President's Corner: Members Make the Chapter Great Submitted by Susan Fournier, Susan.Fournier@icba.org
As I write this column, we have ended our chapter elections and are preparing for the annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception. Both of these events signal the importance of our members’ support to the continued growth and strength of our association. Without our valiant and reliable volunteers, we could not offer the variety or the number of programs that we do throughout the year. Many, many people make our program year possible. We would like to see more of you volunteer whatever time you can to support your chapter. There is a niche somewhere in DC/SLA for you and your talents.
November 2007 Volume 68 No. 10 http://www.sla.org/Chapter/cdc
Inside this issue: President’s Corner ………1 Annual Banquet …...…….3
My first role in a library association started shortly after I was hired as a children’s librarian in the DC Public Library, many moons ago. I was asked to lead the Children & Young Adults Interest Group, at the time the most active group. I had no idea what I was getting into. But, with lots of support from colleagues, I did maintain the C&YA reputation. And, because I felt I could do better, I continued another year, bringing on someone as co-chair to prime for the following year. I don’t expect everyone to jump into the fray quite the way I did; but I did learn how to organize a program, contact speakers, run a meeting and speak before groups other than children and their parents. My roles in DCLA added increasingly more responsibility. When my career took the turn to association libraries, I joined DC/SLA because a colleague I had met at brown bag lunch asked me to help with the Technology Group programming. And look where I ended up! The skills gained through my volunteerism have helped me promote my organization’s library services. By presenting workshops at my organization’s annual convention, my services as a solo librarian stay front and center with our members and staff. As this year is winding down, it is time to start thinking about next year. I know, Halloween will soon pass and Thanksgiving and Christmas are yet to come. But, DC/SLA can stop for no holiday! Diane Schnurrpusch, President-Elect, needs to fill committee and group chair slots very soon-- this is where you come in. The new governance calendar doesn’t allow much time to be up and running with a slate of programs for the coming year; we must start planning now. Take a few moments, now, before you finish reading this column to look over the committees and groups that support Chapter activities.
Idea Mapping ……………4 SLA 2009….…………..…5 How Journalists Search. …7 Members Corner …………8 Volunteer Reception …….9 South African Stories……10 Volunteer Form …………13 Read about the new products and services from: • • • •
InfoCurrent Library Associates Trak Legal EOS International
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Special Libraries Association assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by the contributors to SLA’s publications. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official views of SLA. Acceptance of advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product by SLA. Subscriptions:Chapter Notes is free to DC/SLA members. Subscriptions to nonmembers are available at $10 per year. Advertising: Advertising rates effective September 1997 are: $95—1/4 page; $175—1/2 page; $290— full page. For information regarding advertisements, contact the DC/SLA Chapter Notes Business Manager: Julia Leggett Email: jleggett@crs.loc.gov Deadline for the December issue is November 26. The issue is distributed approximately one week after the deadline. The preferred submission format is a Word document sent via email. You should receive an email acknowledgement of your submission. Materials for Chapter Notes should be sent to the Editor:
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President’s Corner [cont’d from p. 1]
Identify at least one where you might lend your time and energy. Never chaired a committee or planned a program? No problem! If it’s not the right time for you to become a committee or group chair, consider helping out by providing ideas for programs, offering to help with a particular activity, taking reservations for a program, or hosting a Click U or other chapter program. There are all manner of opportunities to volunteer as much or as little time and effort as you can offer. And, remember, these volunteer activities provide great learning experiences and opportunities to develop leadership skills that will transfer to your everyday working and home life. Contact Diane (dschnurr@dtic.mil) and let her know what you can do for the chapter. Foremost among volunteers are those individuals who accept nomination to run for Chapter office. The 2008 candidate slate was one of the best. Thanks to Nominations Chair, Sheryl Rosenthal, and her committee for recruiting efforts. Joining Diane Schnurrpusch and the other remaining board members are Greta Ober-Beauchesne, First VicePresident/President-Elect; Sage Hulsebus, Second Vice President; Julia Leggett, Director and Lorraine Bell, Corresponding Secretary. Congratulations to the new board members. A special thanks to all the candidates. It is a commitment to agree to have your name on the ballot. There were some tough decisions to make! One last reminder: Please plan to attend our Annual Meeting and Banquet on Thursday, December 6 at the Woman’s National Democratic Club. Our speaker is Mike McCurry, a veteran political strategist and spokesperson with 30 years experience in Washington D.C. McCurry served in the White House as press secretary to President Bill Clinton. More details appear on the Web site. Join your colleagues for a festive holiday event sure to inform and entertain you.
DC/SLA Listerv Manager: Gulnar Nagashybayeva Government Documents Librarian NOAA Central Library SSMC-3, 2nd fl., E/OC4 1315 East-West Hwy. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-713-2607, ext. 143 gulnar.nagashybayeva@noaa.gov Send address changes to: Chapter Notes Editor; ATTN: Address/Name Changes; 7611 Maple Ave., Takoma Park MD 20912
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 2
Annual Banquet & Holiday Party Politics in the Age of the Internet: A View from the Podium The holidays bring special traditions. DC/SLA celebrates the season with its second combined Annual Meeting and Holiday Party. Join your colleagues for an evening of festivities . . . good food, stimulating conversation, and a keynote address sure to be at the top of your wish list. The featured speaker will be Mike McCurry, who provides a glance at the Internet's effect on the art of political communication for national leaders, politicians, and commentators. With his background in politics, diplomacy, and technology, McCurry will offer an insightful and sometimes amusing look at politics and politicians and those who cover it all in the press.
PRICE: $35.00 - Chapter members $45.00 - Non-chapter members $20.00 - Students/retired/unemployed RSVP to Alicia Koundakjian at alicia.koundakjian@lexisnexis.com regardless of form of payment. Register early to ensure a spot! Electronic payments can be made via PayPal. Checks should be made payable to DC/SLA and mailed to: Alicia Koundakjian, 1654 Monroe St, NW, Washington, DC 20010. There is more information about this event and the PayPal links on the Chapter Web site.
Mike McCurry is a veteran political strategist and spokesperson with 30 years experience in Washington D.C. He served in the White House as press secretary to President Bill Clinton (19951998) and currently is a principal at Public Strategies Washington, Inc. where he provides strategic communications counsel to corporate and non-profit clients. He holds a unique vantage point as a leader in the world of technological innovation and as a man who stood at the very center of power. DATE: Thursday, December 6, 2007 TIME: Reception from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. FREE wine, beer, and soft drinks during reception. Dinner, Business Meeting, and Presentation from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. LOCATION: Woman's National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC; METRO: Dupont Circle MENU: Entree (choose one): •Surf and Turf: Delicate jumbo lump crab cakes accompanied with marinated and grilled chicken breast. •Mister Portobello: Seasoned and grilled portobello mushroom layered with squash, red onions, assorted fresh peppers and grilled tomatoes laced in a red pepper and tomato coulis. DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 3
Mark your calendars for the next DC/SLA Board Meeting Wednesday, November 7, 2007 6:00 – 7:30 pm 1615 L Street, NW Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036
Nominate Someone for an Association or Chapter Award
Rosenthal and Richard Huffine.
SLA and DC/SLA both have Awards & Honors Programs created to honor individuals or groups and their achievements and contributions to the Association, to the DC Chapter and the information profession. The Association bestows awards in twelve categories and the Chapter presents two annual awards. Check the Association Awards on the SLA Web site. Nominations can be submitted individually to SLA or can be sent via our chapter’s Awards Committee.
Nominations for Chapter Awards must be received by October 19, 2007
Our chapter awards are presented at the DC/SLA Annual Meeting and Banquet, held this year at the Woman’s Democratic Club in Washington on Thursday, December 6, 2007. Our chapter award categories are: Chapter Member of the Year - Given to a chapter member in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Chapter, public service activities, assistance in professional development, promotion of special librarianship or publication of a professional paper. Board of Directors Award - Given to an individual or group, who may or may not be a member of the DC Chapter, in recognition of special achievements or contributions to the field of special librarianship. The DC/SLA Awards Committee is seeking your input in suggesting names of individuals or groups to be nominated for any of these awards. Nominations should include the following information, much of which can be found in the SLA Membership Directory: Name of Award Name of person submitting nomination Name of nominee or group Nominee address, telephone and email Career Information Employer, Job Title Association Information SLA Member, SLA and/or Chapter Affiliations Reason for Nomination The DC/SLA Awards Committee is made up of Anne Caputo (chair), Susan Fifer Canby, Sheryl DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 4
Please send your nominations to Anne Caputo at anne.caputo@dowjones.com.
Nominations for SLA Association Awards – to be submitted by our chapter Awards Committee - must be submitted by December 7, 2007
Join Your Colleagues to Learn About Idea Mapping: A Useful Tool Do You Ever …….. • Feel overwhelmed to begin a project or task? (Where do I start?) • Feel swamped by information? • Find it hard to organize your thoughts? Join the DC/SLA Chapter and Lisa Metzer of the National Geographic Library to learn about Idea Mapping. Lisa will introduce attendees to a simple, visual information tool for organizing thoughts and ideas. This flexible tool helps us see a topic’s overall structure and connections between ideas at the same time. Objectives of the program are: •Introduce an easy thought process tool for group or personal use. •Help capture and organize our thoughts & ideas. •Spark creative thinking. •Teach the skill of idea mapping. •Use idea mapping for collaboration. See what Lisa’s past students have said …….. “I’ve been meaning to let you know that your class has changed my life! I make idea maps all the time now and it has really helped me with focus and creativity. It was just amazing that a seemingly simple concept could make such monumental changes for me.” “The most useful information I learned was a new way of thinking and brainstorming. Idea mapping is a tool of preparing or organizing a project or any
task. It was a very interesting class. “The concept and applications of idea mapping I learned in the class have unbelievable potential to make me better at my job.” DATE: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 TIME: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Light refreshments 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.; program 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PLACE: Venable LLP, 575 7th St. NW (Eighth Floor), Washington, DC 20004 METRO: Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro (Red, Yellow, and Green Lines). Take the 7th Street exit. PRICE: $10.00 - DC Chapter members $20.00 - Non-Chapter members $5.00 - Students/Retirees/Unemployed RSVP to Mary Reusch at Mary.reusch@infocurrent.com or 202-775-1898. See the Chapter Web site for PayPal links and other information.
Celebrate 100 Years of SLA and participate at SLA 2009 in DC Submitted by Sharon Lenius, sharon.lenius@us.army.mil
Only Nineteen Months. . . ……until the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of Special Libraries Association and the exciting happenings in Washington, DC June 14-17, 2009. Follow this URL for some interesting ideas for SLA 2009 or even tomorrow for your own out of town visitors! If you want to brush up on your knowledge of the history of SLA, Carolyn Sosnowski, Information Specialist at SLA Headquarters, suggests you check the SLA website for “Special Libraries Association - - Its First Fifty Years”. The master page for these sources can be found at this SLA Web site. DC/SLA will be the Host Chapter. The Local Arrangements Committee (LAC09) has begun organizational work on the special events and DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 5
information publications in support of the Centennial Celebration. With award winning Karen Huffman of The National Geographic Society Library in charge of Communications, the information will go out via Wikis, Blogs, Web Sites, Podcasts, Vodcasts and whatever new media are developed between now and June 2009. Barbie Keiser will be in charge of Volunteers for the information booths, both at SLA 2008 in Seattle and SLA 2009. Richard Huffine has offered to design the Info Booth. Eileen Rourke will put her Tourist Guide License to good use helping to develop a Top Ten Places to Visit brochure. Nancy Minter is the Assistant Chair of LAC09. Sharon Lenius is the overall Chair of LAC09. Some DC/SLA Members have stepped up to volunteer. We have some key slots open and would appreciate hearing from members. Some VOLUNTEER POSITIONS 1. Overall Booth CZAR both Seattle and DC a.. Sub CZAR for Seattle b.. Sub CZAR for DC c. Sub CZAR – Volunteers – Seattle and DC – Barbie Keiser d. Sub CZAR - Booth Design – Richard Huffine 2.. Public Relations Guru a. Writers to feed communications vehicles b. Dining Guide c. DC Things to Do d. Top Ten – Eileen Rourke e. Camp SLA/Kids SLA 3. Budget/Fundraising - Money Manager This is just the beginning and we urge you to join the Celebration by filling out the Volunteer Form, coming soon to the DC/SLA Web page! For further information contact Sharon Lenius at 703 601-2710 sharon.lenius@us.army.mil.
Coming Up! Educational Materials into Iraq
SID/ Development Information Working Group November Meeting: Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Noon - 2:00 p.m., Winrock International, 1621 N. Kent Street in Rosslyn, Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22209 It’s a Brown Bag, so bring your lunch. Presentation: Getting Educational Materials into Difficult Places: the Sabre Foundation Efforts to Enhance University Libraries and Classrooms in Iraq by Tania Vitvitsky, Executive Director, Sabre Foundation The Sabre Foundation has gained a reputation for getting educational materials into “difficult” places, often countries emerging from or engaged in conflict. The most recently-established initiative, however, presents a formidable set of challenges, as Sabre strives to enhance the libraries and classrooms of universities in Iraq (particularly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq). Join us to hear Tania DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 6
Vitvitsky tell about the future plans, challenges, and triumphs of Sabre's projects in Iraq. Sabre Foundation’s work in Iraq began with a grant from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Sabre was tasked with providing collections of books in three subject areas – constitutional design, multi-ethnic/multi-religious countries, and truth and reconciliation processes – to Iraqi university libraries. Sabre initially envisioned the USIP-funded project as part of a larger plan, which was developed by the Harvard Committee on Iraqi Libraries in collaboration with Sabre to distribute educational materials in Iraq over a three-year period. As conditions on the ground in Iraq deteriorated, however, implementation of the USIPfunded project was significantly slowed and sources for funding a larger program looked increasingly uncertain. An unexpected turn came in late 2005 when Michael Masterson, then Economics Advisor at the Mosul office of the US Embassy, contacted Sabre saying that the University of Mosul was interested in a shipment of new books on a variety of subjects. Following resolution of the considerable logistical and security issues, a container of more than 12,000 new books was shipped via Turkey and through the Zakho Pass into Iraq in late 2006. With the success of that first shipment, the ground was laid for an expanded and ongoing Sabre program focusing on Kurdistan. Two shipments were sent in 2007 and included new books and CD-ROMs (as well as two “mirror sites” from MIT’s OpenCourseWare) for universities and technical institutes in the Kurdish north. Directions to Winrock International: From the Rosslyn Metro Station in Arlington (Orange & Blue line): As you exit Metro turn , turn right, walk a half block on Moore Street to Wilson Blvd. Turn left on Wilson Blvd (downhill), cross Lynn Street and continue to the next street, Kent Street. Turn left on Kent Street and walk half a block. Winrock is located in the building at the extreme left of a complex of three buildings which you enter via a courtyard on the right hand side of Kent Street (large letters above the courtyard entrance read “Rosslyn Plaza”). 1621, is on the left once you enter the courtyard. Take elevator to 12th floor.
Parking is available under the building complex. Enter on Arlington Ridge Road off of Wilson Blvd. which is the next street over from Kent St, just east of Kent Street (downhill from Kent Street). The address is 1621 N. Kent Street in Rosslyn, Suite 1200. Phone:.703-525-9430.
Mark Your Calendars for Next Professional Book Club Meeting The next meeting of the DC/SLA Professional Book Club will be at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, January 16, 2008. We will meet at the Old Siam Restaurant at 406 8th Street SE, Washington DC 20003, phone 202-544-7426. The restaurant is very close to the Eastern Market Metro Station (when you come out of the station, walk straight ahead and then turn right onto 8th Street). The book we will discuss is "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell. Please contact Mary Bowen at bowenjm@verizon.net to RSVP or for more information.
Journalists and Government Information: SLA-DGI/GODORT Joint Meeting Submitted by Peggy Garvin; peggy@garvinconsulting.com Web: www.garvinconsulting.com
New York Times reporter Scott Shane and Washington Post research editor Alice Crites educated and entertained the crowd at a joint meeting of the SLA Government Information Division (DGI) and the ALA Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT) in Arlington, Virginia, on October 15. Scott and Alice discussed how they find and use government information, what their favorite sources are, and which documents even they have trouble tracking down. Scott told the crowd at the Crystal City Doubletree that librarians probably see many more documents than he does, so please feel free to send any “smoking memos” to shane@nytimes.com. Alice waited for Scott to leave the room before requesting that hot documents instead be sent to critesa@washpost.com. Scott Shane covers the national security and intelligence beat at the Times. He is the author of Dismantling Utopia: How Information Ended the DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 7
Soviet Union (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 1994). At the Times, he has covered such stories as the 2006 intelligence agency attempt to reclassify alreadypublic documents at the National Archives and the 2007 trial of Scooter Libby. Scott said he loves documents because they are fixed in time, unlike people whose memories and stories morph over time. Good documents reveal more than the author intended, and Scott told a story that illustrates the indirect way a reporter may use a document to uncover intelligence. When the White House report Our National Strategy for Victory in Iraq was originally released, the electronic file’s document properties showed the original author as "feaver_p". Peter Feaver worked in the White House and was a political scientist from Duke University. Scott called a colleague of Feaver’s at Duke and learned that their research centered on the proposition that people will support a tough war if they think victory is in sight. For the resulting December 4, 2005 Times article, see http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/politics/04strat egy.html (registration required). Scott is a heavy user of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but the process is too slow to help with most news deadlines. He’ll file a FOIA request when he has an idea or a "passing thought" that might relate to a long-term project. By the time the documents arrive, he has usually forgotten about making the request. Getting the envelope is "just like Christmas." Scott is still waiting for a positive response from the State Department to a FOIA request for documents relating to Secretary Colin Powell’s February 2003 "WMD" speech before the United Nations Security Council. Alice Crites, the second speaker, is a graduate of the University of Maryland College of Information Studies. She has been with the Post as a news researcher for a decade. Alice has been on the Post teams for several Pulitzer Prize-winning news series and is now national research editor. Alice described typical sources of requests for the researchers: "Someone gets a tip; we flesh it out. Someone has an idea; has it been done before?" The Post has a central library providing day, night, and weekend coverage. Researchers work in specialized areas, such as the foreign desk.
Alice cited a long list of government resources she uses constantly: Congressional Research Service reports (she says the Post has the same trouble getting them as everyone else does); Government Accountability Office reports; statistics, and more statistics (crime, transportation and, most of all, the Census Web site); the Federal Procurement Data System for federal contracts information; Federal Election Commission filings; and Securities and Exchange Commission filings (especially for the information on the boards and officers), among many others. Although many of these resources are online, she noted that there is still quite a bit of useful government information that can only be obtained on-site, such as U.S. senators’ legal defense fund documents, which require a visit to the Senate to view.
Focusing on the themes of Converge, Connect and Communicate, the 2008 AIIP Annual Conference will focus on tips, techniques and strategies for independent information professionals (IIP) to grow their businesses by working with national and international IIP colleagues, as well as non-IIP associates, in addition to expanding their own product/service mixes.
The changing news environment has meant that the librarians and researchers are constantly learning new skills, particularly in computer-assisted reporting and using and creating databases. They also set up resources, such as blogs and wikis for reporting teams, as the schedule of a daily newspaper permits. Alice fielded many questions from fellow librarians in the audience, providing an interesting look into the world of research at a national newspaper.
A major innovation at the '08 conference will be additional networking time to allow attendees to make connections and build relationships for personal and professional reasons.
This program marks the second time the SLA Government Information Division has held a joint meeting with ALA’s GODORT. The Government Printing Office’s Fall Federal Depository Library Conference provides an excellent opportunity to bring together attendees from both organizations. Roughly 140 people attended, and at least one-third identified themselves as SLA members. Bill Sleeman, GODORT 2008 chair, moderated the program along with Peggy Garvin, DGI 2008 chair.
Independent Information Professionals Converge on Pittsburgh in 2008. Save the Date for the 2008 AIIP (Association of Independent Information Professionals) Annual Conference Wednesday April 30 – Sunday May 4, 2008. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 8
Examples of conference topics currently in the planning stage include: * Collaboration opportunities with noninformation professionals and other organizations * Buying and selling an information business * International collaboration among independent information professionals
More information will follow as the keynote speaker is announced and programs become confirmed. Review the current Conference information on the AIIP Web site.
Member’s Corner Greta D. Ober-Beauchesne presented at one of the ALA conference sessions this summer: Monday, June 25th, 2007 BRASS 2007 Annual Program: Doing Business Abroad: Regulations, Markets, and Culture As the only information professional in a panel of 3 at this session, her topic was International Business Resources. She conducted a powerpoint presentation and produced a "webliography" of useful/relevant internet resources. The "webliography" is listed on the ALA/BRASS Web site. It is also published in the June 2007, volume 19, no.6 issue of Business Information Alert.
Photos from the 2007 Volunteer Appreciation Reception The Volunteer Appreciation Reception was held Thursday, October 25, at the Marian Koshland Science Museum at The National Academies.
For organizing the 2007 Dine Arounds, Rick Davis received the "Maitre D' Award"
Erin Clougherty was cited for 5 1/2 years as DC/SLA treasurer
For spearheading the 2007 membership challenge, Shirley Loo received the "Big Apple Award" DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 9
DC/SLA Members Showcase South African Library Gems in a Sparkling Panel Discussion
One such topic is how to attract new information professionals.
Submitted by Eileen Deegan, deeganeg@state.gov
Three DC/SLA Members -- SLA President Rebecca Vargha, National Academy of Sciences Librarian Victoria Harriston, and Library Consultant Shelly Edwards -- presented highlights from their April 1625 trip to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa as delegates in a People to People Ambassador Program focusing on special libraries and librarians. The three spoke enthusiastically about their many adventures, at the Chapter’s September 27 event held at the National Academies headquarters. To illustrate what’s happening in South Africa’s library world and its culture, they also displayed selected photos from their trip. Following a brief reception, Rebecca, the Program’s Delegation Leader, opened the panel’s recap with some background on “People to People.” Founded in 1956 by President Eisenhower, this non-profit promotes international understanding by organizing cultural and educational exchanges. Twelve special librarians and two guests from throughout the United States comprised the delegation led by Rebecca. She noted how each day of the trip was “wonderful and packed,” and Shelly and Victoria observed how all of the delegates were deeply impacted by their visit. On their first full day in Johannesburg, the delegates received a history lesson and introductory briefing on South Africa, and Shelly delivered a significantly abridged version of this to her DC/SLA and DCLA audience. Among the many interesting facts the delegates learned was that because 11 official languages are spoken in South Africa, the government must publish its material in multiple languages. Delegates were advised to not be judgmental about what they encountered on their trip. They were urged to recognize that “things are not better or worse – they are just different” from what they are accustomed to. One such difference, the panelists fondly remembered, is the daily tea breaks at10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when all work stops. Rebecca noted that the delegates found a major similarity in the kinds of subjects their fellow South African librarians discuss. Their conversations, she said, are about “the things we talk about in our meetings.” DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 10
The panelists felt that the major information-related problems facing South Africans are limited Web access and the slow deployment of technologies. They observed that the country’s big literacy problem impacts citizens’ ability to acquire information. While there are 35,000 South African schools, for instance, there are only about 9,400 school libraries. On the positive side, despite the country’s high, official unemployment rate, the delegates found the South Africans to be very entrepreneurial. They also learned that South Africa’s corporate librarians are paid relatively high salaries. The panelists described memorable information professionals they met, and innovative information operations they visited, in Johannesburg. All of the panelists agreed that one of the most dynamic professionals they met was Dr. Daisy Selematsela, Manager of Information and Strategy Advice for the Coalition of South African Library Consortia. A knowledge management expert, “Dr. Daisy” is instrumental in establishing connections among South African researchers – both inside and outside the country. The panelists highly praised the Document Warehouse -- a leading company that teaches clients how to archive their data in accord with the life cycle of a document. The company’s consultants also specialize in handling medical and legal documents. A professional highlight of the delegation’s trip to Cape Town was their visit to the Centre for the Book, which is modeled on the Library of Congress Center. Housed in a “gorgeous building” which also provided the setting for some scenes in the movie Blood Diamond, the Centre promotes the writing, publishing, reading, marketing and distribution of South African literature. The panelists explained that the Centre is striving to reverse the prevailing cultural attitude that books are for learning, not fun. One way the Centre encourages reading for fun is by giving children’s books to families.
The panelists were also impressed by the Shine Centre at the Observatory Junior School in Cape Town, which promotes reading among youth from historically disadvantaged communities. Trained volunteers work with the Shine Centre students, helping them improve critical English-reading skills. The delegation’s gift of children’s books to the Centre was warmly received, Rebecca commented. A convivial breakfast meeting with SLA’s SubSahara Africa Chapter and the local Library and Information Association of South Africa Special Libraries Interest Group marked the final event of the delegation’s visit. As reported in the May 2007 “SLA Connections”, the breakfast attendees were particularly struck by the similarity of their professional challenges – whether one works in the United States or South Africa. Outside the information realm, Rebecca, Victoria, and Shelly described moving experiences they had visiting a hospice for HIV-infected babies and children, and landmarks commemorating the Apartheid era including the Hector Pietersen Museum in Soweto, and the Robben Island prison that housed Nelson Mandela and fellow political prisoners. In closing, Shelly recommended that the audience read Mr. Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, to better understand South Africa’s turbulent story. At the end of their presentation, an audience member asked whether future People to People programs for special librarians would be held. The panelists suggested that this is a possibility. Come what may, thanks to Rebecca’s, Victoria’s, and Shelly’s compelling presentation, the audience was afforded the opportunity to view some remarkable gems from the South African library world and its environs. [Note: For more insights about this Person to Person delegation, see Guy St. Clair’s article “Rebecca Vargha: Exploring Knowledge Services in South Africa”.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 11
Left to right: Diane Schnurrpusch, Susan Fournier, Victoria Harriston, Rebecca Vargha, Shelly Edwards
Richard Huffines, Shelly Edwards, Sharon Lenius
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 12
Do you have …
Do you want …
A hidden talent? A desire to give?
An opportunity to learn? An opportunity to grow professionally?
Get involved! Write an article for Chapter Notes, volunteer to meet and greet members at a meeting. Your commitment will bring you satisfaction with new learning experiences and valuable professional contacts and best of all, new friends. In addition to helping to insure that Chapter functions and activities are carried out, you will have the opportunity to interact with colleagues and develop professional skills. This is not a comprehensive list; see our Web site for all activities. Chapter Web site: http://units.sla.org/chapter/cdc/ Please select areas of interest(s) and complete your contact information below. ___Archives
Maintain historically important Chapter documents
___Book Club
Coordinate meetings of Chapter book club
___Chapter Notes/Calendar
Contribute or edits article for Chapter newsletter
___Community relations/outreach
Coordinate community outreach activities
___Consultation
Advice to members/organizations on professional issues
___Employment
Coordinate employment information
___Government relations
Reports on current federal initiatives
___Hospitality
Arrange meeting locations; registration
___International Relations
Develop/implement Chapter’s international relations activities
___Joint Spring Workshop
Represent Chapter on multi-association planning committee
___Professional Enhancement Day
Develop/implement program for career development
___Students & Young Professionals
Sponsor social and volunteer activities for ‘young at heart’
___Web site/discussion list
Maintain web site; coordinates discussion list activities
___Volunteer
Host Click U Live; take program reservations, on-site registration, etc.
___ 2009 SLA Conference – DC
Preparations as host Chapter – need a chair
Name:___________________________________ Organization:________________________________ Phone: __________________________________ E-mail_____________________________________ Fax: Susan Fournier, DC/SLA President, 2007 202-659-1413
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | November 2007 | pg 13