this free member webinar on Thursday, March 21, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Presenters Adam Ayer of LicenseLogic, Fred Haber of the Copyright Clearance Center, Lesley Ellen Harris of Copyrightlaws.com, and Keith Kupferschmid of SIIA will bring you the latest copyright news and highlight what's on the horizon.

Register today!

Early Bird Rate at the 2013 Headquarters Hotel

The SLA 2013 headquarters hotel, the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, is offering an early bird rate of $219.00/night + tax for a limited number of rooms. Make your reservations early here! This rate will expire on March 31. To qualify for this rate, there is a non-refundable deposit of one night + tax.

Don’t miss out on all of the benefits of staying at the SLA 2013 headquarters hotel including:

• The prime location...it's adjacent to the section of the convention center that SLA will occupy
• Social events galore...all of the evening open houses and receptions will be held exclusively at the HQ hotel
• Informal networking opportunities...on the elevator, by the pool, and at the bar
• Proximity to San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter...for dining, shopping, and entertainment
• FREE WI-FI...Free wi-fi will be available to all SLA conference attendees who book their reservation at the Marriott Marquis through the SLA housing company

If you don’t want to commit to the non-refundable deposit for the Marriott Early Bird rate, you can still book your reservation at the Marriott Marquis at a rate of $239.00/night + tax. Beginning April 1, the early bird rate will no longer be available and all Marriott Marquis rooms will start at $239.00/night + tax.

Book your room today!

Contact Caroline Rives, events director, at crives@sla.org if you have any questions.

How to #SLAtalk

Since SLA's first twitter chat is taking place next week, it occured to us that this might be the first such activity for many of our members, too. Enjoy these 10 helpful tips from SLA member Emma Davidson.

The #SLAtalk twitter chats will bring together SLA members from across the globe. They’re a great way to connect with new people, to share information, and to benefit from different perspectives on common issues.

The best way to find out how they work is to tune in at the specified time and join the conversation, but we’ve put together the following set of pointers to help you make the most of the experience.

1. You can follow the chat through Twitter itself: just type #SLAtalk into the search box. However other software - such as tweetchat.com, HootSuite.com or TweetDeck.com - can make for a better experience, so it might be worth doing some investigation beforehand.

2. The most important thing to remember is to include the hashtag #SLAtalk in each of your tweets, as this will make them visible to all participants.

3. Once the talk starts it is helpful to send a tweet introducing yourself – no need to get too personal but it’s good to know who everyone is (especially if your twitter handle doesn’t include your name). This can also be a good time to raise any issues you’d like to add to the discussion, or relevant expertise you can share.

4. The discussion will be structured around pre-advertised questions, so please do try to keep to the topic. Include in your responses which question you’re addressing. Sample response, “1: setting job alerts on the SLA Career Center keeps me up-to-date on job openings in my industry. #SLAtalk”

5. Feel free to retweet any comments you particularly like or agree with.

6. If you’ve come across any articles or blog posts which might be interesting to other participants then please share the links.

7. Respond either to a particular individual comment or remark on the discussion topic – it’s your choice.

8. If you wish to play devil’s advocate to explore a certain angle of the topic that’s fine, but please keep it courteous.

9. If you’re uncertain about anything just say so – other participants will be happy to help.

10. Enjoy yourself! And if we’ve missed anything obvious from the above please let us know.

Renew your passport before SLA’s 2014 Conference in Vancouver!

Saturday, March 9, 2013 is Passport Day in the USA!

On March 9, U.S. citizens may apply for or renew their passport book or passport card at any one of the 25 passport agencies/centers that are open to the general public. No appointment needed!

Normally, U.S. citizens would have to make an appointment at passport agencies, but walk-ins will be welcomed on passport day.  Some other passport acceptance facilities such as post offices and libraries are also taking part in the event. 

Visit the U.S. State Department site for more information.

PAM Travel Stipends – UPDATE

On behalf of IOP Publishing, and with the support of the PAM Community and the SLA-PAM Professional Development Committee, I am honored to announce that we have renamed the PAM Travel Stipends the “Louise Leckner Memorial Travel Stipends.”

For 2013, IOP will be doubling the value to $2,000 apiece and the committee has agreed to extend the deadline for applications. The new deadline is Monday, March 11, 2013, and applicants will receive notification of award status by April 1, 2013.

We chose the Travel Stipends as a way to memorialize our dear friend and colleague because Louise was so proud to be a part of this program which both supports new librarians and deepens the relationships between those librarians and the PAM Division.

Those who have already applied for the travel awards do not need to resubmit their applications.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this program in the past, and we look forward to selecting the 2013 awardees and getting to know them at the SLA in June.

For reference, below you will find the latest listserv posting with the details of the application process.

*********************************************************
Sharice P. Collins
Vice President, Marketing
IOP Publishing, Inc.
150 South Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, PA 19106
ioppublishing.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PAM Travel Stipend for attending SLA conference

The SLA-PAM Professional Development Committee is pleased to announce that IOP Publishing is once again sponsoring four conference travel stipends to help new librarians with the expenses of attending the SLA Annual Conference. The stipends aim to accelerate the advancement of new librarians entering science/technology librarianship by mentoring them to access educational and professional opportunities within the SLA. This is the fifth year running that IOP Publishing and the PAM Division have proudly offered these travel stipends.The selected recipients will each receive a $1,000 stipend to assist in defraying the cost of attending the 2013 SLA conference in San Diego, CA in June 2013. Learn more about the IOP Travel Stipend Award today and nominate yourself, or someone you know.

 

Eligibility

- Applicants must be graduates of a library science program.

- Applicants must have less than 3 years of professional library information experience.

- Applicants must work in a library focusing on one or more of the PAM disciplines (physics, astronomy, mathematics, or computer science) or act as a library’s subject specialist for one or more of these disciplines.

- Applicants must be first-time attendees of the SLA annual conference, or first-time attendees in a PAM discipline.

- International applicants must be eligible to travel to the United States and must be available to participate in US-based PAM activities throughout the year.

The committee reserves the right not to grant any of the four awards if not enough applications meet all eligibility requirements and adhere to all the application procedures.

Only applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements at the time of application are submitted to the SLA-PAM review committee for travel stipend consideration.

 

Candidate Expectations

- Candidate must attend the SLA Annual Conference the year the award is given.

- Candidate must attend the PAM business meeting and breakfast.

- Candidate must be willing to attend PAM sessions and events at the Annual Conference and participate in a group photo session administered by SLA.

- Candidate must be available to participate in US-based PAM activities throughout the year.

 

Application Procedure

1. Prepare a brief letter (approximately 750 words), answering the questions:- How do you meet the criteria?

- What do you hope to gain from attending the 2013 SLA conference?

- How do you expect/hope to be involved with the PAM division in the short and long term?

2. Submit current curriculum vitae/resume.

Applications can be submitted via email to Margaret Lam at mlam3@gmu.edu (subject line should begin with PAM Travel Stipend). Applications will be accepted until March 11, 2013. Late applications cannot be considered.

 

Notification

Applicants will receive notification of award status by April 1, 2013. The award check will be presented at the PAM business meeting and breakfast.

No money transfer will be made in case the award recipient can’t attend the conference for any reason.

The PAM Division is deeply grateful to IOP Publishing for their continued involvement with and support of librarians at the SLA conference, and most especially for their generous commitment to the professional development of young science librarians.

 

Selection Committee Members:
Sharice Collins, Vice President, Marketing, IOP Publishing, Inc.
Stella Ota, PAM Chair
Margaret Lam, PAM Professional Development Chair
Kathleen Lehman, PAM Mentoring Sub-Committee Chair

Copyright and Digital Media

CCM400 Digital Content and Social Media Copyright Issues begins soon!

In CCM400, instructor Lesley Ellen Harris of Copyrightlaws.com explores copyright protection in digital versus traditional works, ownership of online and user-generated content, electronic rights, digital rights management, how to determine copyright protection, copyright considerations for digital formats and content including file sharing, social networking, discussion lists, databases, and images, and provides an overview of digital licensing.

When:  March 18 - April 8 (full schedule)
Format:  Three live online sessions, discussion list participation, independent reading
Cost:  $395/members | $495/nonmembers

What people are saying about CCM400:

"Through this course, I've realized how much work we have [to do] in order to prepare ourselves and those across our practice to be compliant in these areas.  The material you provided is exceptionally helpful and insightful."

"...CCM400 will relate to my day-to-day job.  I am already planning to present my newly acquired knowledge with my co-workers at a staff meeting."

CCM400 is part of Click University's Certificate in Copyright Management program, but any course may be taken à la carte.

For more information, visit the course page or contact Click University staff.

 

SLA Supports Open Access to Federally Funded Research

SLA, along with 11 other library, publishing, research and advocacy organizations, wrote a letter thanking U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden for introducing legislation titled “The Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act” (FASTR). This bill, introduced on February 13, will provide an important mechanism to ensure that manuscripts of peer-reviewed scientific articles reporting on research funded by the U.S. Government can be freely accessed and fully used by all American taxpayers – including researchers, teachers, students and businesses.

The Obama Administration is similarly committed to the proposition that citizens deserve easy access to the results of scientific research their tax dollars have funded. In a policy memorandum released on February 22, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) directed government agencies with more than $100M in R&D expenditures to develop plans to make the published results of federally funded research freely available to the public within one year of publication and require researchers to better account for and manage the digital data resulting from federally funded scientific research.

Read the letter to Sen. Wyden

Read FASTR

Read the White House Blog, “Expanding Public Access to the Results of Federally Funded Research”

Read: the memorandum on increasing access to the results of federally funded scientific research from OSTP Director John Holdren

Information Outlook Goes Digital, Pushes Boundaries

Like so many info pros, Kim Silk, the subject of the "SLA Member Interview" in the January/February 2013 issue of Information Outlook, has a Website. On her site, she states that she is "keenly interested in pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a librarian" in today's global knowledge environment.

"I'm interested in redefining librarianship--specifically, what the average person has in mind when they think of what a librarian looks like," she says. "The stereotype that exists is a tough one to shatter."

Kim may just as well have been speaking of Information Outlook, SLA's magazine, which until this year was published in print (as was its predecessor, Special Libraries). The popular perception of magazines is of a printed publication on glossy paper that arrives in your mailbox or in-box and becomes dog-eared and wrinkled over time from being read, filed and re-read.

Thanks to a group of SLA members, Information Outlook is challenging that perception. The Information Outlook Advisory Council, formed in 2009, recommended that the printed magazine be replaced with a digital version. The January/February 2013 issue is the first digital edition, and it's available online for you to read and share.

Does it push boundaries and shatter stereotypes? In one sense, no--it looks just like the printed version it replaced. But it opens the door to an entirely new learning experience, one based on community interaction rather than personal reflection. An online platform will allow Information Outlook to become a focal point for discussion, engagement and value, opportunities that were unavailable in a print-based publishing environment.

Of course, as with any change, the termination of the printed version of Information Outlook and its replacement by a digital version has prompted some complaints. Chief among these are that the digital version is difficult or even impossible to read without using the "Zoom" feature, and that no alternative formats (such as a PDF) are available. Evidence thus far suggests that the small text size is a function of the Internet browser--Internet Explorer 7 and 8 are prime suspects--while the format restriction is under review and may be lifted.

The format change is part of a larger effort by SLA to transform itself and provide new opportunities for its members to learn, evolve and adapt--to "push the boundaries" of the information profession and develop new ways to serve it. The digital version of Information Outlook is just one step in that process, but an important one.

To read the interview with Kim Silk or any of the other articles in the January/February issue, go to SLA's home page, click on the link under the words "Read the digital Information Outlook," then click on the magazine cover on the landing page. It's accessible on your desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone, and for a limited time, it's available to non-members as well as members. So feel free to invite a colleague to help shatter a stereotype and push a boundary or two. In a digital environment, you can read, share and learn together.

Job Hunting and Career Growth: an #SLAtalk!

SLA’s first Twitter chat of 2013 will focus on finding a job, and growing within that role.
Tune-in to enjoy tips from both colleagues and SLA’s vendor partners.

Two sessions will be held so information professionals across the globe can participate at a convenient time.

When:

2 choices on Tuesday, March 5^th
Session #1 at 18:30 GMT (1:30 pm Eastern / 10:30 am Pacific)
Session #2 at 00:00 GMT (7:00 pm Eastern / 4:00 pm Pacific)

Questions to answer:

1. What’s a successful job hunting method that helped you land you your current job?
2. What’s a profession-specific way you’ve prepared for an interview that worked for you?
3. What are key organizational traits you look for during an interview or online job search?
4. How did you empower yourself to move ahead at your job? or what skills did you learn which led to your career growth?

…or ask your own question/share your own idea related to this topic!

Hashtag:

Tag your answers with #SLAtalk and the number of the question you’re answering.
For those wondering, #SLAchat is now used by the fine folks at Sporting Life Arkansas. 

Start thinking with some light reading ahead of time:

“Networking for Introverts,” from the March/April ’12 issue of Information Outlook
“Future Now: Operation Agility,” from the Jan/Feb ’12 issue of Information Outlook
“Dressing Like We Mean It,” from the March ’11 issue of Information Outlook

Not an SLA member? To access these articles, join SLA, or contact us to receive temporary access.

Following the session:

Check back into this SLA Blog post after the #SLAtalk, where we’ll post some of the best ideas that you all have tweeted. Notice your tweet being favorited from @SLAhq? Your handle and tweet will be posted here!

2013 Annual Conference in San Diego - How and Why to Make It Happen

A message from Jill Strand, chair of the 2013 Annual Conference Advisory Council:

By now you should have received your 2013 Annual Conference Preview in the mail.  Hopefully you are as excited as I am about getting together with your SLA colleagues to "connect, collaborate and strategize" in beautiful San Diego, California, this June!

The 2013 Annual Conference Advisory Council has worked incredibly hard to ensure that this conference meets your expectations like no other. Here are just a few of the reasons you should make every effort to attend:

• All SLA units have outdone themselves to present a fabulous collection of sessions that offer something for everyone. Sessions range from featuring well-known speakers to interactive speed-dating sessions to dynamic panels on hot topics of interest. Attendees are sure to find ideas they can take back to the office and immediately put into action.

• We already have a long list of SLA's vendor partners committed to showcasing the latest and greatest tools and technologies in the INFO-EXPO.

• The San Diego Chapter is also going above and beyond to welcome you to their fair city with tips on fun things to do, places to eat, ways to get around and more.

We know that times are still tough for a lot of our members.  Employers are cutting back on staffing, funds for professional development, and especially travel.  Sometimes it seems like the cost of everything from airfare and hotel to food and conference registration is going up.  Believe me, the SLA HQ staff, Board and Conference Council know this hard truth all too well.  That's part of the reason why we've been working to make sure the conference offers you as much value for your money as possible.  We realize that members may have other financial obligations that simply take precedence over attending the annual conference.  But I encourage you to consider the following:

• The Value of Making an Investment in Yourself and Your Career - Just because your employer has pulled back on investing in your professional development, that doesn’t mean you should too.   Just like your home or a child's education, your career is a worthy investment. It's what keeps you competitive and ensures your job security and future advancement. Perhaps your employer would be willing to give you time off to attend and cover the registration or hotel costs.

• Ways to Be Creative - Many chapters and divisions offer stipends you can apply for to cover the bulk of conference expenses. In addition, thanks to the generosity of SLA's vendor partners, you certainly won't starve with many delicious lunch and snack breaks offered in the INFO-EXPO and the multitude of receptions to choose from during the evenings.

• Sharing the Fun - Maybe you swore off roommates after that bad experience in college but we've all grown up a bit, and the pros can outweigh the cons. In addition to saving money, it can be fun to have someone to hit receptions with or share a recap of how the day went.

• The Bigger Picture - Did you know that the annual conference makes up more than 60% of SLA’s revenues? The conference is what keeps our membership dues relatively low in comparison to those of other associations. Think of all the things we get for our membership: lower rates for webinars, continuing education, and access to networking, the Career Center and the online Innovation Lab, as well as discounts on many other products and services. While we may not be able to participate every year, each of us is making a contribution to the association when we attend the annual conference.

I look forward to seeing you all in San Diego!

Jill can be reached at jillstrand@gmail.com.

SLA Housing for the 2013 Annual Conference is now open! Book your hotel reservation today!

SLA is pleased to announce Experient as the official housing partner for the SLA 2013 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO June 9-11, 2013 in San Diego, California, USA. Click here to make your reservation today. 

Making your hotel reservation through the official SLA housing office helps contribute to the success of the 2013 conference and the association as a whole. Room blocks that SLA has reserved in recent years in other cities help reduce the cost of future conferences because each conference city evaluates the revenue that our event brings to a city.  Choosing to stay within the SLA block of hotel rooms helps us keep current and future costs down, negotiate better rates for future conferences, and keep meeting space rental costs to a minimum.

In addition to supporting the association, you will receive the following benefits when you book your hotel room through SLA’s official housing office: 

• Lowest rates - We have worked diligently with our hotel partners to negotiate the lowest available rates and offer a variety of price points at different properties.
• Outstanding customer service - Experient provides dedicated support for all SLA conference attendees with a call center available Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CT) that can be reached at 800-974-3084, 847-996-5876 or slaexh@experient-inc.com.
• Ability to waitlist – If a date range at a certain property is not available, Experient will allow you to add your name to the waitlist and will do everything in their power to obtain the requested room.
• Flexible terms - Prepayment of the entire stay is not required at the time of booking and there are no change fees when using SLA’s housing office.
• Room guarantee - Hotels, like airlines, overbook to compensate for a percentage of cancellations. On rare occasions, people with reservations at one hotel may be “walked” to another hotel. SLA has contracted with host hotels to ensure that you will have a room.
• Quality assurance - All SLA contracted hotels have been inspected by SLA staff for quality and safety.
• Great networking opportunities - More networking opportunities exist in hotels within the block since most other conference participants are also staying at the same properties.

We know that you have many different options when booking your hotel reservations but hope that, by our offering a variety of hotels and rates, all attendees will choose to stay in an SLA hotel. Remember, booking your hotel through the SLA housing office helps keep future housing and registration fees low! We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

Please note: Reservations must be completed online or by fax. If you have any questions, you may contact Experient Housing at:

E-mail: slaexh@experient-inc.com

Phone: 800-974-3084 or 847-996-5876

Fax: 301-694-5124

 

ProQuest's Summit Scholarship Recipient Recognized at SLA 2013

Do you know student on their way to a masters' in library and information science degree? They are eligible for ProQuest's Roger K. Summit Scholarship, named for the founder of Dialog.

The scholarship is equilavent of US $5,000, and the winner will be recognized at the SLA 2013 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO. Applications are accepted through April 30, 2013.

Learn about scholarship selection criteria and apply.

Register for the Annual Conference at the Early Bird rate.

SLA’s "Get on the Beach" Recruitment Campaign

Get on Board with SLA’s Member Recruitment Campaign!  

Recruit at least one new member to join SLA, and you could be invited to join SLA President Deb Hunt for lunch on the San Diego beach during the 2013 SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO. Winners will also receive a Visa gift card and be recognized at the conference for their efforts. Ready to get started?   

WHO: All SLA members are invited to participate.

HOW: Recruit at least one new member or former member.  (A former member is a member lapsed at least 90 days). The new member must give your name as the referral.  

WHEN: Recruited member must join or rejoin between February 9, 2013 and May 9, 2013

WHERE: The new member must join using this form: http://bit.ly/slabeach

PRIZES: 2 winners will be announced at the 2013 SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO.  The person with the highest number of members recruited will join President Deb Hunt for lunch on the beach, receive a Visa gift card equivalent to USD$ 100, and be honored at the conference. Another winner will be drawn at random from the remaining list of recruiters, will join Deb for lunch on the beach, and will receive a Visa gift card equivalent to USD$ 50.  

HELP: For help contact Paula Diaz, Membership Director, at pdiaz@sla.org or call 703-647-4926.

The Fine Print:

New member must be paid in full by May 9, 2013.  Both winners must be present at the 2013 SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO in San Diego to receive the lunch.  Not transferable. Additional terms and conditions may apply.  

What you should know about copyright protection

From guest blogger Lesley Ellen Harris, copyright lawyer and Certificate in Copyright Management instructor:

What do you need to do to have copyright protection in the U.S.? Nothing. Once an original work is created and written on paper, musically notated, or saved on your hard drive, the work has immediate and automatic copyright protection. You do not need to register the work or deposit a copy of it with the U.S. Copyright Office, nor use the well-known copyright symbol, ©.

The fact that copyright protection is automatic in the U.S. is a much-misunderstood concept. That’s because this wasn’t always true. It was necessary to register, deposit and use the © symbol until 1989 when there was a change in the U.S. copyright law.

Copyright Registration

Although the U.S. copyright law no longer requires registration, deposit or use of the © symbol, doing these things provides certain benefits if you ever have to enforce your rights. First, registration is necessary if you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident with a work first published in the U.S. and you want to initiate a copyright infringement lawsuit.  If you register within three months of creating the work, you will have a legal presumption that your copyright is valid, and if you are successful you may receive special statutory damages without having to prove any fiscal harm, as well as attorney fees. Further, once your work is registered, those who want to use your work will be able to find information about it in the records of the U.S. Copyright Office and ask your permission to use your work.

Copyright Notice

Although not mandatory, including a © notice on your work is recommended. It reminds people that copyright exists in your work and may deter some unauthorized uses of it.

Automatic Copyright Protection in 166 Countries

As a bonus, once a work is automatically protected in the U.S., it is protected in 166 (including the U.S.) countries around the world under the Berne Copyright Convention.

Learn More

More information about copyright management, including protection and exploitation of rights and infringement remedies, will be shared in CCM200, an online course from SLA's Click University that explores U.S. Copyright law.  CCM200 starts Thursday, February 21. Register today!

Questions?  Contact Click University staff or Lesley Ellen Harris.  Follow Lesley on Twitter.

 

SLA 2013: Register for Career Success Today

Positioned between SLA's 2013 Leadership Summit and Valentine's Day, the launch of SLA 2013 Early Bird Registration is timed perfectly to fill your nearest-and-dearest information professional with gratitude. 

Register yourself and a friend to attend the only event that will demo 60 of the hottest Web 2.0 tools in as many minutes, connect you with vendors of the most powerful databases in the world, and give you a chance to jitterbug with hundreds of your colleagues, all in a few-hour span.

Join thousands of progressive professionals in sunny San Diego, June 9-11 to make the connections, build the collaboration, and hash out the strategy that will maximize your professional impact.

Rooms have been reserved for you in the SLA housing block. Visit the SLA Housing office to book your room early!

And please make an informed decision with the help of these resources:

SLA 2013 Conference Planner

SLA 2012, YouTube Edition (courtesy of Springer)

Blogroll, Please: SLA 2012 Takeaways

Download The SLA Conference Experience by Anneli Sarkanen [PDF download]
    First published in BIALL Newsletter, November 2012, pp. 13-15 

Register today at the Early Bird discounted rate!

SLA, AALL, MLA Support Legislative Solutions to Resolve Orphan Works Issues

SLA, along with the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and the Medical Libraries Association (MLA), have voiced their support of solutions proposed by the United States Copyright Office to resolve issues related to the mass digitization of orphan works.

Orphan works, which include millions of print volumes, photographs and films that encompass a shared global culture, are now being made digitally available. However, digitization poses several risks to the organizations providing access to the orphan works.

Many of the works originate from sources unknown, and as it currently stands, copyright law would protect these unknown sources were they to make themselves known. In other words, digitizing organizations would be subject to large penalties for not having previously recognized the sources as required by current copyright laws. This risk represents a significant obstacle to organizations considering mass digitization of their materials.

SLA, AALL, and MLA support the Copyright Office in its position that a solution of compromise must come from the United States Congress which would protect both the sources and the institutions who enable access to the works.

To read the full comments, access the PDF: "Download NOI_Comments_02.2013_-_AALL_MLA_SLA."

 

"Expand Your Career Potential" Webinar

Are You Ready for Your Next Career Move?

The Washington D.C. SLA Chapter presents:

"Expand Your Career Potential"

featuring: SLA President Deb Hunt

Sponsored by LexisNexis

Having the right skills is everything in today’s very tight job market.  How can you know which skills are in the greatest demand and how can you acquire the new skills you need for career advancement?

“Expand Your Career Potential” is the first in a series of webinar workshops on career development for librarians and information professionals.  Together with longstanding SLA member and co-instructor, David Grossman, Deb Hunt will teach librarians and information professionals about the 33 hottest skills they need to master to jumpstart their next career move.  The workshop also provides sound, practical advice on six ways to acquire those most sought after and essential skills.  Participants will construct a customized “road map” plan to achieve their personal objectives.

This 90 minute webinar is designed to help you broaden your existing skillset and construct a plan to attain new levels of expertise, employment, compensation and career satisfaction.

At this webinar you will learn how to:

• Conduct a self-assessment of your current skillset
• Leverage your existing skills to move to the next level in your career
• Acquire 33 essential skills for career growth
• Plan and jump-start your next career move
• Develop YOUR own personalized road map for career advancement

Price:Student/Members in Transition/Retired: $20

         General Admisstion: $30

You can register to view this webinar virtually or register to attend an in person viewing at LexisNexis (1150 18th St., NW)

Registration for the Virtual session (6:25pm to 8pm Eastern Standard Time): http://dc.sla.org/events/?ee=209

Registration for the In Person Viewing at LexisNexis (6pm - 6:25pm networking; 6:25pm to 8pm program Eastern Standard Time): http://dc.sla.org/events/?ee=208

What others are saying about “Expand Your Career Potential”, winner of the Silicon Valley SLA Chapter’s 2012 Lucy Steelman Award for Commitment to Mentoring:

“An excellent Webinar”

“Really took away some excellent ideas and things I really had not thought about”

“Very useful”

“Very knowledgeable and inspiring”

“Excellent use of my time and money”

“I would recommend this Webinar to anyone who is struggling with career and job issues”

“It was definitely worth it”

“Their successful online classes and webinars have touched many members and are an advertisement to other chapters and organizations regarding the expertise of West Coast information professionals.” – Silicon Valley SLA Chapter

“Expand Your Career Potential” has been presented by the Bay Area Library & Information Network, SLA’s Click University, the Illinois SLA Chapter, Infopeople.org, the Internet Librarian conference, the New York Metropolitan Library Council, the New York SLA Chapter and the San Francisco Bay Region SLA Chapter

About the Presenters for Expand Your Career Potential:

Deborah Hunt, MLS, ECMp, is a strategic knowledge professional and Principal of Information Edge (http://www.information-edge.com), which specializes in value-added research, knowledge services, enterprise content management, and library creation and automation.  Deb is currently SLA President and her presidency theme is Transform Knowledge and Expertise Into Strategic Value. She is an active member in the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) and served on the Board of Directors from 2001-2003. Deb is an award winning part-time adjunct faculty in the Library Technology program at Diablo Valley College and has also taught for the League of Women Voters, InfoPeople and UC Berkeley Extension.  She is a frequent presenter at SLA conferences, Internet Librarian and other venues for information professionals.  Deb received her MLS from UC Berkeley and has moved forward from there, always leaping off the edge into the next opportunity to leverage and expand on her skills.

David Grossman, MLS, MBA serves as History Room and Reference Librarian for the Mill Valley Public Library (California), where he is currently constructing a digital archive with a workforce of 35 volunteers.  David has more than four decades of experience in a variety of traditional and non-traditional library/information professional roles.  Most of his career has been spent building, managing, marketing and selling online systems and databases for publishers, airlines and other businesses.  David has often been tapped as a motivational speaker on alternative career opportunities for librarians.  David is also a part-time journalist in the airline/travel industry and previously authored a column on business travel for USA Today.com as well as a column called “What’s Next” for Searcher Magazine.  His articles have also appeared in the Boston Herald, ABC News.com and the print edition of USA Today.  David holds a BA degree in Journalism and MLS from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Alignment Ambassadors Conclusion and Thank You

Dear Colleagues, 

My sincere gratitude to the SLA Alignment Ambassadors for all their work and effort.

Deb Hunt
SLA President 

To support the ambitious Alignment Project spanning the years 2007 to 2009, the SLA Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Public Relations Advisory Council,  recruited “Alignment Ambassadors” to help share news with members on the progress and results of the research. Through their dedicated efforts, the results of the alignment project have become a part of the fabric of SLA and its operations.  It is now time to express our deepest thanks and appreciation to the Ambassadors, and formally conclude this element of the Alignment Project so that those who served may refocus their energies on other worthwhile projects within the Association.  We honor the following Ambassadors (all 122) and hope they will continue to serve SLA in other roles now and in the years to come:

Alex Feng

Amy Buckland

Amy L. Affelt

Ann Sweeney

Anne Caputo

Barbara  M. Spiegelman

Beth Wagner

Brandy King

Cara Schatz

Caralyn Champa

Cathy Wolford

Chris Orr

Chris Vestal

Christine Olson

Cindy Hill

Cindy Romaine

Constance Ard

Dan Trefethen

Daniel Lee

Danny Maiello

Daureen Nesdill

Dave Martin

David Cappoli

David Hemingway

David Shumaker

Deb  Hunt

Debbie Schachter

Debbie Schacter

Debi Knox

Debra Jesionowski

Delia Rodriguez

Diana Wiggins

Donna Wolfe

Doug Mullin

Doug Newcomb

Ellen Heavner

Eric Schwarz

Eva Stefanski

FullName_

Geraldine Clement-Stoneham

Gimena Campos

Gloria Zamora

Grace Chilingirian

Heather O'Daniel

Hope Tillman

Jacqueline Bartek

Jamal L. Cromity

James King

Jan Keiser

Janet Keiser

Janice Lachance

Jarell D. Grady

Jeff Leach

Jeffra Bussmann

Jennifer Cessna

Jennifer Evert

Jill Strand

John Walsh

Joy Shanfield

Julie Rodrigue

Karen Huffman

Kari Anderson

Kate Arnold

Kathleen Rainwater

Kendra Levine

Kim Silk

Lassana Magassa

Leslie Fisher

Leslie J. Reynolds

Leslie Reynolds

Libby Trudell
Linda Broussard

Linda Galloway

Linda Henderson

Liz Blankson-Hemans

Lyndsay Rees-Jones

Lynn Schlesinger

Lynn Strand Meyer

Mark Goetz

Martha Foote

Mary Ellen Bates

Mary Lynn Wagner

Mary Talley

Maryhelen Jones

Michael Chesnes

Michelle Dollinger

Mohamed Ghali

Nancy Linwood

Nathan Rupp

Neil Infield

Nettie Seaberry

Pam Doffek

Patrick Clapp

Peter Moon

Quan Logan

Rachel Callison

Rebecca Jones

Reece Dano

Regina Cannon

Richard Hulser

Ron Larson

Ruth Wolfish

Samantha J. Palans

Scott Curtis

Sean Henry

Shira Kavon

Shirley Loo

Stephen Abram

Stuart C. Hales

Susan DiMattia

Susan Fifer Canby

Sushma Arora

Suzan Dolfi

Sylvia James

Sylvia Piggott

Talitha Matlin

Tamika McCollough

Tammy Lowery

Tom Rink

Ty Webb

Vicki Valleroy

Yaqub Ali

Yoko Beriault

PAM Travel Stipend for Attending 2013 SLA conference

The SLA-PAM Professional Development Committee is pleased to announce that IOP Publishing is once again sponsoring four conference travel stipends to help new librarians with the expenses of attending the SLA Annual Conference. The stipends aim to accelerate the advancement of new librarians entering science/technology librarianship by mentoring them to access educational and professional opportunities within the SLA. This is the fifth year running that IOP Publishing and the PAM Division have proudly offered these travel stipends.

The selected recipients will each receive a $1,000 stipend to assist in defraying the cost of attending the 2013 SLA conference in San Diego, CA in June 2013. Learn more about the IOP Travel Stipend Award today and nominate yourself, or someone you know.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be graduates of a library science program.
• Applicants must have less than 3 years of professional library information experience.
• Applicants must work in a library focusing on one or more of the PAM disciplines (physics, astronomy, mathematics, or computer science) or act as a library’s subject specialist for one or more of these disciplines.
• Applicants must be first-time attendees of the SLA annual conference, or first-time attendees in a PAM discipline.
• International applicants must be eligible to travel to the United States and must be available to participate in US-based PAM activities throughout the year.

The committee reserves the right not to grant any of the four awards if not enough applications meet all eligibility requirements and adhere to all the application procedures.

Only applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements at the time of application are submitted to the SLA-PAM review committee for travel stipend consideration.

Candidate Expectations

• Candidate must attend the SLA Annual Conference the year the award is given.
• Candidate must attend the PAM business meeting and breakfast.
• Candidate must be willing to attend PAM sessions and events at the Annual Conference and participate in a group photo session administered by SLA.
• Candidate must be available to participate in US-based PAM activities throughout the year.

Application Procedure

1. Prepare a brief letter (approximately 750 words), answering the questions:
   • How do you meet the criteria?
   • What do you hope to gain from attending the 2013 SLA conference?
   • How do you expect/hope to be involved with the PAM division in the short and long term?
2. Submit current curriculum vitae/ resume.

Applications can be submitted via email to Margaret Lam at mlam3@gmu.edu (subject line should begin with PAM Travel Stipend). Applications will be accepted until February 25, 2013. Late applications cannot be considered.

Notification

Applicants will receive notification of award status by March 18, 2013. The award check will be presented at the PAM business meeting and breakfast. No money transfer will be made in case the award recipient can’t attend the conference for any reason.

The PAM Division is deeply grateful to IOP Publishing for their continued involvement with and support of librarians at the SLA conference, and most especially for their generous commitment to the professional development of young science librarians.

Selection Committee Members:

Sharice Collins, Vice President, Marketing, IOP Publishing, Inc.

Stella Ota, PAM Chair

Margaret Lam, PAM Professional Development Chair

Kathleen Lehman, PAM Mentoring Sub-Committee Chair

Margie Hlava Honored for Leadership and Support of Women Professionals

Margie Hlava has long been a leader within the information profession, serving on SLA's board of directors and as a chapter president and division chair. Along the way, she has earned the respect of colleagues and peers as well as a few awards--for example, she was named a Fellow of SLA in 2006.

But she may be proudest of what she's done to serve others rather than lead them. Now she's being honored for her service, both to her community and to other women professionals.

Margie was recently named a "Woman of Influence" by Albuquerque Business First, which covers business issues and news in New Mexico. She was one of 32 women among more than 400 nominees to be so honored, and one of only three in the Technology category.

"Throughout my over three decades in the information industry, I have worked to encourage other women to go into technical fields and into business for themselves, to help forge new paths in the digital age of knowledge management, and to share what I have learned along the way," she said. "I am honored to be acknowledged among a group of outstanding women throughout our community who are truly moving New Mexico ahead."

Margie is chair of Access Innovations, an information management company she founded in 1978. Access Innovations offers a variety of information services, including database design, construction and maintenance, thesaurus and taxonomy creation, and semantic integration.

To learn more about the "Woman of Influence" awards, visit www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2012/12/24/albuquerque-business-first-unveils.html.

 

Mysterious Book at the U.S. Geological Survey Library

As Richard Huffine, director of the library at the U.S. Geological Survey and a member of SLA's board of directors, was going through his library's rare book collection, he discovered a large volume that featured pictures of the Russian crown jewels.

Listen to this NPR story about the mystery of the Romanovs' jewels and the other book found in the USGS library about the crown jewels.

Sign Up Now: January Course on Copyright Fundamentals

Do you need to better understand copyright, but don't know where to start?

Sign up for CCM100 Introduction to Copyright Management: Principles and Issues and learn about:

• How and why info pros are becoming the copyright gurus in their organizations
• Responsibility for copyright compliance
• Copyright myths and gray areas
• Reading and understanding news related to copyright court cases, legislation and studies
• Developing a plan to deal with copyright issues

CCM100 begins Tuesday, January 8.  This three-session online course has been revised and expanded for 2013, so don't miss this opportunity to find the copyright management answers you've been looking for.

Cost is $295 for members; discounts are available.

Read what instructor Lesley Ellen Harris has to say about the Art of Managing Copyright Issues, and what recent participants have said about the CCM certificate program:

"[CCM100 offered] great insights into the real-life problems and issues of other copyright managers."

"I like that we ended up with recommended steps. It's always good to have a plan."

"...[T]he courses have been tremendous and have made a big difference for me. I'm sending all of my staff librarians to start the certificate."

Questions?  Contact Click University.

SLA in 2012: Laying the Groundwork for an Essential Association

December 2012

Dear Members of the SLA Community,

In my “Info View” column in the Nov/Dec issue of Information Outlook, I wrote about what associations must do to position themselves for growth and success in the years ahead. One sentence in particular articulates this challenge:

The vibrant associations of tomorrow will be the ones that create a new environment—that embrace change and innovation, that identify and take bold steps to move in new directions, that stop speaking in nouns like conference, magazine and Webinar and start thinking in verbs like transform, renew and inspire.

I think that sentence captures the essence of the past year at SLA. As I look back over the past 12 months, I see evidence of a collective shift—in strategy, in philosophy, and in action—that will fundamentally alter the value proposition of our association and make SLA essential to information professionals in the new knowledge economy.

For example, SLA staff spent many hours this year consulting with SLA members, working with online media experts, and brainstorming with each other to develop the architecture, navigation and content of our new Website, which will launch early in 2013. The philosophy underlying these efforts is that the site should be a go-to resource to help information professionals network, learn and collaborate. What it should not be is a document warehouse—a place to store items that are viewed and downloaded only a handful of times each year. SLA members work in environments that reward agility and encourage risk taking, and SLA’s Website will reflect and support these behaviors.

Similarly, SLA staff and members have been planning and coordinating the transition of our magazine, Information Outlook, from a printed publication to an online digital product that can be viewed on laptops, tablets and smartphones. This change, which was approved by the SLA Board of Directors, will make Information Outlook more accessible than ever to busy librarians and information professionals, many of whom are no longer defined by traditional physical spaces and resources. The digital magazine will also be easy to bookmark, share and search, helping transform it from a static reference tool to a mobile resource for ideas and inspiration.

We’ve been taking the same approach to our annual conference, trying to transform it from a learning and networking event—which is valuable in its own right—to a springboard for professional enrichment. At SLA 2012 in Chicago, for example, we debuted a panel discussion at the closing ceremony to provide fresh perspectives on topics that were popular with attendees. For 2013, SLA staff have been working with Jill Strand and the other members of the Annual Conference Advisory Council to incorporate four 120-minute sessions into the schedule to provide opportunities to dig deeper into relevant topics. Council and staff members are also reviewing all session proposals to ensure they are relevant and timely, and they are urging session planners to use presentation formats that promote interaction between presenters and attendees. These and other changes are designed to encourage critical thinking and discussion about the trends and issues affecting the information profession.

The changes we’re making to the annual conference, Information Outlook and our Website are not one-off attempts to breathe new life into familiar products and services; rather, they are part of a comprehensive effort to redefine SLA, to change it from an association organized around a common profession and interests to one that enhances members’ jobs and careers, their peer relationships, and their professional development. The steps we’ve taken over the past 12 months are just the start of this process, but they are laying the groundwork for more such transformations in the years ahead.

If the changes we’ve made this year (and those we intend to make in 2013 and beyond) are to last, they must have a solid financial foundation. I’m pleased to say that this year we earned a clean audit for 2011 and finished that year with a small surplus, thanks to stringent cost-cutting, careful monitoring of our finances, and the generosity of our units, which sponsored various association initiatives. Those same factors should enable us to at least break even this year, although our books for 2012 are still open at this time.

The story of SLA in 2012, then, is not so much one of activities, products and services—such as the successful Leadership Summit we held in Atlanta, the Salary Survey we rolled out in September, the many ClickU Webinars we presented, and the popular continuing education courses on knowledge management and copyright that we offered—as one of transformation, renewal and inspiration. As I look back on 2012, I see a year when we changed our identity, when we went beyond thinking of ourselves as an association and began to see ourselves as a portal to career enhancement, professional growth, and leadership development. Our members are responding positively to this change, as evidenced by the following:

• A 20 percent increase in the number of full registrations for SLA 2012;

• A 63 percent rise in registrations for our Copyright Management Certificate Program; and

• The expansion of our Webinar “room capacity” earlier this year from 100 to 500 sites to accommodate larger audiences for our ClickU offerings.

To be sure, 2012 has not been without its challenges. Although full conference registrations were up, total registrations were down due to fewer exhibitors, fewer exhibit staff, and fewer exhibit-only passes. Our vendor partners are committed to SLA’s success and are continuing to support our conference and other programs, but they, like many of us, simply have fewer dollars to spend. Likewise, our membership numbers declined 6 percent in 2012, although most of the slippage was in the lowest dues category, whereas the highest dues category gained members. Those in the lowest category often are unemployed or under-employed, and some may decide they will forego their SLA membership until their job situation improves.

The coming year will have its share of challenges as well. But I feel confident that we are on the right track, and that focusing on creating a new environment for information professionals will better serve their interests and those of all SLA stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Janice Lachance SLA CEO

SLA Members Save on ITI Books

All Information Today, Inc. books will be discounted an additional 33% off the already discounted web order price now through January 7, 2013, when you order online. The discount is good on an unlimited number of orders placed during the sale period and with more than 150 titles available on the Information Today, Inc. website, it is certain you will find something that interests you.

• ITI and CyberAge Books
• American Society for Indexing (ASI) Books
• American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIST) Books
• Plexus Publishing

Use the promo code ITIFW12 when you check out to receive the discount. Information Today, Inc. is also offering free standard shipping on all web orders shipped within the continental United States. Visit the bookstore to see what's available. 

Also, check out Information Today, Inc.'s new publication, Online Searcher: Information Discovery, Technology, Strategies. The semi-monthly publication combines two prestigious titles, ONLINE and Searcher, into one journal. Online Searcher will feature articles written by practitioner experts as well as columns by knowledgeable information professionals. Marydee Ojala is the editor-in-chief and Barbara Quint is the senior editor.

Greta Marlatt Receives "I Love My Librarian Award" from Carnegie/New York Times

Ten librarians were recognized today by the Carnegie Corporation of New York/The New York Times for their services. Among those honored is Greta Marlatt, SLA member and information services manager for the Naval Postgraduate School's Dudley Library. 

Greta is honored for providing invaluable service to over 400 U.S. and international military officers in many ways. Among other volunteer roles, Greta has served as a director for SLA's own Military Division. 

View Greta's nomination here (PDF in new window) to learn about her full impact at the postgraduate school (an impact which extends to both faculty and students).

View details about all the honorees on the @yourlibrary website.

On behalf of SLA, congrats, Greta!

#SLAchat: Why adopt Near Field Communication (NFC) at Work?

In the latest "New Technology" column of Information Outlook, Sophia Guevara explains Near Field Communication (NFC) and discusses its potential uses for information professionals.

If you've seen recent Samsung Galaxy 3 ads (40 seconds in), they portray NFC: move one smartphone within a few centimeters of another (or tap them if you want to really feel the exchange) to transfer data. The data could be a video, an e-mail, files, anything really (that fits within copyright law). The technology also works by pairing a 'tag' with a smartphone. This concept is more similar to accessing data via QR codes, but still easier because if your phone is compatible, it works with the tag, (almost) no questions asked.

The #SLAchat question: how might you use this technology to provide access to information? Here are 3 of Sophia's bright ideas to start:

"Idea 1: Use NFC sticker tags to make "smart" books. If you work in an organization where your colleagues yearn for easy access to book reviews while browsing the library collection, NFC can be your solution. With NFC tags, you can place a sticker tag on the book's cover and program it so that it links to a page of reviews to help your patrons decide if the book is right for them."

"Idea 2: Make "smart" posters. Create a smart poster that can pass along information to employees with a quick tap. All you need to do is affix a preprogrammed tag to an already existing poster and note that the poster is NFC-enabled. Cut down on your organization's silos by creating a poster that provides messages and updates from your organization's leaders and their departments. On their walk into work, employees can tap the tags that are of interest to them and get updates on important things going on within the organization."

"Idea 3: Use NFC in your information literacy training program. For example, if you provide information center orientations to new employees, create a tag with links to the resources you describe. Instead of giving these employees a list of resources and links on paper, give them an NFC tag that contains the resource information within the tag. This is not only an efficient means of sharing information, it also decreases the problem of having training sheets lost or thrown away."

 

 

Consider an Annual Donation to SLA

As 2012 draws to a close, we thank our inaugural class of Loyalty Club members, and encourage others to join.

When SLA launched this club in early 2012, we set our sights on a 100-donor strong inaugural class. We're not quite there yet, but with your help, we can surpass this goal before 2013.

What's the Loyaltly Club? as SLA treasurer Dan Trefethen explained at the 2012 Annual Conference, it's "our way of providing special acknowledgement of individuals who have supported SLA every year, through thick and thin." The Loyalty Club is directed toward projects that are difficult to fund otherwise. Donations received for the remainder of this year will be applied to completing the redesign of SLA's Website, the public face of the informatin profession and industry. 

Many 2012 inaugural members have begin to renew their membership for 2013. That's exactly the idea behind the Loyalty Club: make a gift, no matter how big or small, and you lock in your membership at that rate forever. By supporting SLA, you support your colleagues and your profession's development. 

SLA thanks you for your consideration, and wishes you the best end of 2012 and a prosperous 2013.

Join the Loyalty Club with a donation.

 

 

 

 

Looking Beyond the Numbers: SLA 2013 in San Diego

As SLA's incoming president in 2013, I encourage all SLA members to take advantage of the SLA 2013 Early registration rate which is open until the end of this month. It’s the same early bird rate as for SLA 2012 in Chicago—the result of much hard work and hard negotiating—so it’s a bargain for information professionals looking for value for their money (and who among us isn’t trying to do that?).

Being careful with your money is actually one of the main goals of each SLA Annual Conference, along with providing strong content and advancing your career. That may not be readily apparent when registration fees exceed $500, hotel rates sometimes top $200 per night and transportation costs keep climbing. But if you look beyond the numbers and see what SLA is doing to hold down costs, provide strong content and advance your career, you’ll understand why the $529 registration rate is, indeed, a worthwhile investment for your employer and yourself.

Adjusting the schedule. First and foremost, the opening session at SLA 2013 will be held Sunday morning instead of Sunday evening, and the closing session is being moved from early afternoon on Wednesday to late afternoon on Tuesday. By moving the opening and closing sessions to their new time slots, we’re able to pack the same amount of content into a shorter time frame. That means SLA 2013, although it’s scheduled for only three days, will offer as much content (more than 200 sessions!) as previous conferences did in 3-1/2 days.

The benefit to SLA members is the opportunity to save on hotel costs, go home earlier, and not miss an extra day of work. In sum, there’s just as much content, but at potentially less cost—meaning you’ll receive even greater value for your conference dollar.

Renegotiating site contracts. We’ve also held the line by revisiting our agreements with the convention center and host hotels. The conference contract with San Diego was signed several years ago, well before the economy began to slow. That practice was common in the past—SLA typically had to select conference sites five or more years in advance to secure space in a competitive environment and gain some leverage over convention center and hotel room rates. The prices we negotiated for SLA 2013 were favorable at that time, and we have worked diligently during the recession to revisit and renegotiate these contracts and lower our rates.

 In recent years, we have adjusted and shortened our site selection process to be more flexible when sourcing conference locations. This new approach should give us a clearer picture of what our conference will look like when we are contracting for space.

That space could be almost anywhere, because SLA’s members are spread across the globe, and we want our conferences to appeal to as many of them as possible. That explains why we visited Chicago this year, why we’ll be in San Diego next year, and why we’ve booked Vancouver for 2014. SLA selects its conference locations to accommodate as many members as possible over the long term, . Convention center and hotel rates would be even higher if we stuck to a regular site “rotation” because cities would not have to bid against one another for our business.

Some say we should look at smaller cities because their conference facilities and hotels typically are less expensive than their counterparts in large cities. But airfares to large cities tend to be cheaper—more airlines are competing for your business—and flights to them are more frequent as well. Also, smaller cities do not always have convention centers large enough to house 200-plus exhibitors, seat 1,000 attendees at a general session, host 20 concurrent educational sessions, and accommodate the many governance and business meetings conducted by committees, divisions and councils. (We use as much hotel space as is practical and financially feasible, but we also try very hard to keep sessions close together so attendees can move easily from one session to another.)

SLA 2012 in Chicago illustrated the pros and cons of holding a conference in a large city. Chicago is a major transportation hub, so travel was easy and relatively inexpensive. The convention center accommodated our need for several rooms of varying sizes at the same time, and we paid only for the areas we used. Unused space—and there was plenty of it, as the McCormick Center is capable of hosting major meetings—was not a factor in our costs, though it made the conference seem smaller than it was.

In fact, more than 1,600 people paid the full registration fee for SLA 2012, which represents a 20 percent increase over SLA 2011 in Philadelphia. That tells me the conference clearly resonated with many SLA members. I think it did so because of its learning and networking opportunities, which brings me to my next point.

Refining the content. Each year, SLA staff and conference planners survey members who attended the conference to help determine what is (and isn’t) working well and identify possible new directions for workshops, general sessions and networking events. Their goal is to constantly refine the conference schedule so it meets and, if possible, anticipates the needs of special librarians working in today’s knowledge economy. While other conferences may offer lower registration fees or bigger-name speakers, their content isn’t targeted toward information professionals who work in business, government, academic, and other specialized environments, so their overall value to SLA members is lower.

 What changes have we made to respond to attendees’ interests and concerns? At SLA 2012, we dropped the closing speaker and instead presented a panel discussion on hot topics—a feature that proved very popular, so we’re repeating in 2013. In San Diego, we’ll also be offering four 120-minute sessions to provide opportunities for more in-depth exploration of key topics.

Advancing your career. Notwithstanding these and other improvements to the conference experience, SLA staff and conference planners recognize that some members simply will not be able to attend SLA 2013. Employers are cutting professional development funding, salaries are being frozen or cut, information professionals are being laid off—the list of barriers to conference attendance is long and stubbornly familiar. We’ve tried to compensate by offering a virtual conference option, but even those who took advantage of it admit there’s no substitute for immersing all of your senses in the sounds, sights, ideas and energy of a few thousand of your peers. I speak from experience when I say that you come away from an SLA Annual Conference feeling exhausted and energized at the same time.

And that’s why you simply cannot leave conference attendance to your employer. Your professional development and, ultimately, your career are too important to put in someone else’s hands. One of the most important virtues that SLA (and, for that matter, any good professional association) teaches is self-reliance, which includes taking charge of your growth and advancement. By putting aside money to attend an SLA Annual Conference, you demonstrate that you value your career and profession.

SLA staff and conference planners work tirelessly to make the annual conference the most valuable three days of your year. For my money [and yes, I spend my money], there’s no better way to spend those three days than with my peers and colleagues.

Of course I’ll be at SLA 2013 in San Diego.  I hope to see you there as well.

 

Deb Hunt

2013 SLA President

 

 

The Art of Managing Copyright Issues in Your Enterprise

From guest blogger Lesley Ellen Harris, copyright lawyer and Certificate in Copyright Management instructor:

How do you go from being overwhelmed with copyright issues to managing copyright on a daily basis?  It isn’t easy, but you can do it!  Information professionals are often the ones taking the lead copyright management role.  Whether it’s a domestic copyright issue or an international one, the key is understanding when a copyright issue arises.

An example of a domestic copyright issue is making fifty copies of an article for an in-house seminar.  Posting a photograph on your organization’s Website would be considered an international issue. It’s important to understand the relevant copyright law, and since the application of copyright law often depends on the situation, many copyright management answers rely on your judgment.  This is all part of managing copyright and ensuring your organization operates within the law.

Of course, there’s much more to managing copyright, which could be considered an art rather than a science.  And this art may fall in the hands of an assigned or unofficial go-to-copyright-person such as the Acquisition/Serials Librarian, Library Manager, Information Specialist, Content Manager, Publisher, Editor, Corporate Researcher, Information Literacy Librarian, “Newly Minted” Librarian, Library Technician, Consultant Manager of Document Delivery Operations, Information Center Director, Archivist, Reference Librarian, Technical Librarian, Systems Librarian, Senior Vice President or Solo Librarian.  You know who you are.

All sorts of enterprises require copyright compliance and management.  Some examples: legislative libraries, government agencies, corporate information centers, non- and for-profit universities, public libraries, engineering firms, pharmaceutical companies, law firms, scholarly publishers, museums, archives, associations, law societies, research organizations, financial services firms, hospitals, and energy industry firms.

Be better prepared to address and answer copyright questions.  In a copyright management role, you will teach others about copyright law, provide consistent copyright information, plan and implement best copyright practices, familiarize yourself with the best resources, work towards the legal use of digital content, mitigate copyright risk, and develop a copyright policy or guidelines. 

Take the first step on the road to managing your copyright issues and find out how to become the copyright guru in your organization.

Further information on copyright management is available at Click University and Copyrightlaws.com. CCM100 Introduction to Copyright Management: Principles & Issues, an online course updated and expanded for 2013, begins January 8.

Contact Click University for more information.

In Final Printed Issue, Information Outlook Looks at User Experience

A coffee bar, a TV lounge, comfortable chairs, dedicated quiet areas, 24/7 Internet access--the list of amenities that clients and customers expect from our libraries and information centers is long and growing. No longer just warehouses for books and journals, libraries and info centers are now seen as extensions of our wired, social environments, and their services are judged accordingly.

How can librarians and information professionals meet the expectations of today's users? The Nov/Dec issue of Information Outlook--the final printed version of the magazine--offers some advice. Authors Debra Kolah and Gretchen McNeely discuss user expectations within the context of user experience and usability, two concepts that frequently are applied to Websites but also relate to physical environments (especially with respect to lighting, seating, signage, and so forth). Their insights into how to conduct user experience research will help even info pros with limited expertise and budgets understand how clients engage with their information environment and identify ways to enhance that interaction.

In addition to the theme articles, the Nov/Dec issue also contains several other pieces worth reading:

• A look at the copyright practices of nonprofit organizations and the arguments for greater information sharing by such groups;
• An overview of near field communication (NFC) and answers to common questions about it;
• A first-person account of the roles of information professionals in helping venture capital firms make successful investment decisions; and
• An interview with SLA member Tim Siftar, who has worked in health care, financial and academic settings and held several different titles yet still lives in the same neighborhood into which he moved while attending graduate school and still rides the same trolley line he rode to his first job.

You'll also find columns by Stephen Abram, Lesley Ellen Harris and Jill Strand, plus the usual assortment of news items. Watch your mailbox for the printed version of the magazine, or begin reading the articles online by clicking here.