SLA Blog

SLA and professional growth

How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?

David Cappoli
Candidate, President-Elect

Professional development for me means exploring and adopting new skills and taking on leadership roles. SLA provides me with the opportunities to do both at many different levels.

New skills: I have acquired new skills and learned innovative ways to accomplish projects from SLA conference presentations, chapter programs, division webinars, and conferring with fellow association colleagues. From an introduction to XML, to seeing how to use competitive intelligence methods in my work, to becoming more aware about copyright issues, SLA has been my resource. In recent years, a colleague with whom I served on an SLA committee presented about the inventive ways in which her institution’s library was transforming its space and practices to better engage students and become more vital in their education. I am bringing these same concepts to a graduate studies lab at UCLA that needs to move in the same direction.

Leadership:  From committee work, to overseeing a local chapter, to running for President-Elect of the association, SLA has provided me with more opportunities to lead than any of the jobs I have held professionally. And these leadership opportunities have helped develop my confidence and level of self-assurance so that I have taken on more challenges in the workplace, such as overseeing a continuing education program. And besides presenting members with the chance to lead on many levels, SLA also opens up places for newer information professionals to contribute to the association and their fellow members, while not taking on responsibilities that might be overly taxing for an individual without much experience.

Without the skills and new ways of looking at our professional world provided by SLA, I am certain that I would not be in my current position.

Congratulations to 2011 Diversity and Leadership Award Winner

The 2011 Diversity and Leadership Development Program (DLDP) award recipient is...Elizabeth "Eli" Edwards! The award, sponsored by EBSCO, honors Eli for her career accomplishments, her outstanding industry presentations and published papers, and her energetic volunteer involvement and leadership within SLA.

Meet Eli and congratulate her in-person at the DLDP program: Leveraging Diversity and Inclusion for Success, on Monday, 13 June, at 4:00 p.m. The program is sponsored by EBSCO and ProQuest & Dialog.

"SLA is not just a resource; it’s a community of passionate, dedicated professionals who have served their clients and peers ably and are resolved to meet the challenges of 21st century librarianship and information management," stated Eli, when asked about her experience with SLA thus far. For the full quote, and more info about the award and this year's recipient, check out the press release here.

SLA and Professional Growth

Catherine Lavallée-Welch- Candidate, Division Cabinet Chair-Elect

Question #4 How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?

In a previous post, I explained how I joined SLA when I moved, not just to a new city but to a new country. Joining my local chapter immediately helped me develop a new network of information professionals. Local chapter events and the annual conference became an integral part of my professional development activities.

As my involvement grew from the chapter to the division level, my network grew exponentially as well. The diversity of my colleagues in expertise, experience and even geography helped me develop a better understanding of my field.

Yes, I can meet other information professionals online and through other conferences. However, having SLA in common is an easy introduction; it’s almost like a secret handshake. I have used my network for knowledge gathering, discovery, inspiration and as a sounding board.

One of the interesting tests about being a SLA unit leader is working with people who, although wanting to be involved, remain volunteers with other obligations. Leading, motivating, supporting and mentoring become important abilities to acquire in order for the unit to reach its goals. I also found these skills transfer to working with my employees. While salary is important, there is usually some motivational key each person uses to perform at his or her best. Finding that key leads to a more content, more energetic staff.  

Although I’ve been a SLA member for 11 years, I still find new challenges that help me increase my skills. From sponsor relations to programming; from local involvement to hopefully serving as your Board member, I look forward to continue serving SLA.

SLA Honed my Leadership and Management Skills

Candidate Question #4. How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?

I didn't know that being a willing volunteer would lead to the development of enhanced leadership and management skills, as well as improved public speaking. However, since the first time I said yes to SLA that is exactly what has happened.

From committee memberships to the organization of the Welcome Reception for the SLA Leadership Summit 2008 in Louisville KY the activities I have undertaken as an SLA Volunteer have improved my professional skills.  Librarians are used to organizing things, however combining the organization of information and watching it proceed to the execution of an organization wide event is a bit more than simple organization.

It is leadership, it is management, it is follow-up and it is crowd control when necessary. I am concentrating on my experience with the SLA Leadership Summit because that single event demonstrated my dedication to executing a successful event. My committee worked hard to raise the funds necessary to pull the event off. We debated on place and food and activities during the Welcome Reception. We took a year to plan the event and I think overall it was well worth it as people still talk about the great time they had at the Louisville Slugger Museum. I love hearing that people still remember the event fondly.

Those same organizational, leadership and management skills have enhanced my own career. I now do not hesitate to take on any task. Just last year I was a key member of an Open Source User Conference planning committee. The conference speakers, the attendee engagement and the full room at the end of the last day of the conference were a testimony to the skills our team used to help our client be successful. The experiences I have had with my SLA work were instrumental in guiding my client to success.

SLA is a critical component of all my professional successes.

Constance Ard
Answer Maven
SLA Candidate Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect

SLA and professional growth

Question #4. How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?  
Deb Hunt - Candidate, President-Elect

There are so many ways that SLA has helped me to grow, but I will concentrate on just a few of them.

Leadership skills: as a new member of SLA, I worked on the Bylaws Committee for the Engineering Division and then on many committees in the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter. That led to chairing chapter committees and finally to being chapter president. I have served in division positions and on the Board of SLA as a Director. The skills in leading others, delegation, organizational sustainability, working as part of a team and learning to network better really have helped me professionally and personally to grow into the person I am today.

Professional development: through ClickU, the annual and Leadership conferences, chapter and division educational opportunities, and learning from what my colleagues are doing have improved my skills immeasurably. I am a lifelong learner, always striving to improve my skillset, teach others, and continuing to grow professionally. SLA has facilitated this.

Collegiality: many of my SLA colleagues have become good friends and I know I can count on them to be there for me to provide resources I need to do my work, to vent to when needed, and I can be a listening ear in return. They inspire me.

I have volunteered not thinking of what was in it for me, but rather for the greater good of our profession, and yet I’ve gotten back so much more in return. I know that my membership dollars are well spent and provide value. I cannot imagine where I’d be in my career now if it weren’t for SLA and all the opportunities and connections it has provided over the years. 

 

SLA and professional growth

Question #4: How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?

Marilyn Bromley, candidate for SLA Director, 2012

Years ago I took the Myers-Briggs test, and was not surprised to learn that I was the classic librarian type (at least it was then) of ISTJ.  At the same time, following my mother’s example, I have always been a joiner and a volunteer, someone who enjoys being a part of a larger group but likes to have a job to do. 

My first major SLA responsibility was as treasurer of the DC Chapter.  I liked it so much I did a second three-year term 9 years later.  In between that time I served as president of the Chapter.  Being the “top dog” in a large chapter helped me develop some new skills: leading meetings, learning how to be a coach, persuading others to volunteer, being a good listener, practicing conflict resolution, speaking in public, working on that “vision thing.”   

Being involved in SLA also benefited me in my job here at BNA.  After 11 years as a reference librarian, I was asked to become Library director.  Without the skills I had developed in the DC Chapter and later with the Social Science and Legal divisions, I wouldn’t have been qualified to lead a busy library and staff of 15 with multiple responsibilities and services.

The Myers-Brigg test told me what I needed to work on, but SLA, more than another organization in my life, made that possible.

SLA and Professional Growth

Question No: 4. How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession? 

By Jane Macoustra SLA Candidate for Director, 2011.

My work and involvement with SLA over the years has been extremely important to my professional development because I have learned such a huge amount from the organisation. Particular skills I gained are developing all-important team building skills externally from the workplace, and exposure to peers by working in close engagement with like-minded individuals with whom I could relate to professionally. The cultural diversity that comes with global interaction and recognition of the similarities and differences add to the mix to provide a rich source of engagement that would be difficult to experience elsewhere. Working with SLA provides me with a sense of belonging, as a part of one of the largest organisations in our profession. The leadership strength and non-judgemental advice provided to those lower down in the organisation ensures that members have a feeling of confidence with the work they undertake for SLA and encourages others to have more proactive involvement. SLA's core values are recognised by employers who encourage membership; SLA's professional standards are so high that the individual has the opportunity to achieve promotion and recognition for their work faster than they might otherwise achieve it. Working with SLA strengthens personal beliefs in the profession, and provides a sense of purpose. The training available to members is a valuable asset as it is directly related to the Information Professional, and there are so many ways to keep ahead of new technology. I have no doubt at all that my professional development has been positively impacted by my involvement with SLA. 

SLA & Professional Growth

Question #4: How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?

Hal Kirkwood - Candidate, Candidate for the SLA Board of Directors

In the beginning, SLA gave me confidence to share my accomplishments and to participate in the larger information science field.  As a 'baby' librarian at the Montreal and Boston Conferences I was provided the opportunity to present in a panel and get involved within the Business & Finance Division as its first webmaster.

As I continued to attend the Annual Conference, I grew professionally by learning from other's experiences; by collaborating with other Business & Finance Division officers, as well as Indiana Chapter members; and by the exposure to the much wider world of information.  This includes participating with other academic business librarians to develop panel discussions sessions and attending sessions from corporate, solo, and non-business information professionals.

Finally, SLA helped me grow professionally by helping to develop my leadership and project management skills.  As chair of the Business & Finance Division, I was responsible for coordinating the division's activities at the Denver Conference, a tremendous undertaking which has given me expereinces to draw from in many aspects of my professional life.

And now, as I sit on the slate for Director, I look forward to the opportunity and the responsibility to take all that I have learned and give back to the membership by helping SLA provide value and learning opportunities to new professionals entering the field as well as long time members.

SLA and Professional Growth

Question #4: How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?

Debbie Schachter - Candidate, Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect

This is a timely question given the much heated discussions recently about the value of association membership and how to communicate or develop that perceived value for attracting and retaining members.

On a personal level, I feel a strong connection to SLA as it is the only association that I joined as a student, and of which I have had almost continuous membership over the years (I've been in the field for more than 20 years now). During that period of time, my career has taken many twists and turns and my development has been due to many factors including: self-directed personal development; work-related development; association-related development.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to attend continuing education, social and networking events locally, as a member. I have benefitted from hearing from panels of local special librarians on how their work has changed over time, and to learn lessons from people in the field. I became a familiar face to many special librarians which I believe also helped with my career path. I have also valued the conference and have attended many years, for professional education, contact and networking with my division contacts, and simply through re-energizing me for another year.

Through the years, I have taken an active role in the Western Canada Chapter through many different board positions. These leadership roles have had a positive impact on my professional growth, I believe, through indicating a willingness to take responsiblility, step up, and provide vision and direction - all things that employers are looking for when hiring.

I continue to enjoy the stimulation and challenges that come from leadership in associations, and I am looking forward to seeing how we can leverage these types of personal experiences to improve communication on the value of membership for a strong future.

Contributed Papers at SLA 2011

Do you want to learn more about your fellow SLA members’ successes in the workplace? Do you want to know how they are becoming “Future Ready”? Then be sure to attend at least one of the three Contributed Papers sessions at SLA 2011 in Philadelphia.

Contributed Papers give SLA members an excellent opportunity to showcase their research and scholarship, and attendees will take away many exciting, innovative ideas that they can use in their own workplaces. In Philadelphia, the topics will relate to the conference theme of “Future Ready” and to at least one of the three sub-themes: communicating value through strategic alignment, leveraging technology for innovation, and using knowledge sharing to encourage collaboration.

This year’s paper topics and their presenters are as follows:

“Communicating Value through Strategic Alignment”
Melanie Browne, Maple Leaf Foods, ThinkFOOD! Information Café

“Librarians and Libraries Increase Profitability: It’s What You Do that Counts!”
Margaret Carroll, University of North Texas

“Aiding Undergraduate Students in the Understanding of the Scientific Research Process: Chemistry Faculty-Science Librarian Collaboration”
Lutishoor Salisbury and Gwen Mattice, University of Arkansas

“Facilitating Knowledge Sharing via an In-house, Online Scholarly Publication”
Mary Whittaker, The Boeing Company

"Managing the Vulnerability of Value: A Risk Management Model for Evaluating and Implementing Digital Preservation Strategies”
Michael Bellacosa, Bellacosa Risk Solutions

“Curated Industry News Delivery: A Marketing Approach”
Betty Edwards, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

“Website of the Future: Leveraging Microsoft SharePoint to Create a Dynamic, Customer-Facing Library Website”
Julie Hillskemper and Danielle Pollock, Sandia National Laboratories Technical Library

“Considerations on Cloud Computing in Libraries”
Matt Goldner and Andrew Pace, OCLC

“Leading Future-Focused Scenario Planning Efforts in Knowledge Organizations”
P.J. Neal, Toffler Associates

“Metamorphosis of the Information Professional”
Valerie Ryder, Wolper Subscription Services

“Faculty/Librarian Collaboration: Catalyst for Student Learning!”
Valerie Tucci, The College of New Jersey

The sessions will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (June 13-15) from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The online planner and final program will list the locations.