SLA Blog

2011 Leadership Summit - Future Ready: Building Community

 
If you're a leader, you simply must attend the 2011 Leadership Summit. You will learn practical skills to grow in your leadership role in SLA or other volunteer organizations which will then assist in elevating your leadership skills in your job. That translates to what today's employers are seeking in today's information professional.

The summit will be held 19 - 22 January 2011 at the Renaissance Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Event Highlights

• Networking Cocktail Party
• No Host Dine-Arounds
• CEO's Message - The State of the Association
• Alignment Tools to Make Us Future Ready
• Welcome Reception at Navy Memorial
• "How do I..." Trouble-Shooting/Voice of Experience
• Unit Board and Committee Meetings

Register today and save.  The early registration rate ends 22 December.

Learn more at www.sla.org/2011LeadershipSummit.

One Year and Growing - Taxonomy Division Celebrates

The Taxonomy Division is celebrating its first anniversary.  A year has already gone by and so much has been accomplished reports Chair Marjorie Hlava.  Highlights include:

• Over 200 members and growing
• Sponsored/Co-sponsored more than 10 taxonomy-related sessions at the SLA 2010 Annual Conference in New Orleans.  And, there were additional topics on taxonomy as well.
• At least two programs are planned on taxonomies on the 2011 program.
• Established a webinar series for Division members.

Designed exclusively for SLA Taxonomy members, the division has had two webinars already: one by Christine Conners and one by Marjorie Hlava.  Additional webinars are scheduled:

Oct. 26 - 1 p.m. EDT Wendi Pohs will speak on Taxonomy Mapping
Nov. 18 - 1 p.m. EST Marti Heyman will speak about Taxonomies: Build vs. Buy
Visit the wiki for details as they emerge.
 
Some of the benefits of membership in the SLA Taxonomy Division include:

• Adding to or strengthening your knowledge with professional development opportunities and events, such as the webinar series
• Participating in discussions and interacting with others on the wiki, including members-only sections such as the Taxonomy Times quarterly bulletin
• Being part of a global network of people working in related roles
• Driving the direction of the Division and building your résumé by getting involved in committees

Marjorie M.K. Hlava is Chair of the SLA Taxonomy Division and you may contact her to volunteer.  Invite colleagues you know whose jobs involve taxonomy to join SLA and the SLA TAXONOMY DIVISION. 

A Gracious Farewell To A Lifelong Member

Dorothy Beckemeyer Skau ("Becky"), a cherished and lifelong member of SLA, passed away on October 14, 2010. She left behind a legacy of dedication to the association, both on the national and chapter level, and a lifetime of commitment to the library field.

Becky's life is characterized by valued contribution to numerous associations, groups, and institutions, and her professional and personal legacy is appreciated by all those fortunate enough to have come into contact with her. Her story as a librarian coincides with the story of the Southern Regional Research Center Library of the United States Department of Agriculture. She helped found the library in 1939, and was a librarian there until her retirement. 

Becky joined SLA in 1944, and over the past 60-plus years she never ceased to give back to the association community. She has held office as the president of her Louisiana Chapter, and has served on the national board of directors.  She was awarded the Oberly Memorial Award by the American Library Association for a four volume compilation she co-authored on the chemistry and technology of tung products. She was a lifelong member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. 

For a full story of her accomplishments and recognitions, and information on making contributions in her honor, click here.

On behalf of the SLA community, we'd like to offer our supreme gratitude. Farewell, Becky.

Align SLA: Join The Discussion

"Needs to be more focused."

"Should be snappier."

"The real value of the organization is in the knowledge sharing and the relationship building."

The Align SLA initiative was introduced on September 10, and several members have already spoken up. Their message is becoming clear: our mission statement needs to be dynamic and concise, and meaningful not only to those within the information profession but to those outside as well.

Now, it's time for you to join the discussion. The final poll on the mission statement is open, and we'd like to hear your thoughts on whether the statement should be streamlined or fleshed out. Is less really more? In an effort to be specific, do we risk saying too much? Weigh in on the discussion by commenting and voting. And be sure to stay tuned--in the coming weeks, we'll address our vision and value statements.

Note: If you posted a comment during the week of October 11-17, it may have been deleted inadvertently because of a glitch in the portal's spam filter. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to re-post, as your input is of tremendous value to us. The problem has been fixed and all comments will be posted from this point forward.

2011 Rising Stars and Fellows Nominations Are Open

Have any of your colleagues made longstanding and valuable contributions to SLA? Do you know someone that's on the "up and up" in the library field? Or maybe you see yourself as fitting into one of these categories. It takes only a few minutes to have a friend nominate you, or for you to nominate a friend.

For more information on our awards program and to fill out a nomination form, simply visit SLA Awards and Honors. It's quick, easy, and above all, rewarding.

Nominations for these honors are being accepted until December 15th. Nominations for all other SLA honors, to be awarded at the 2011 INFO-EXPO in Philadelphia, will open on November 1st and close in early January. For details, contact John Walsh, communications and marketing manager, at jwalsh@sla.org or follow on twitter: @walshSLA. Speak out and be recognized!

Your 15 Minutes of Fame

Have you ever conducted a needs assessment to identify the needs of your staff, then used the results to develop a plan to improve service delivery? Ever attempted to integrate information literacy skills into a professional program, such as pharmacy or law? Ever tried to improve your library or information center by analyzing what you already do well?

Some of your colleagues have--and they were dogged enough to document their actions, write a paper about their experience, and present the paper at an SLA Annual Conference. Each year, in fact, several SLA members present papers at the annual conference, sharing their insights with their colleagues and expanding the profession's base of knowledge.

If you'd like to give back to the profession and position yourself as an expert on a topic of interest to you, consider submitting a paper for presentation at the 2011 Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The presentations last only about 15 minutes apiece, but they can make a lasting impact on a fellow info pro.

Information about content and deadlines is available on sla.org.