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.
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