President's Corner: Planning for SLA’s Future By Diane R. Schnurrpusch, dschnurr@dtic.mil Leadership Summit: The January 2008 Leadership Summit in Louisville, Kentucky drew together SLA Chapter and Division leaders from all over the world. As is usual with these meetings, we were trained for our duties as elected officers. But, this particular gathering also focused on how our association is responding to changes in the information environment and planning for its future. Our association’s centennial celebration in 2009 is a perfect time for us to reflect on both challenges and opportunities. SLA is embarking on a strategic alignment plan to ensure the association’s membership growth and relevancy to the needs of the profession. Two groups engaged by SLA to facilitate this plan were presenters at the Summit. Futurist Andy Hines of Social Technologies was our keynote speaker. He explained that futurists don’t predict the future, but instead help organizations understand and shape their futures. Representatives from Fleishman-Hillard (a communications firm which has worked with AARP) stressed that organizations that survive have core values and purposes that remain fixed; it is the business strategies and practices that change. Outsell, a research and advisory group for the information provider community, is the third organization that will help SLA's alignment process. These three companies will collaborate with staff and members to lead us into the next century. Green Initiative SLA has initiated a Green Initiative, and demonstrated its environmental stewardship by dramatically reducing the amount of paper at the Leadership Summit. Additional measures will be incorporated in this summer’s SLA Conference in Seattle. Speakers have been asked to provide their electronic presentations for the Web site, and vendors are asked to give away services or “really useful stuff.” The Seattle Chapter is encouraging members to bring their own tote bags, badge holders, water bottles, and (appropriately enough) coffee cups! Stay tuned for more information about how you can do your part.
March 2008 Volume 69, No. 2 Inside this issue: President’s Corner …..……..1 Ellen Tise of IFLA Visits......3 International Relations Committee…..……………...4 Joint Spring Workshop.……5 How Can Special Libraries Thrive?.......………………...5 SLA 2009 Wiki…………….9 Meet a New Member...........10 Spring Dine Arounds……...13 Upcoming Events………....14 Member Notes………….....16 Book Club………….……..16 New DC/SLA Members…..17 Read about new products and services from: • • • • • • •
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applications allowing member experimentation. Stephen will encourage innovation this year with a project called "Learning 2.0 – 23 things in 15 minutes a day." He outlined the Innovation Lab resources in the January issue of Information Outlook. Membership Drive News On another topic, the winners of the Fall 2007 Member Get-A-Member Drive were announced at the Summit. We are proud that the individual member recruiting the most new members is from the DC Chapter. Jerome Offord Jr., Director of Diversity Initiatives at the Association of Research Libraries, brought in eleven new members. Congratulations, Jerome!
Materials for Chapter Notes should be sent to the Editor:
Chapter Notes Editor: Jenny O'Shea Library, U.S. News & World Report Phone: 202-955-2087 Email: oshea.jenny@gmail.com DC/SLA Webmaster: Krista Mantsch National Geographic Society Libraries and Information Services 1145 17th St., NW Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-457-8450 Email: kmantsch@ngs.org 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 Please contact the Editor with any address changes.
Learning Opportunities from SLA SLA President Stephen Abrams highlighted the benefits of SLA membership. This will be his mantra throughout the year as he encourages all members to take advantage of the growing number of technological resources. With a membership ID and password, a member may access a variety of learning tools such as the CLICK University courses (which, he reminds us, stands for Continuous Learning Improves Career Knowledge), the Leadership and Management Library from Ebrary, and the SLA Innovation Lab that offers hundreds of software DC/SLA Chapter Notes | March 2008 | pg 2
DC/SLA Leaders Collaborate with Wiki Technology Karen Huffman provided wiki training for many chapter leaders this month. The DC chapter is using a wiki for board and committee business. We are exploring making portions of the wiki available to all members, as well as using it to feed information to our chapter Web site. I encourage all chapter members to join SLA’s wiki community by going to http://wiki.sla.org and following the simple registration procedure. SLA’s chapters and divisions host many wiki sites with content available to all members. If you are thinking of attending this year’s annual conference, you will want to check out the Seattle 2008 Attendees wiki.
Upcoming Events In addition to our monthly Click University offerings at local venues, we have a number of major events coming up in the next couple of months. March is a Dine Around month, with Lea Wade coordinating the schedule. DC/SLA is the lead organization for the Joint Spring Workshop in April. Anne Linton and Terrie Wheeler are working hard to make that Knowledge Management program a special one. Chapter member Susan Fifer Canby will be the keynote speaker. International Special Librarian’s Day is being coordinated by the International Relations Committee and will occur on Thursday of American Library Week in April. Michele Masias and Dave Shumaker of the Mentoring Committee are arranging “Spend a Day with a Special Librarian” for local library school students. Read about many of these chapter events in this issue.
DC Chapter Members run for SLA’s Board of Directors The international association's 2008 election is not until September. It is not too early to start getting to know the candidates. Three, in particular, are right in our own backyard. Anne Caputo will be vying for SLA President. Both Holly Chong-Williams and Ann Sweeney are running for Division Chair Elect. Thank you all for your dedication to SLA. Volunteer NOW! It takes many hands to support our chapter activities. If you can spare a little time, please contact me at dschnurr@dtic.mil or 703-767-9069 or 1st VP/ President-Elect Greta Ober-Beauchesne at gretaob@gmail.com or 202-623-6413. You can also volunteer directly to the people running the programs. Thank you to all our fantastic volunteers who are giving back to our profession, developing skills, and having fun while doing it.
Greta Ober-Beauchesne and Iris Anderson attended the 2008 SLA Leadership Summit. Greta is immediate past Chair of the Social Science Division; Iris is Chair-elect. Both are members of DC/SLA, and Greta is currently serving as VP/ President-elect.
IFLA's Ellen Tise Visits Washington By Eileen Rourke DC/SLA International Relations Committee In February, Ellen Tise, president-elect of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) visited Washington, and DC/SLA members had several opportunities to meet her while she was in the area. Ms. Tise is also the Senior Director of Library and Information Services at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and she is a past president
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of the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA). The Library of Congress hosted Ms. Tise on February 4th for a talk called "Reflections from South Africa: Libraries and Societal Change." She gave an overview of the history of South Africa, discussing how the social and political changes in that country have affected its libraries, and how the profession has changed in the post-apartheid era. This visit was cosponsored by the Library of Congress' African and Middle Eastern Division, the Center for the Book, the Office of Workforce Diversity, and the Library of Congress Professional Association. The following day, Ms. Tise was the speaker at a colloquium at Catholic University's School of Library and Information Science. Her theme was "Change, Connect, Converge," which was also the motto of her IFLA campaign to highlight the role of librarians as change agents and connectors. After her remarks, she answered questions from library students, advising them to keep up with technology issues to prepare for their careers. (Her full presentation is available on Catholic University's website at http://slis.cua.edu/people/video.cfm) During her trip, Ms. Tise visited a number of special and public libraries in the DC area. Susan FiferCanby invited her to tour the National Geographic Library and have lunch with members of the DC/SLA Board. Ms. Tise also visited SLA's national headquarters in Alexandria and the Washington office of ALA. The DC/SLA International Relations Committee was pleased to invite Ellen Tise to their dinner meeting that week. Chapter president Diane Schnurrpusch and committee members enjoyed meeting Ms. Tise, who offered valuable insights about the power of partnerships at the organizational level. The International Relations Committee would like to thank Laverne Page of the Library of Congress' African and Middle Eastern Division for coordinating Ellen Tise's entire Washington DC visit. We were honored to have Ms. Tise visit Washington, and learned a great deal from her experience.
Focus on the DC/SLA International Relations Committee By Eileen Rourke DC/SLA International Relations Committee The International Relations Committee (IRC) focuses on issues of interest to the DC area international community-at-large, and fosters communication, advocacy and professional development among international special librarians globally. We do this through programs like the Twinning Project (sponsorship of SLA membership for overseas librarians), and promotion of activities such as The Lubuto Project, a community library project for orphans in Africa – a project started by one of DC/SLA's members, Jane Kinney Meyers. As one of its primary activities, the IRC plans the annual program for International Special Librarians Day (ISLD). (See the announcement at right for more information.) Our thanks go to Victor Monti for organizing this year’s program. The International Relations Committee is growing due to expanded activities, and currently has ten members. DC/SLA members with an interest in any aspect of International Affairs (such as international librarianship and information resources, development, politics, human rights, business and economics, or the military) are welcome to join the planning committee. The committee meets on an asneeded basis, with most activity occurring in the spring. Our programs are open to all SLA members and non-members. We also promote SLA and selected non-SLA programs of international interest. One of our members, Zeinab Mansour, recently published an article on the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt. If you missed it, a version of it appeared in the last issue of Chapter Notes. Ms. Mansour, a library consultant, retired last year from the Peterson Institute for International Economics after a busy career in international affairs, and the IRC is delighted to have her join us again as an active committee member. For more information on the International Relations Committee, contact Eileen Rourke at infoeer@yahoo.com.
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International Relations Committee Celebrates International Special Librarians Day Two Journalists: An International Perspective When: Thursday, April 17, 2008 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (registration/ reception 6:00-7:00; speakers 7:00-8:00) Where: Kiplinger Washington Editors Building 1729 H Street NW, 1st floor Washington, DC Metro: Farragut West (Blue/ Orange) Speakers: Erica Lee Nelson Associate Editor, Inside U.S. Trade Sebastian John Photo Editor, National Geographic Society Learn about the research and related activities involved in bringing information from the world to the readers. See how information is collected for important users, and how an international approach is critical to the work of the featured journalists. Erica Lee Nelson is a reporter for Inside US Trade, and she conducts a wide range of trade research.
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Sebastian John has a portfolio of international photographs, and edits the Daily News section of the National Geographic Society's public web site. Registration is $10 for DC/SLA members, $5 for students or retirees, and $15 for non-members. Please RSVP by April 14 to Victor Monti at vthevector@gmail.com.
Cost: $60.00 members, $25.00 students and retirees, and $85.00 non-members. Price includes continental breakfast and lunch. Tax ID number is 52-1121282 Registration information will follow soon. If you have questions, please contact Anne Linton (alinton@gwu.edu) or Carla Evans (CEvans@proskauer.com).
Payment may be by PayPal or check. Make checks payable to DC/SLA and mail, with the registration form, to Mr. Victor Monti, 127 South Fairfax Street, Apt. 146, Alexandria VA 22304. Joint Spring Workshop "Knowledge Management: What is the Librarian's Role?" DC/SLA is pleased to be a cosponsor of the 2008 Joint Spring Workshop. April 29, 2008 Keynote speaker: Susan Fifer Canby, National Geographic Society Panelists to include: • Peter Hobby, Academy of Educational Development • Michael Novak, IRS • Jay Liebowitz, Johns Hopkins University • Denise Bedford, World Bank Event Sponsored by: DC Special Libraries Association (DC/SLA) Law Librarians' Society of Washington, DC (LLSDC) District of Columbia Library Association (DCLA) Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) OCLC CAPCON The workshop will be held at the Library of Congress' Madison Building in the Mumford Room (6th floor) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please arrive at 8:30 a.m., when LC opens, for enough time to go through security, find the Mumford Room, and get registered. The program will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.
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In January, Lee Rainie of the Pew Internet Project gave a presentation called “Surviving in the Digital Ecosystem.” His research inspired Barbie Keiser to suggest these ideas that you might try.
How Can Special Libraries Thrive? Applying Eight Hallmarks of the New Digital Ecosystem By Barbie E. Keiser President, BEK Inc. barbieelene@att.net The reports from Pew Center for the Internet in American Life director Lee Rainie’s January presentation, “Surviving in the New Digital Ecosystem,” were fascinating. (I was unable to attend, but read Alison Hicks’ article in the February issue of Chapter Notes. Rainie’s presentation slides are available online as well.) Rainie presented eight hallmarks of the new digital ecosystem. I’d like to take this opportunity to begin a dialogue about what this means for libraries and information professionals in general, and special libraries in particular. Four points are covered this month; check back in April for part two.
Hallmark 1. Media and gadgets are ubiquitous parts of everyday life. Today, people access information through a variety of media, sometimes direct from the producer, but often through intermediaries. Information is displayed through a plethora of devices, at the place and time of the user’s choosing. Library 2.0 creates new ways of sharing relevant knowledge in an instant with users, among staff, and within communities of colleagues around the world. Why not experiment this year? Try using a new gadget to access your library’s resources—and do it somewhere other than your desktop. As we develop information resources or offer the resources of others through our libraries, we must make certain that the information we provide is accessible and displayed properly no matter which device is used to get it. If the information is timesensitive, we must consider how to alert people that it should be reviewed without delay. Remember that each person has a different level of acceptance for “intrusion” into his or her day. More importantly, we must be available to our clientele when they need us, or find suitable substitutes during our off hours. Revising our approach to reference is a good start. Want to experiment before implementing a new service? Try
out AskALibrarian; here’s a link to the chat service at Seattle Public Library (site of the 2008 SLA conference). Try it at an hour when the library would be closed-- you may be surprised who responds, and how quickly. If you are looking for government information, try Government Information Online. Try any Instant Messaging (IM) Chat Service (such as Trillian, Meebo, or Pidgin) to provide guidance to your users in a manner more people are adopting for work and play. (I want an answer to my question when I need it, not later. Anyway, emailing is so passé.) Don’t know how? Read Bonnie Shucha’s article, IM a Librarian. Hallmark 2. The internet, especially broadband connectivity, is at the center of the revolution. The pipeline is now in place for even more information to be delivered via the internet. With broadband connectivity, people are accustomed to accessing multimedia and are no longer satisfied with text-only content. Remember that people learn differently: a picture may be worth 1000 words, but reinforcing those words with still or moving pictures and sound ensure that more users will comprehend their meaning. I like to use the new technology to develop online tutorials for databases used in the library. (No one ever reads the manual next to the desktop-- and if someone is accessing the database from a remote location, it may not even be possible.)
FOR READERS OF THE PRINT EDITION You can access the websites referred to in Barbie Keiser’s article at the following addresses. Remember, you can always view the current or archived editions of Chapter Notes online at http://units.sla.org/chapter/cdc. February Chapter Notes: http://units.sla.org/chapter/cdc/cnotes/2008/feb08.pdf Rainie’s presentation: http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/113/presentation_display.asp Seattle chat service: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=info_help_ask_chat Government Information Online: http://govtinfo.org/ “IM a Librarian” article: http://www.llrx.com/features/virtualreferenceservice.htm DemoCreator: http://www.sameshow.com/demo-creator.html ViewletBuilder: http://www.qarbon.com/presentation-software/viewletbuilder5/ Captivate: http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/ Demofuse: http://www.demofuse.com Talking with Talis: http://talk.talis.com Guide 2 Podcasting: http://www.cumbrowski.com/podcastingguide.asp Gordon and Mike’s: http://www.gsnyder.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=209540 Create Podcasts using your PC: http://www.windowsdevcenter.com/pub/a/windows/2005/04/05/create_podcasts_with_pc.html EKU: http://ekulibrarylearning.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html Government Podcasts: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/Libraries/Podcasts.shtml Moraine Valley Community College: http://www2.morainevalley.edu/default.asp?siteid=10&pageid=1356 University of Wisconsin: http://streaming.wisconsin.edu/creation/creation.html Digg: http://digg.com/
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Check out DemoCreator or ViewletBuilder for creating useful tutorials. If you are already familiar with the Adobe family of products, Captivate will be a breeze for you. Or how about building a tour of your website with Demofuse to assure that “eyeballs” see everything they need to see. Podcasts are an easy way to offer another dimension, and are especially good for those with long commutes. One of my favorites for professional development is Talking with Talis, but don’t just rely on podcasts from others. Create your own, and offer them up to your colleagues or clientele! Don’t know how? Check out Guide 2 Podcasting, or Gordon and Mike’s How to Make a Podcast. There is a classic from way back in 2005, Create podcasts using your PC. Eastern Kentucky University’s Library Learning 2.0 will walk you through the process of creating a podcast or video, and more. Local readers might be especially interested in these podcasts from federal government agencies at USA.gov. Does your library have a book club, lectures, or concerts? Why not simulcast them over the Web, and then archive the feed for those who could not make it to the event (like Moraine Valley Community College)? If you are not sure of your library’s ability to deal with streaming media, the University of Wisconsin has assembled a set of resources to help you get started. Hallmark 3. New gadgets allow people to enjoy media, gather information, and communicate anywhere. Wirelessness is its own adventure! More people have more mobile devices. Voice, images, and text must be accessible and intelligible with any one of a number of mobile devices through a secure wireless connection. If you’ve never accessed the Web while away from your office, you’re in for a treat—and you don’t have to go through the pains of connection that early adapters struggled through. Try out a laptop, tablet, or MP3 player, or access the internet through your cell phone. The next time your plane is delayed, you can do more than check your messages: read an e-book, do some research, or book your next trip on another carrier. And, oh yes-- experience your library from a user’s perspective by accessing your own library’s website, wiki, or blog. Are any improvements in order?
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Hallmark 4. Citizens have a chance to be publishers, movie makers, artists, song creators, and story tellers. People are creating their own content and accessing content created by their friends and colleagues. Web 2.0 software empowers individuals by making content creation easier for everyone. Librarians must become information producers and aggregators of good material, as well as consumers. Our libraries must be perceived as more than mere pipelines for the works of others. In addition to staff-created content, what about offering users a way of creating content for others? Many OPACs link to reviews from catalog entries, but you could also allow readers to post a comment, creating their own content to which they can refer their friends. I look to my friends and people with similar interests to suggest books or movies I might enjoy. (Do you Digg?) TO BE CONTINUED… Check the April issue of Chapter Notes for part two of Barbie Keiser’s article, in which she talks about reaching new audiences, building communities, and preparing for change.
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account, and notify her when your video is ready for review by the 2009 LAP Committee. Please do not wait until the last day to get the account information! -- Deadline for submissions to be eligible for the prizes: Friday, April 25, 2008 @ 12:00 midnight Remember, you can't be a winner if you don't participate. We look forward to viewing your creative videos about DC!
Karen Huffman trains DC/SLA members on how to use the chapter's new wiki.
Getting Ready for SLA 2009 in DC-Announcing a New Wiki and Contest By Karen Huffman The DC/SLA Local Arrangement Planning Committee (2009 LAP) has been developing a DC/SLA-sponsored wiki for SLA's 2009 annual conference in Washington, DC. Our wiki will launch just after the annual conference in Seattle this year. We plan to feature monthly items through the wiki's blog-like feature including books about DC; tips for getting around; museums, tours and attractions; virtual libraries, videos of past presidents; and more! VIDEO CONTEST: We thought it would be fun to hold a video contest on "What YOU Love About DC" for DC/SLA members. The top three videos selected by the 2009 LAP Committee will be featured on our 2009 conference wiki's home page during monthly/bi-monthly promotions. See my sample video to give you ideas on what you could create: http://www.youtube.com/user/dcsla2009. PRIZES: Top three winners will receive an electronic gift card from Amazon.com: 1st Place: $100, 2nd Place: $50 and 3rd Place: $25. INSTRUCTIONS: -- You are responsible for creating, editing, saving in an appropriate format, and uploading to our YouTube area. (YouTube offers instructions for appropriate file formats.) -- Videos should be approximately 3-5 minutes. -- Contact Karen Huffman (khuffman@ngs.org) for the username and password to the DCSLA2009 DC/SLA Chapter Notes | March 2008 | pg 9
DC/SLA board members pay close attention during Karen Huffman's training session.
Meet New DC/SLA Member Ellen Squires By Julia Leggett DC/SLA Membership Director Ellen Squires is an assistant librarian at the law firm Heller Ehrman LLP, and a new member of DC/SLA. Julia Leggett sat down with Ellen Squires recently to ask about her job, her background, and what she likes to do in Washington. Julia Leggett: Where did you grow up, and how did you end up in DC? Ellen Squires: I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from library school, I was initially looking for a position in public libraries. However, I received an email from InfoCurrent saying they were looking for recent MLS graduates for temp to direct hire positions in DC. I had always wanted to live in the DC area, so I sent them my resume. They contacted me, and I came down to DC for an interview with their company, and then with Heller Ehrman for an assistant librarian position. I commuted to DC for 15 months until I was permanently hired by Heller Ehrman; then I relocated to Virginia. JL: Where did you go to library school? ES: I went to the School of Library and Information Science at Drexel University. JL: Where have you worked in the past five years? ES: I've worked in a variety of jobs in the last few years. I worked in banking as a customer service representative. While going to school for my MLS, I worked in a university library, in the technical services department as a paraprofessional, and in a public library as a paraprofessional doing reference, circulation, etc. Before I was hired by Heller Ehrman permanently two and a half years ago, I worked for AARP as a temporary librarian for six months. JL: What do you do at Heller Ehrman? ES: I have a variety of tasks, which means I rarely get bored with my job. I do reference, cataloguing,
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New DC/SLA member Ellen Squires is an assistant librarian at the law firm Heller Ehrman.
purchasing materials for the library, resolving vendor issues, and so on. I also manage the library when the library manager is away, and provide backup for the other librarians firm-wide. In our firm, the librarians work closely with the attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries and other staff to fulfill their information needs, and in turn fulfill the information needs of our clients. With offices in 14 major cities in the United States, Europe and Asia, our firm offers the full range of legal services in litigation, business and intellectual property. Our work environment is team oriented, and also very friendly. It is very gratifying to hear your fellow coworkers, such as the attorneys, say “great job" and “thank you.” Each office at HE has a Happiness Event Committee which plans fun events throughout the year. Last summer, we all went to the National Zoo for a barbecue and family fun day. Everyone enjoyed it, especially the children of fellow employees. Each office also has a Professional Development Committee which keeps everyone up to date with the latest in legal and technological information. JL: Are you glad you chose special librarianship as a career? ES: Yes, I am glad and proud to be a special librarian in Washington D.C., and also proud to be a law librarian for Heller Ehrman. At times, being a law librarian can be stressful, but the positives outweigh the negatives. I am continuously learning and growing in my field, which gives me great satisfaction. JL: What draws your interest to the DC/SLA Chapter?
ES: I am interested in DC/SLA for two reasons: knowledge and people. To survive in today's highly competitive world, we need to learn new knowledge constantly to provide the best information services to whomever our clients may be. Our Chapter offers a variety of continuing education opportunities to members, such as Click U classes and the spring workshop. I also like the networking events, such as the dine arounds, the book club, and the annual banquet, where I can go to socialize and have some fun with other librarians in our chapter. JL: What's your favorite restaurant in DC? ES: Annie's Paramount Steak House. I like to go there for breakfast with my niece. I also like to go to Zorba's, a Greek restaurant in DC. My friend, who is from Greece, recommended it. JL: What's on your to-do list this weekend? ES: The normal household chores, hanging out with friends, and exploring my neighborhood more fully.
In February, journalist and author Steve Vogel spoke to the Military Librarians Group about his 2007 book The Pentagon: A History. Here, he autographs a copy of the book for Lorraine Bell.
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Spring Dine Arounds By Lea Wade Your colleagues invite you to an evening (or more!) of dinner and conversation. The DC/SLA Dine Arounds are always entertaining, and who knows, you might meet your next co-worker. Join fellow information professionals for a friendly night on the town! These dinners are hosted by chapter members at locations around the DC area each spring and fall. These events are scheduled for March. Please try to attend, and meet your colleagues!
The Young Professionals Group of DC/SLA hosted a Dine Around this March to welcome a group of library students visiting from the University of Montreal.
SLA Government Librarians Dine Around When: Wednesday, March 12, 2008, 7:00 pm Where: Teaism, 400 8th Street, NW (at Navy Memorial Station) What: Casual get together of librarians working for government or with government information. Come complain about budget cuts, continuing resolutions, or procurement delays... or come to learn about digital libraries, institutional repositories and online reference. Great things are happening in government libraries (and bad things too). How: This is a casual get together, and Teaism has a diverse, eclectic menu so there is something for everyone. Order and get your food upstairs and then come downstairs next to the Koi pond to meet everyone. This is an unofficial event and it is open to government, contractors, consultants and anyone else that wants to talk about life in and around government information. Host: Richard Huffine, National Library Coordinator, US Geological Survey RSVP (not required but appreciated) to: richardhuffine@yahoo.com or 202-253-3511 DC/SLA Chapter Notes | March 2008 | pg 13
International Dine Around When: Thursday, March 13, 6:00pm Where: Little Viet Garden, 3012 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 What: Vietnamese food in a quaint local restaurant. Prices are moderate and the company is above average. Located 1/2 block from the Clarendon Metro station. RSVP to Vic Monti at vthevector@gmail.com CUA Student Chapter Dine Around When: Friday, March 14, 7:00pm Where: Guapo's Tenleytown, 4515 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016 At the Tenleytown-AU Metro stop (Red Line) What: Join members of Catholic University's SLA Chapter for an evening of food and conversation. This event is informal and open to all-- you do not need to be a student or a member of SLA to come. Bring a friend or colleague! RSVP to Jenny O'Shea at j_oshea@juno.com DC/SLA Cataloging Group Dine Around When: Tuesday, March 18, 6:30pm Where: Kanlaya, 740 Sixth St. NW, Washington, DC What: The DC/SLA Cataloging Group is hosting a Dine Around at the Thai restaurant Kanlaya near the Gallery Place Metro at 6:30 on Tuesday, March 18. I will be there by 6:00 if anyone would like to come early. The reservations are under "Michael." RSVP to Michael Chesnes at michael.j.chesnes@nasa.gov SLA LGBT Librarians Dine Around When: Thursday, March 20, 2008, 7:00 pm Where: Dupont Italian Kitchen, 1637 17th Street, NW (Dupont Circle Station) What: Casual get together of gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual librarians working in and around special libraries in the DC area. Does being gay affect your work as a librarian? Has it helped or hindered your success in finding a job or getting promoted? Does your identity change the lens through which you see your customers, patrons, or users? Come join others interested in the life and times of gay librarians in the 21st century... or just come to have a casual meal with some fun people. Host: Richard Huffine, Community Relations CoChair, DC/SLA RSVP by March 18, 2008 to richardhuffine@yahoo.com or 202-253-3511
Upcoming Events SID/DIW Meeting WHAT: Society for International Development/ Development Information Workgroup (SID/DIW) March Meeting WHEN: Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 12 noon 1:30 pm WHERE: Conference Room, Winrock International, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22209 PRESENTATION: The Indian Right to Information Act: implications for international development work, by Kohl S. Gill, Senior Analyst and AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, US Department of Energy. The Indian Right to Information Act (RTI) has farreaching implications for transparency in all sectors of international development work. With broad coverage of national and local Indian governance structures and strict, enforceable time limits, the RTI has earned its reputation as one the strongest and most thorough transparency laws in the world. Kohl S. Gill, Senior Analyst and AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, US Department of Energy, will review some important facets of this legislation, areas where it is, and can be, applied to further development work, and paths forward in India and other countries of interest. Particular attention will be paid to uses of the RTI relevant to international development organizations and their implementing partners to address food security, income generation, health care, the environment, and human rights. Participants are welcome to contact Dr. Gill, Kohl.Gill@science.doe.gov, ahead of time with any particular concerns they would like to see addressed. Directions to Winrock International: From the Rosslyn Metro Station in Arlington (Orange & Blue line): As you exit the station, turn right, walk a half block on Moore Street to Wilson Blvd. Turn left on Wilson Blvd (downhill), cross Lynn DC/SLA Chapter Notes | March 2008 | pg 14
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; you 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.
CCAHA Disaster, Protection and Security Program Preparing For The Unexpected: Protection And Security For Cultural Collections Presented by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) May 12 and 13, 2008 Philadelphia, PA Cosponsored and Hosted by: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology This two-day program will present information on assessing vulnerabilities, disaster planning, crisis communication, fire prevention, detection and suppression strategies, and evaluation and mitigation of security risks. In addition there will be interactive sessions on the "exercising" of disaster plans and on emergency recovery of paper-based materials. This program is intended for staff charged with collections care, including librarians, archivists, curators, collections managers, and stewards of historic house museums, and for staff responsible for the safety of collections, such as site and facility managers and security and safety staff. The fee for this two-day program is $185 for CCAHA member institutions and $210 for nonmembers. A second registrant from the same institution, registering at the same time, can register for $92.50/CCAHA members, $105/non-members. Registration begins immediately. Full speaker biographies, program and registration information are
available at: http://www.ccaha.org/workshop_cal.php.
for anyone who is serious about developing their communication and leadership skills.
For more information, contact the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts: call 215-5450163, email pso@ccaha.org or visit www.ccaha.org.
Dr. Susan Miller will teach you how to be heard the first time. You will learn how to capture your listeners’ attention immediately with a professional presence, pleasant but authoritative vocal tone, and clear message. She will offer strategies to diminish your anxiety and assert yourself during challenging situations. Dr. Miller is founder of Voice Trainer LLC, a voice and communications consulting business. She is also the author of two books: Be Heard the First Time and The Voice of Success.
Presenting the Greater Baltimore Chapter Spring Seminar: Legal Requirements for Electronic Records April 10, 2008 with Mr. Donald Skupsky, JD, CRM, FAI, MIT Topics include: • Electronic Records as Evidence • Managing Electronic Records for Legal Compliance • Records Retention for Electronic Records Seminar attendance qualifies for 5.0 ICRM CMP hours. The seminar will be held at the University of Maryland, University College (UMUC) Inn, from 8:00 am- 4:30 pm 3501 University Blvd, East, Adelphi, MD 20783 For more information, contact Kathleen R. Moyers, CRM at KMoyers@crowncentral.com 410-659-4708 voice, 410-659-4763 fax
Tom Calcagni will present his “What-Why-How” technique for high-stakes presentations and interviews. Through his system for delivering personal and professional messages, participants will develop the ability and confidence to craft resultsdriven answers to any type of question, and to ensure their ideas are effectively expressed and heard. Tom Calcagni is SLA’s chief communications strategist and author of Tough Questions-Good Answer: Taking Control of Any Interview. Register now for this exciting professional development opportunity. For more information, visit the OCLC Capcon site.
Content Rights Management Course The Art of Strategic Persuasion Sharpen your communication and presentation skills at OCLC Eastern’s The Art of Strategic Persuasion: Essential Skills for Leaders April 10, 2008 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (book signing from 3:30-4:00) The Cato Institute, Washington, DC Effective communication and presentation skills are a signature feature of highly successful people. For most, these skills have to be learned and cultivated. No matter where you are in your career, you can enhance your professional prospects by learning how to become a more confident and compelling speaker. In partnership with SLA, FLICC and ARL, OCLC Eastern is pleased to offer a one day workshop featuring two dynamic speakers: Dr. Susan Miller and Mr. Tom Calcagni. This is a must-attend event DC/SLA Chapter Notes | March 2008 | pg 15
SLA has joined with the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) to develop a new professional development course for librarians and information professionals, the Certified Content Rights Manager (CCRM) course. The course, presented by Adam Ayer of LicenseLogic LLC, is designed to help an organization properly manage their content rights. When: March 27, 2008 Where: SIIA; Large Conference Room 1090 Vermont Ave NW; 6th Floor Washington, DC Topics covered include: · Understanding vital copyright law components and concepts, including the fair use defense and orphan works · Evaluating and managing different types of content rights within licenses to help lower liability and costs
· Developing, communicating, and maintaining a content rights management plan within your organization Who Should Attend: All professionals who purchase, manage or create content and are responsible for ensuring it is used appropriately and that the content rights are maximized at all levels of the organization. Register today - Seats are limited! Price: $395 for SLA members with “SLA07” promo code/ $495 for non-members *Group discount – send 3 attendees from your organization for the original price of 2 ($495 * 2) – call LicenseLogic @ (202) 789-4445 to register groups* To register groups, or for questions or additional information, please contact LicenseLogic at (202) 789-4445 or jprice@licenselogic.com.
Member Notes Susan Vincent, chief librarian at the Federal Reserve Board, will retire on April 1 after 28 years of service. Susan joined the Board in 1980 as an acquisitions technician in the Research Library, where she was responsible for ordering books and journals. She made use of the Board’s academic assistance program to obtain her masters degree in library science, and was promoted to reference librarian in 1981. In that position, she assisted researchers, and was instrumental in automating the library. In 1992, she assumed responsibility for managing the Research Library as the chief librarian. Susan received a Special Achievement Award (the Board's highest award) in 2005 for outstanding contributions in managing the Research Library, and for the part she played in directing the library’s major renovation. Susan and her husband, Jeff, plan to stay in Alexandria, Virginia. They intend to travel and spend more time with family (when they are not traveling!). Susan is pleased that Kristin Vajs will replace her as chief librarian. Kris is currently the director of the Scientific and Technical Information Center at the Patent and Trademark Office.
DC/SLA Book Club The next meeting of DC / SLA Book Club will be on Monday, April 7th, at 6:30 PM at: The Lebanese Taverna 2641 Connecticut Ave. NW (202) 265-8681 Across the street from the Woodley Park– Zoo metro station (Red line) For menu and other information, please see http://www.lebanesetaverna.com/restaurants/dc/ We will discuss Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. This title is available in hardcover, paperback, audio CD, and audio download. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Layla Voll at Layla_Voll@hotmail.com.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | March 2008 | pg 16
DC Chapter Welcomes 73 New Members By Julia Leggett DC/SLA Membership Director
Our chapter's membership has grown rapidly over the last five months. This steady increase indicates that DC/SLA provides value-added services that meet the needs of current members, even as we attract more and more information professionals to join our chapter.
Do you have a colleague or friend who might enjoy the benefits of SLA membership? Direct them to our website at www.sla.org to see all of the features available to members. If they live in the area, be sure to tell them to select the DC chapter on their membership application.
I am proud to announce the names of these new members. To all of you: Welcome to DC/SLA!
Anke Dannemann, JSD Information Services, Inc. Jacques Domenge, Library Associates Companies Gary Cleland, Wilmerhale Kristin Geiss, Crowell & Moring Kathleen McGlaughlin, NASA GSFC Library Gwen Wilcox, Winston & Strawn LLP Eric Stubbs Margaret Hoogland Melanie Parsons Jessica Howard Virginia Richards, National Endowment for Democracy Kelly Hoffman, Greenberg Traurig, LLP Stephanie Schmitz Mark Gordon Gillian Grant April Duncan Amber Draksler Rowena Wallace Stephanie Schreibman Carrie Sullivan Danielle Harrison, MPR Associates, Inc Charlotte Gavin Kathleen Stewart Daniel Hanlon, American Psychological Association Charles Walton David Reith, Weil Gotshal & Manges Phyllis Askey Mellissa Swift James Tobias Rachel Kingcade, Library of the Marine Corps Karen White John Crosby, National Recreation and Park Association Kathleen Mahoney, The Catholic University of America Lisa Clarke Linda Seibl David Suiter, DoD--Washington Headquarters Services Ruth Elizabeth Leonard
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | March 2008 | pg 17
Elizabeth Norton Kathleen Schmidt Kristi Conkle Kiva Foster Aviva Adler Christine Hall, Alexandria Law Library Seรกn Crumley Mark Frawley Erin Haggerty, Wel, Gotshal, and Manges Zina Watkins Audrey Crane-Hirsch Colleen Markham Angela Mc Alice Crites Hui Chuan Wu Susan Barned Rosemary Regan Barbara Eames Nathan Turajski Kristine Carr Michele Worthington Ellen Squires Eileen Patton Rebecca Morgan Acacia Reed Casey Massino, EPA Kathryn Funk Michele Astor Colleen Candrl Liz King Ariel Deiaco-Lohr Marcella Fredriksson Morgan Grimes James Fitch Karen Lightner Michael Fernandez