SLA Blog

San Jose and SLA Form Members-Only Cohort for Executive MLIS Program

Executive MLIS Degree Program Focuses on Business and Management Skills

A unique learning cohort is now available for information professionals who want to earn a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) with a focus on business skills and executive-level training. This cohort is the result of a partnership between SLA and San Jose State University (SJSU) School of Library and Information Science. SJSU’s Executive MLIS program is designed for library or information science professionals with at least three years of experience who do not already hold an MLIS. The SLA cohort is scheduled to start in June 2009. 

The SLA members-only cohort will study broad-based library as well business and management skills in a team-based and project-focused program.  The SJSU Executive MLIS is especially appropriate for SLA members--special librarians and information professionals--who require unique skills to thrive in a government, corporate, legal or other specialized information management setting.

As the SLA member cohort works toward the MLIS degree, the group will explore leadership topics such as program evaluation, human resources management, marketing and financial management-- all areas that are not typically included in MLS/MLIS programs.

Applications for the SJSU Executive MLIS program are now being accepted. The deadline to apply for the 2009 Executive MLIS program is March 30, 2009, but earlier application is strongly encouraged.  To learn more about the program, visit SJSU site here.

eContent Magazine Profiles: SLA Member Jan Weaver, Medical Librarian

"When she began working at Deakin University in 2007, Jan Weaver focused on  developing a medical and health sciences library collection to support the new School of Medicine. "I work closely with medical school academic staff and their external partners to incorporate information fluency into the medical curriculum," says Weaver, who was named the 2008 Information Professional of the Year by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Australia and New Zealand Chapter. Weaver’s job includes contributing to the teaching of evidence-based medicine, and embedding research techniques in science and the humanities into students’ assignment work."

Read the whole article by Nancy Davis Kho in the March 2009 issue of EContent Magazine

Discount to Information Today’s Buying & Selling eContent Conference

As we charter through these uncertain financial times, we understand the value of networking within the information community. That is why SLA is working harder than ever to bring you affordable opportunities to stay on top of developments in the profession.

As a Learning Partner for Information Today's tenth annual Buying & Selling eContent conference, SLA has negotiated an exclusive member discount of US $600 off the standard registration rate!

When you register as an SLA member, you will pay only US $ 995. Be sure to register for the special Sunday, session “Maximizing the Rules of Engagement and Usage for Cost Optimization,” followed by a reception for SLA members and special guests co hosted by SLA and Information Today. In the session, content buyers will present five hot topics in content licensing and distribution for enterprise buyers.  Please view the Buying & Selling eContent 2009 program for additional information about the conference.

SLA CEO Janice Lachance and Director of Business Development, Stacey Bowers, will be in attendance and hope to see you there!

Online Personal Conference Planner is Now Available

The Online Personal Conference Planner is now available on the SLA Web site.  

For more information about the online planner be sure to check out the Conference Connections Blog.

SLA Announces 2010 Board of Directors Candidates

SLA has nominated eight candidates to run for election to the 2010 SLA Board of Directors. The candidates were identified by the SLA Nominating Committee, which annually solicits names of potential candidates from the membership, and is responsible for putting together a slate of candidates that has exceptional talent, is professionally diverse, and provides regionally balanced representation.

Members will have several opportunities to hear from and get to know candidates at the SLA 2009 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO in Washington, D.C. The election will be held electronically in mid-September 2009.  The elected candidates will take office on January 1, 2010.

The candidates running for election to the 2010 SLA Board of Directors are:

For President-elect

• Agnes Mattis, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York City
• Cindy Romaine, Romainiacs Intelligence Research, Portland, Ore.

 For Treasurer

• Karen Kreizman Reczek, Bureau Veritas, Buffalo, N.Y.
• Dan Trefethen, The Boeing Company, Seattle

 For Chapter Cabinet Chair-elect

• Elizabeth Blankson-Hemans, Dialog, London, U.K.
• Debal C. Kar, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, India

 For Division Cabinet Chair-elect

• Mary Ellen Bates, Bates Information Services, Longmont, Colo.
• Stacey Greenwell, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.

For more information about SLA’s governance practices and leadership, please visit the Board of Directors section of our Web site

Are You Taking Charge of Your Career?

Seriously, are you...?

With today's uncertain job market, it is even more critical to be in charge of your job search. Whether you are searching now, or thinking about a job change, the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Career Center employer database has thousands of registered employers interested in finding the right candidate for librarian and information professional positions in the growing information industry. 

How well do you know your career values, passions and goals?

 Do you know what kind of job/career you want?
 Do you know what is important to you in you next job/career?
 Do you know what type of organization you want to work in?

By taking charge of your career, you will be able to self manage, know your brand and be aware of business trends. But don’t take my word for it…listen to Marshall Brown’s podcast "The New World of Work."

Networking is a key element in making contacts and finding that PERFECT job. Check out "Looking for Job? Networking at Conferences Can Open Doors," an article from SLA’s Information Outlook.

SLA Career Connection at our 2009 Annual Conference is a perfect opportunity to network with colleagues and potential employers!

We are here for you! SLA offers many other services to our members in our Career Center.

Articles & Resources

Career Coaching

Career Disruption

LinkedIn and Facebook SLA Groups

For those members who are out there in the 2.0 world making connections and having discussions with your colleagues, don't forget to join any SLA groups that are available for all!

Most SLA Units (chapters and divisions) have created special groups online. SLA HQ has also created association-level groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, so that you can expand your network beyond your chapter or division! 

Special Libraries Association (SLA) Members on Facebook

SLA- Special Libraries Association (LinkedIn Professional Group)

If you haven't yet jumped in to social media and web 2.0, now is the perfect time to start!  SLA's 23 Things is designed to train you and get you more comfortable with operating in these online environments!  

Face of SLA Leadership Summit "Headshots" now available for download

If you were kind enough to allow the SLA PR Team to take your photo in front of the "blue screen" at the SLA Leadership Summit in Savannah, the images are up and ready for viewing and download.

Please download these images ASAP! They will not stay up forever, and will be pulled down in the next 30 days. Act now! 

Here’s how to access them:

1) Go to the Web site www.thephotogroup.com

2) Select online proofing and enter the password in the “event password” prompt:  savannah

3) You’ll see two categories: Blue Screen and Board Group Shot.  Click on either one of these to view the thumbnails.

4) Click on a thumbnail to view a larger image and see download options.

Please contact SLA PR Director Cara Schatz with any questions: cara@sla.org

Global 2000 Fellow elected President of the Philippine Librarians Association

I was delighted to read that Lilia Echiverri, one of the Global 2000 Fellows, who all remain dear to my heart, has recently been elected President of the Philippine Librarians Association. Lilia tells me that she is active in the SLA Asian Chapter and has also been elected Vice-President of the Philippine Group of Law Librarians and the Philippine Executive Board member of the Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL).  Congratulations Lilia. What next?

Preliminary Conference Program - Now Available on SLA Web site

Please be sure to check out the Conference Connections Blog for the latest Conference news and highlights.  

The Preliminary Conference Program is now available for download!