President's Corner: James King Welcome to our professional development issue! Developing our core competencies and skills has always been important to our careers. However the current economic situation combined with the dramatic changes that digitization has brought now makes continued and strategic professional development absolutely critical. The obvious approach to professional development is attending school – we’re honored to include essays and biographies from our chapter college scholarship award winners! This award will help each of them to continue their education and encourage participation in professional associations like ours. DC/SLA also helps with less formal approaches to professional development. Networking with peers to validate skills and learn new areas to explore, online training resources available through Click U, and volunteering in our chapter are all ways to build new skills. Through involvement with DC/SLA, any member can learn leadership skills and practical technology skills. For example, just over this past year I’ve experimented with Google Docs as a way to quickly create Web forms to gather information, Doodle.com as a way to figure out times when a group of people across organizations can meet, honed critical organizations skills to plan and execute events, and used software such as WebEx and now DimDim to handle remote meetings. If you’d like to develop your skills in a safe environment outside of your work setting, please volunteer! Soon after this issue is released we will learn who will be running our association and our chapter next year. As a member of the 2011 SLA nominating committee, I’m already looking for a few good men and women who are ready and willing to lead our association forward. If
September 2010 Volume 71, No. 5 Inside this issue: President’s Corner ............................. 1 Upcoming Chapter Events ................ 3 Upcoming Library Related Events ................................................ 4 The Way Forward .............................. 7 Career Column .................................. 8 Census Bureau Dedicated to Information Literacy .......................... 9 Candidates Offer Real World Answers Virtuall ............................................ 10 SLA Packed with Events in 2011..... 11 Volunteers Gain Competitive Edge.................................................. 12 Retirement Launches Librarians to New Journeys ........... ..................... 13 CUA-SLA Wins 2010 SLA Student Group Merit Award ........................ 15 CUA-SLA Gets Up Close with Special Libraries .......................................... 16 Meet the 2010 DC/SLA Scholarship Winners ............................................ 18 DC/SLA Members Were All Ears at NPR ................................................. 22 The Last Word: Q & A with Kee Malesky, author of All Facts Considered ....................................... 24
Chapter Notes is the newsletter for the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Special Libraries Association (SLA). It is distributed six times per year (bimonthly) as follows: January, February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November.
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DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 2
you’d like to discuss the possibility of running at either the local level or the larger SLA level, please let me know! I wanted to end by putting in a plug for our annual meeting. On Saturday, 4 December, join your fellow DC/SLA members for a lunch cruise on the Potomac River on-board the Spirit of Washington (http://tinyurl.com/34nnd9f)! Our cruise on a private deck will feature SLA President Anne Caputo and SLA President-Elect Cindy Romaine who will give their perspectives on the future of the profession. Thanks to generous sponsorship and focused cost cutting on this event, we’ve been able to make this event both more exciting and less expensive! Please plan on joining us for what is expected to be a great time! For additional details and registration, please check out the Annual Meeting event page at http://tinyurl.com/ 34w7wro.
Editor’s Note Starting in 2011 to better coincide with DC/SLA events Chapter Notes will shift it’s publication schedule forward one month. The new schedule will be: January, February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, and October/November The final 2010 issue will be published in November (deadline for submissions 1 November).
Upcoming Chapter Events •Library Leader Series with Jean Tatalias, Director of Knowledge Services, Mitre, 6-8p.m. Tuesday, 12 October. NPR 635 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001. • Young Professionals and Students Happy Hour, Tuesday, 19 October. Pizzeria Paradiso, 2003 P St.NW, Washington, DC 20036. For more information about the restaurant please see http://tinyurl.com/27ft3ho. Send RSVPs to Carrie Port at Carrie.Port@turner.com. • UN Day Celebration, 6-8:30p.m. Wednesday, 20 October. UN Information Center, 1775 K St., NW, Washington, DC 20006. Fatmata McCormack will tell of her journey from Sierra Leone to working as a Learning Resources Specialist at USAID. Donna Scheeder, from the Library of Congress Congressional Research Service, will discuss how Richard Huffine asks the candidates for SLA President Elect a government libraries are using IFLA (The question during DC/SLA’s Virtual Meet the Candidates. See page 10 International Federation of Library Associations) as a for full story (Photo by Chris Vestal) global forum for common issues. Cost for most members is $15 ($10 for student/unemployed/retired • Young Professionals and Students Happy Hour, SLA members) and $20 for nonmembers. Payment Tuesday, 16 November. Carpool, 4000 Fairfax Drive, at the door is $20 no cash accepted. To register Arlington, VA 22203. For more information about the please visit http://dcslaunday.blogspot.com/ restaurant please see http://tinyurl.com/2v2pwu7. Send RSVPs to Carrie Port at Carrie.Port@turner.com. •DC/SLA Non-Fiction Book Club, 6:30-8:30p.m. Thursday, 28 October. Teasim, 400 8th St. NW, •DC/SLA Annual Meeting and Lunch Cruise, Washington, DC 20004. Members will discuss The 11:30a.m.-2p.m. Saturday, 4 December. On board Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future by Robert Spirit of Washington. See ad on page 14 for more Darnton. Please send RSVPs to gsauvey@gmail.com details. To register at the special early bird rate visit if you plan to attend. http://tinyurl.com/34w7wro. • DC/SLA 70th Birthday and Volunteer Appreciation, 6:30-8:30p.m. Wednesday, 10 November. SLA Headquarters, 331 North Patrick St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Featuring a book talk and signing by Kee Malesky, NPR librarian and author of All Facts Considered (see page 24 for a Q and A session with Malesky), and raffles for prizes.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 3
• Theater Around, 12:30-4p.m. Sunday, 13 February 2011. Signature Theater, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA 22206. Matinee performance of Sunset Boulevard preceded by a brown-bag lunch at the Shirlington Library Meeting Room and discussion with Ann-Marie Dittmann, the official Dramaturg for Sunset Boulevard. Members can purchase tickets for a 20 percent discount.
Upcoming Library Related Events •DC Loves to Read, 9:30a.m.-4p.m. Saturday, 2 October. At all DC public library branches. Celebrate the pleasure of reading at DC Public Library. Visit select library locations throughout the city for fun activities for the entire family. For more information please see http://tinyurl.com/24eoobz. • Accessibility Camp DC, 9:30a.m.-5:30p.m. Saturday, 9 October. Adaptive Services, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St., NW, Washington, DC 20001. Accessibility Camp DC is an informal conference on Web Accessibility that is held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on a yearly basis. For more information or to register please see http://bit.ly/bWjyAu. •Career Chat, 6p.m. Monday, 18 October. Information Commons, Room 132 in Marist Hall, Catholic University of America. Liz McLean, president of CUA-SLA has joined with Judith Current SLA President, Anne Caputo also asked the candidates a Tapiero of the Maryland SLA to host a “chat” on the question. (Photo by Chris Vestal) topic of careers and government/federal librarians. In addition to CUA-SLA students, the program has invited the CUA Government Information LSC 637 students to attend as well. Judy Tapiero is the founder of Career Chats, President of The Organized Library, and a Director of the Maryland SLA. She has engaged Robin Dixon, Branch Head, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Library, to discuss her career insights and experiences as a government/federal librarian and share some wisdom with student rookies. F0r more information please contact McLean at 06mclean@cardinalmail.cua.edu or efmclean@gmail.com. • 2010 Mayor's Annual Disability Awareness Conference : Towards Full Inclusion – Let’s Achieve It! 9:30a.m.-3p.m. Tuesday, 19 October. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St., NW, Washington, DC 20001. Discussion topics will include: Community Inclusion, Workforce Development and District Resources, Programs and Services! To register please see http://tinyurl.com/ 2czd2yh.
SLA’s CEO, Janice Lachance, was on hand to welcome members to the Virtual Meet the Candidates hosted at SLA headquarters. (Photo by Chris Vestal) DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 4
Upcoming Library Related Events
Member gathered for a tour of NPR. See page 22 for full story. (Photo by Chris Vestal)
•DTIC call for student papers. Deadline Monday, 7 February 2011. DTIC is soliciting student papers for consideration on the agenda of its annual conference. Selected student authors will be invited to present their papers at the 2011 DTIC Conference, 4-6 April 2011 in Alexandria, VA. Papers should show relevance to DTIC's mission, which is to provide essential, technical research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) information rapidly, accurately and reliably to support our DoD customers' needs. Examples of possible topics include but are not limited to: Web 2.0 and 3.0 technology for collaborative searching, delivering scientific and technical information to mobile devices, and recommended features of a tool suite for usability experimentation. The paper should not exceed 15 pages, single spaced, excluding charts and appendices. The paper must include a title, student’s name, student’s email address, and the student’s school’s Department Chair’s name, telephone, and email address. Please submit questions and papers to StudentPaper2011@dtic.mil.
•All Facts Considered book signing, 6:30p.m. Tuesday, 26 October. Borders, 1801 K St., NW, Washington, DC 20006. This book written by longtime NPR librarian Kee Malesky (see page 24 for a Q and A session with Malesky), is a collection of interesting and unusual facts that she's collected over her 20 years of answering questions for reporters and editors. For more information please see http:// tinyurl.com/27lvwqa. • Partnering to Publish: Innovative Roles for Societies, Institutions, Presses, and Libraries, 9:a.m.-4p.m. Wednesday, 10 November. American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009. This seminar, jointly sponsored by the Society for Scholarly Publishing and Association of Research Libraries, provides a unique opportunity to learn about current partnerships and explore new opportunities for cost-effective and innovative joint ventures. For registration please see http://tinyurl.com/2flujfr. After the tour attendees networked over sangria at La Tasca. (Photo by Chris Vestal)
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 5
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 6
The Way Forward By Montrese Hamilton Learning through traditional academic channels was among my greatest joys until it became a choice between paying the tuition and saving for retirement. Happily, the Internet serves up an incredible variety of free professional development opportunities. In this column, The Way Forward will introduce or help you recall some great resources. Academic Earth (www.academicearth.org) features video lectures from top universities including Oxford, Berkeley, MIT, Yale, and Stanford. When browsing selections, pay attention to the offerings under “Entrepreneurship� – many great topics relevant to anyone growing within their current roles or perhaps starting something new. A personal favorite: The Entrepreneurial Career: Taking Risks and Putting Your Plan into Action with Gregory Waldorf, ceo of eHarmony. Key takeaway: Your career will invariably not go according to plan so make adaptability a core skill. SLA members can access several learning resources at no additional charge. In addition to premium content, Click U (http://www.sla.org/content/learn/members/index.cfm) includes free webinars and replays; full-text ebooks; and business book summaries. Check out the SLA Innovation Laboratory (http:// www.sla.org/innovate/) to watch Atomic Learning video tutorials on established and emerging technologies. iTunes U (www.apple.com/education/itunes-u) pulls together free audio and video learning resources from 600+ universities around the world (free iTunes software required). More broadly, content is available from cultural institutions ranging from PBS to Asia Society. Apple permits institutions to apply for their own iTunes U site so it may be a great newway to reach your client base. For inspiration, visit Arizona State University Libraries’ video channel – everything from book discussions to copyright
guidance and introductions to library services. OpenCourseWare (www.ocwconsortium.org) is a collection of free university-level material from top institutions around the world. Topics run the gamut; from digital libraries (University of Michigan) to online marketing (University of Cape Town) with content available in seven languages. Consider OCW when you want to sample topics from a variety of disciplines and cultural perspectives. OpenLearn LearningSpace (http://openlearn.open.ac.uk) is a repository of The Open University (United Kingdom) course material. A nice feature of this site is the opportunity to join a topic forum and connect with others pursuing self-paced studies. Course content is offered to meet a variety of skill levels so be prepared to browse for more advanced material. You may wish to start with “Business and Management� for how-to presentations on project management, decision-making, and communication. Professional development cannot happen without personal growth and a fascinating one-stop resource is BBC Learning (www.bbc.co.uk/learning). Material is organized by topic and audience so you can browse for hours. To filter out in-person learning, go straight to the online courses for adult learners (www.bbc.co.uk/learning/onlinecourses). The most robust section will be the language instruction – 12-week courses in French, German, Italian, and Spanish PLUS information on 32 additional languages. Helpful when you are preparing to travel or greet colleagues from around the world. Montrese Hamilton, MSLS, is librarian for the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, VA. Contact her at montrese [dot] hamilton [at] gmail [dot] com.
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Career Column By Aimee Babcock-Ellis, James Madigan, and Kerry Mason Weeda
Hmmm, what to write for the column this time. How about resources for career advice? There are many. However, one has to be selective. Current resources are “all over the map,” with many giving conflicting advice. Resume writing is but one example. To cut to the chase, here are three to get started. Please, submit your recommendations of ones you’ve found useful with a few words on why you like the resource and we’ll put together a list. Now on to today’s list: Careerealism - If you sign up, you will get an email almost every day on different topics such topics as Preparing for a Career Discussion with Your Manager, 3 Ways to Demonstrate Your Value in a Job Search, 5 Fundamentals that Contribue to Perseverance. There are many others. Articles are written by “Careerealism-Approved Experts” which demonstrates at least some amount of vetting prior to publication. Pongo Resume - Won’t fill up your in-box, however they do offer lots of advice that may work for you. After public speaking, perhaps resume writing is one of the most difficult if not frightening experiences for many . . . after all, you have to present yourself in the best light without over boasting. Sure it is fine line, but these folks have probably motivated many, all with varying personality types. Perhaps one of their articles may motivate you to present your best. “Push” job announcements. Sure we can all search. But wouldn’t it be nice to see some announcements “pop up” in your mailbox as soon as they become available? First things first: Belong to as many personally relevant professional DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 8
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associations as you possibly can. Then, behold, members do post job openings at their organization or others. Also, several federal position announcements are made this way -- if you sign up. If you like certain companies or organizations, many offer this service.
In all, there are good career resources out there which focus on various aspects of career maintenance, promotion and advancement. Surely you have some of your own. Please do share these with or without your name -- uh, in which case, another opportunity for visibility. Don’t be shy... click here! We will post results. Also feel free to take part in our updated Career Column survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/careercolumn So, sign up and be prepared to be peppered with fresh career advice.
Census Bureau Dedicated to Information Literacy By Eileen Boswell We all know how important it is to be counted for the Census every ten years, but most probably don’t know that the Census Bureau actually conducts dozens of surveys. Some of the most interesting statistics come from these lesser known surveys and present a treasure trove of opportunities to librarians and other researchers. To learn more about how to take advantage of these opportunities on 21 September the chapter held a program on using data from Census 2010 and the American Community Survey for research. Twenty-five members and guests were in attendance to hear Troy King, services statistician with the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Partnerships Nerve Center. King gave a virtual tour of some of the many tools available through the Census Bureau’s website. From its home page at http://www.census.gov/ you can see a list of the many surveys that the Bureau conducts, including lesser-known surveys such as the American Housing Survey (data are collected in odd numbered years) and the Economic Census (data are collected every five years). Most of this session covered the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS). The main differences between the decennial census and the ACS are how often the data are collected and from how many people, as well as the level of detailed information resulting from each one. Census data are collected once every ten years, and starting this year, only ten items are on the questionnaire. The primary purpose of the Census is a population count, to be used for Congressional reapportionment (as directed in the U.S. Constitution). Census data sets are released through the American FactFinder website at http://tinyurl.com/ufd9. (Projected release dates for 2010 Census data are viewable at http:// tinyurl.com/24jc9vk). King indicated that official results of Census 2010 will be presented to President Obama this December, then Congress in January 2011, and finally the general public next spring.
Projected release dates for the 2010 ACS data are available at http://tinyurl.com/3yndddv). The group had a lengthy discussion about the relative value of using one, three, and five year data estimates from ACS. In response, King walked us through a very helpful table (see below) that shows under which circumstances you would use each data set. For example, one-year estimates are best used when currency is more important than precision, and when analyzing large populations. King also cautioned participants about comparing ACS data from year to year because the questions do change sometimes. Most recently, some questions were added to gather more detailed information about veterans and disability status. Among the other great resources we learned about were: • Kids’ pages with games and age appropriate information (http://tinyurl.com/ycqk4xt). • Data users’ handbooks (http://tinyurl.com/25vn4jd). • Thematic maps (http://tinyurl.com/2btb5x7). • Training presentations with speaker notes (http:// tinyurl.com/28s6nty). • The Census Bureau Training and Education schedule, including a course called Understanding Federal Statistics (http://tinyurl.com/2xka9r). One attendee, Michelle Polchow, had this reflection on the program: "The Census Bureau offers a great model of information literacy. Although 'everything' is on the Web, that does not equate to easily understood statistics, followed by responsible use of data. Supporting complex electronic data with free training opportunities, offered in a variety of instructional formats, seems to be a socially responsible solution."
ACS is conducted annually, but not everyone in the country will have an opportunity to participate, unlike the decennial census. The results of ACS have a larger standard error because it has a smaller sample size. The main purpose of ACS is to provide up-to-date information about the social and economic characteristics of American communities. For example, results may be used to decide where new schools, hospitals, and emergency services are needed. ACS’s website was overhauled in response to user feedback The American FactFinder website will also be updated soon for ease of use. King did some sample searches to demonstrate how to find state- and/or city-specific information for both Census and ACS data. He showed, for example, how to use the American FactFinder to find out how many people living in New York Distinguishing features of ACS 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year estimates (See this information online at http://tinyurl.com/3xbrl8r) City in 2008 identified themselves as "Nigerian". There is DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 9
Candidates Offer Real World Answers Virtually By Chris Vestal Celebrities often grace news programs on CNN with their presence virtually so they can answer questions without dealing with prohibitive logistics. DC/SLA recently took a page from the broadcaster and hosted a virtual question and answer session with the candidates for 2011 SLA President-Elect. About thirty chapter members showed up for the event on 31 August at SLA’s headquarters in Old Town Alexandria to hear Brent Mai and David Stern answer preselected questions from chapter members as well as some live questions from the audience. DC/SLA President James King started off moderating the session by asking questions about the candidates’ backgrounds in SLA. Both candidates come from backgrounds in academic libraries and explained why they chose to join SLA. Stern and Mai have a long history of leadership positions and were able to highlight several and explain how each got them more involved with SLA. King followed this with several questions aimed at eliciting the candidates vision for SLA. Stern said his to priority would be finding out from SLA’s members what their own top priorities were. Mai said he believed that two main roles of president are “to be a cheerleader for the association and to evaluate how resources are allocated.”
Both candidates stressed the value of the association's diverse membership and the inclusion of international members. Stern said, “we need to also try to be a home professionally for those who don't have one.” At the end of the prepared questions the audience was allowed to ask the candidates questions as well. Richard Huffine (who is also running for the 2011 SLA Board as Division Cabinet Chair-Elect) asked how SLA can improve vendor relations. A video of the full candidate interview is available at http:// tinyurl.com/2853gjy. Mai and Stern weren’t the only leaders at the event though. King pointed out that five of the ten candidates for the DC/SLA 2011 board were present at the event (for more information about the candidates and DC/SLA’s elections please see http:// tinyurl.com/38vhmdo). SLA’s senior-most leaders were also onsite for the event, SLA President Anne Caputo was one of the members who asked the candidates a question. SLA CEO Janice Lachance also attended and graciously welcomed members to SLA’s headquarters. SLA’s Chief Policy Officer Doug Newcomb also took several members on a tour of the facility. To see the bios of all the 2011 SLA Board of Director candidates please see http://tinyurl.com/38vhmdo, to view videos for each candidate please see http:// tinyurl.com/38vhmdo. Voting will begin 8 September and continue until 29 September.
Mai and Stern both “met” with chapter members virtually and answered questions. (Photo by Chris Vestal) DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 10
SLA Packed with Events in 2011 By James King, DC/SLA President Only 18 months after hosting the SLA Centennial Annual Conference, DC/SLA has been once again called into action! We will be hosting the SLA Leadership Summit for current and future SLA leaders from around the world. As the first official meeting of the new leadership, this is the main face-to-face leadership development program of the year. If you want to develop new skills, stretch your abilities, contribute to your profession, or network with the best and brightest of our profession, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this unique local opportunity. To dispel a myth, the summit is not restricted to current SLA Division and Chapter members – it is open to all who want to develop leadership skills!
In addition to the high-profile Spotlight Sessions, we will be introducing a new “Need to Know” slate of programs to help local business leaders understand the value of information professionals. The 2011 Planning Council is also thrilled to announce that our opening keynote speaker is 3time Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Hot, Flat and Crowded Thomas Friedman, who will help us to see the future. Our closing keynote speaker will be James Kane, a researcher and consultant building loyalty and connections to help us prepare for the future. Get the latest information on the conference at the official conference page - http://tinyurl.com/ 2a5fq7x.
The summit will be held at the Renaissance Washington hotel from Wednesday, 19 January through Saturday, 22 January. Of special note is that as the host chapter, we will be hosting a reception on Thursday evening, 20 January at the Navy Memorial Museum! This reception will be a wonderful opportunity to network with the global leaders from the SLA Board of Directors, Chapter and Division Cabinets, and SLA staff. Please mark your calendars now for this exciting event! I am also on the planning committee for the 2011 Annual Conference. This wonderful international gathering of the best and brightest information professionals will take place in the historic and dynamic city of Philadelphia on 12-15 June, 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Our theme is “Future Ready”, to coincide with incoming SLA President Cindy Romaine’s strategic objective for the year, and is fleshed out with three sub-themes: • Leveraging technology for innovation. • Communicating value through strategic alignment. • Sharing knowledge to encourage collaboration. DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 11
Members have many events to look forward to in 2011, including the SLA Annual Conference in Philadelphia. (Photo by SLA)
Volunteers Gain Competitive Edge By Linda N. Broussard Each year over 2,000 members choose to give of their time and expertise to lead the association in varying capacities. Some positions are elected and some are appointed. Some are at the international level Board of Directors and Committees. Some are within the various units of the association either within Chapters, Divisions, or Caucuses. Investing in volunteer efforts in SLA can provide an alternate track for management or professional training which might not be available through your employer. Getting involved in SLA leadership will provide professional and peer relationships that can broaden your technical and interpersonal skills, challenge you and enrich your life. SLA's current leadership has provided these answers which may help you to decide. Develop Skills - Stretch Abilities SLA offers the opportunity, in a non-threatening environment, to build on existing skills, stretch abilities, and learn skills which will translate to the job. • Debbie Bogenschutz, President-Elect, Cincinnati Chapter: "Maybe you'd like to write but don't know where to start. How about writing a profile of your library for the Queen City Gazette? Maybe you'd like to lead a team at work, but you're not sure you're ready. Develop your team skills with a Chapter Committee. Working with your friends in SLA is a great way to build your self-confidence. Don't just think about what you do well...think about what you'd like to do better, and get that skill through experience." • Edmonton Chapter Director John Sinclair stretched "Producing and implementing SLA's first virtual program through video streaming was a local failure, but an international success. I still savor its bittersweet taste, and it occupies prominent place on my resume." John also states: "I'm convinced that my experience helped me get a new job. I had the opportunity to build library contacts, grow membership, market events in radically new ways, participate in virtual management, speak in public, and, best of all, get nice things said about me. I'm sure it all impressed the people who eventually offered me a new job." DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 12
Contribute to Your Profession • Thomas Hill, South Carolina Chapter President, says, "I volunteer because it is the thing to do. It is a categorical imperative to improve our lot and give a better future to those coming after us. In addition, I get to associate and work with some of the best, I eliminate my isolation, and I continue to grow and learn." Career Builder The skills learned through SLA work translates to skills which you may need to excel in your career. You learn skills of delegation, motivation, mentoring, budget development and management, desk-top publishing, web-publishing, chairing an effective meeting, fund-raising, and how to recruit and reward others - just to name a few. • SLA Board Member Sandy Moltz: "Recently I was at a Boston SLA Chapter program where a person from a library recruiting firm spoke and said they require writing samples, and excellent communication skills to fill their high-paying positions. A person from the audience mentioned that she recently had difficulty filling a position. The candidates looked great on paper, but couldn't communicate - a necessity in these team-oriented times. Many of us don't have opportunities to improve skills in writing and speaking, or in delegating, running a meeting, etc. SLA will give you all these opportunities, in a non-hostile environment, for the leadership training you need." • SLA PR Chair, ITE Division Virtual Section Chair, and San Diego Chapter Network Chair Ty Webb states: "Volunteering is a great source of material for and showcasing your leadership skills, perhaps as chair of a committee or event. Maybe you'll develop or refine a new skill such as writing or editing, strategic planning, budgeting, or fund raising - all things we need to succeed in our positions. Sometimes the opportunities in the library don't seem to present themselves to us in a relevant manner." Networking • From the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, Marlene Vogelsang said: "I've met colleagues who knew the answer and, more than once, made me look really good at work. I've met wonderful, talented people, some who have become very close friends." Linda N. Broussard is SLA’s chief community officer and can be reached at lbroussard@sla.org. To learn more about the SLA Board of Directors visit http://tinyurl.com/32ozosf or to volunteer for one of SLA’s association level committees please see http://tinyurl.com/2dak8tw.
Retirement Launches Librarians to New Journeys By Zeinab Mansour After 25 years in the library profession, I retired on 1 March 2007. My professional career included 15 years as solo librarian in research institutions. This new chapter of my life involves new challenges and opportunities that include ongoing professional development, growth, and learning. It is a significant benefit of retirement that I finally have the time for such extended pursuits. The new journey began with a trip to my home country of Egypt after a seven- year absence due to my commitment as a solo librarian. While in Egypt, I was anxious to visit the new library of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which was revived after 1600 years. I was able to share this experience with my fellow librarians by writing an article for Chapter Notes, The Bibliotheca Alexandrina: How the Dream is becoming a Reality (Published in the January/ February 2008 issue). Retirement has also provided a golden opportunity to spend more time with my family in US, including my two beloved grandchildren. Immediately upon my retirement, I renewed my SLA membership. It was important to continue my professional development as well as to remain part of the professional community. I joined DC/SLA International Relations Committee, which offers a variety of interesting programs in the international arena. Among other activities, I had the honor of helping to organize a program entitled, International Dimensions of the Profession: Where Do We Stand? I recently joined the SLA Retired Members Caucus where we share stories, information, and resources. I’ve also attended events sponsored by other committees, seminars, workshops, and of course Dine Around networking dinners. The Dine Arounds provide invaluable opportunities for communication on shared interests as well as allowing me to remain in touch with the field. In addition to SLA programs, I have taken part in such training programs as the free series on print and electronic resources offered by the Department of the Interior Library. This allowed me to learn about a new area of the field, legal research, through Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw. As the saying goes, learning never ends. Retirement has also given me the time to fulfill my passions in public service through volunteerism, both within my professional associations as well as the community. I’ve had the opportunity to support educational, social, and civic events for such organizations such as Woman’s Suburban Democratic Club, and the Organization for America (OFA). For the first time, I’ve been able to take the time to knock on doors, participate in phone banks, and collect signatures for such historic events as the election of President Barack Obama and the passage of the health care bill. DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 13
Mansour during her trip in Egypt (Photo provided by Mansour)
In addition to professional development and volunteer activities, I’ve had the time to pursue cooking classes, participate in book clubs, and help manage my residential library. I’ve also been able to attend more events at area universities in my area on interest. As a retiree, it is not just about our commitment to our selves. With participation in our community comes the reward. The essence is to remain a part of our professional affiliation: to continue to play a vital part in the growth and development of SLA and contribute new ideas and feedback on issues of concern in our profession. We are all stronger by facing challenges and opportunities together. Retirement is not the end of a chapter in our lives, but rather retirement marks the beginning of a new journey. I find great inspiration in Mark Twain’s words, “Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” I look forward to remaining a contributing member of my profession and appreciate the continuing partnership between all segments of our membership. Zeinab Mansour is a member of the International Relations Committee, Retired Members Caucus, and Woman’s Suburban Democratic Club
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 14
CUA-SLA Wins 2010 SLA Student Group Merit Award By Michelle Polchow, Immediate Past President, CUA-SLA Catholic University of America SLA Student Group honored with Merit Award The SLA Student and Academic Affairs Advisory Council (SAAAC) annually recognizes and honors those SLA student groups who demonstrate outstanding leadership, provide innovative programming, and display creative use of electronic resources. The CUA chapter won the merit award for Creative Use of Electronic Resources. They established expanded opportunities for student communication and collaboration both through its own efforts and in collaboration with the Washington, D.C. Chapter.
The CUA Group has maintained its own Web site for a number of years. During the past year, it has also established presences on both Facebook and LinkedIn. Website: http://tinyurl.com/28rw93d Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/299d82j LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/yzk9c8y DC/SLA Mentor Group on LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/28w9h4m The chapter thanks their advisor, Dave Shumaker for coordinating the mentor project with DC/SLA and for submitting the entry for consideration to the SLA SAAAC.
CUA-SLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was a major factor in winning the Merit Award for Creative Use of Electronic Resources
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 15
CUA-SLA Gets Up Close with Special Libraries By Michelle Polchow, Immediate Past President, CUA-SLA As my graduate school experience comes to a successful conclusion, I look back with gratitude to the special libraries community for its mentoring, career guidance and class project support. The professional association has a great deal to offer students as they go through their graduate studies. I served as president for the CUA-SLA group and enthusiastically encouraged other students to come to know this supportive community. I often felt that being a student provided a golden ticket to some of the most fascinating libraries in the country, so spring semester we took advantage of this opportunity to visit several marvelous institutions.
Library of Congress, Manuscript Division. (Photo by Michelle Polchow)
The chapter members visited the Library of Congress Manuscript Division, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Department of Justice Library. Each tour was a striking reminder of how intertwined knowledge and cultural heritage are within the scope of libraries, where too often classroom focus can get caught up in e-books, electronic databases and the virtual library world. At every stop, our guides were very generous with their time in sharing their institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique holdings, and provided a reminder of the duties as steward of preservation, which grows in value over time. In addition to the student SLA activities, I experienced an in depth look at a special library through CUAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s student practicum experience. Richard Huffine graciously hosted this opportunity to learn about the process of
CUA-SLA visit the Congressional Reading Room at the Library of Congress. (Photo by Michelle Polchow)
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 16
CUA-SLA Gets Up Close with Special Libraries
Department of Justice Library. (Photo by Michelle Polchow)
connections ( http://www.linkedin.com/groups? mostPopular=&gid=894767 ) and I shared this with incoming classes as I was CUA-SLA president. I was able to contact Rick Mastroianni of the Newseum Library, Brit Perry of The Advisory Board Company, and Layla Heimlich of the Washington Hospital Center Library to complete classroom projects. The mentorship project using LinkedIn was a multipurpose tool to make these connections. I hope members will consider reviving the discussions and draw in new students. I look forward to becoming involved with DC/SLA, as well as repaying the mentorship to future students. Also, as I venture out to seek employment, I am confident that the supportive and cooperative community of special libraries is a powerful asset for each of the institutions they serve.
reference services at the US Geological Survey Library. It became a two way learning opportunity, providing an opportunity to share current literature and research in the field and see how it can be applied in real world settings. The practicum also provided an up close look at how the economic downturn has impacted federal libraries as well as the ripple effect that electronic resources have made and the challenges to respond.
Lastly, I commend the great work by the DC/ SLA Mentor Group in LinkedIn. This was a great resource to find special libraries DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 17
U.S. Geological Survey Library. (Photo by Michelle Polchow)
Meet the 2010 DC/SLA Scholarship Winners Aileen Marshall Three months after moving to the United States in February 2007 from Germany, I started volunteering at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg, VA. Shortly after, I completed their training to become a reference assistant. I became increasingly interested in being a librarian, and although I already have a Master's degree from the Westfaelische Wilhelms-University in Muenster, Germany, I decided to go back to school once again. In May 2009 I enrolled as a distance-education student at the University of South Carolina (USC) to pursue my master's degree in Library and Information Science. With only four classes left, I am maintaining my GPA of 4.0, and I strive to finish the program as one of the top students and become a leader within the library community. After graduating in May 2011, it is my goal to work in the field of information analysis and business intelligence. I have been taking classes on business and government information resources as well as special libraries. They provide me with the theoretical knowledge I need, and the practice that helps to sharpen my research skills and improve my knowledge of the best sources available for a particular task, both in print and electronic format. I have also learned how to manage a special library, how to prepare budgets, how to develop marketing strategies, how to develop, implement and eventually evaluate library services. In addition to my coursework I constantly look for opportunities to extend my knowledge and experience. In December 2008 I was hired by the Peumansend Creek Regional Jail in Bowling Green, VA to serve as their correctional librarian. I had the opportunity to assist inmates with their research, which was oftentimes focused on business-related issues such as how to open a small business and obtain licenses. Unfortunately the economic situation forced the jail to reduce their staff, and I was one of seven people who had to leave in April this year. However, I learned a lot during my time at this special library, and I consider it to be a valuable experience in many ways: I learned how to work with diverse population groups, how to perfect my reference interviews and how communicate difficult information in a way laymen can understand. I believe that this knowledge will serve me well when working in other special libraries. Currently I am one of two interns at the Business Research Division, Library of Congress. Under the supervision of Carolyn Larson, head of the Business Reference Section, and Ellen Terrell, Business Reference Specialist, I work on questions from the public and different government departments (such as the Environmental Protection Agency), and conduct research for people that contact the library via mail or QuestionPoint. Each day I spend time at the reference desk and help patrons in the reading room to find appropriate business resources, navigate the library's catalog and databases, and to learn about business research strategies. As my long-term project I am revising an online guide for entrepreneurs to small business information by updating, replacing and annotating the sources that have been selected by business reference specialists about ten years ago. This guide will then again be available on the division's website. In addition to this I attend meetings to learn how the division operates, and I meet with staff to hear about their various areas of expertise. This is of tremendous value to me as I learn about many new web and print resources. I share what I experience and learn on by blog http://tinyurl.com/2vnfh72, and I post regular updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin. I was contacted by the co-editor of SLISten Up!, the newsletter of the Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA) at USC, who asked me if I was interested in writing an article for the newsletter once my internship is complete. The summer edition will contain my blog URL so students can follow my updates, and my final article will appear in the fall edition.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 18
Meet the 2010 DC/SLA Scholarship Winners Aileen Marshall About a year ago I met Dr. Kendra Albright, and we have been in contact since. I enjoy her classes, and I find it extremely interesting to discuss issues of business librarianship with her. After my internship we plan to do some research together and eventually publish a paper on our findings. I find it rewarding to contribute to our profession by discussing and researching topics of interest as well as by serving on committees. I have been a member of the VLA Continuing Education Committee since 2009, and I have recently been appointed to the BRASS Membership Committee and the MARS Virtual Reference Discussion Group. I attend conferences, read professional literature and keep up with current events to ensure that I am always up-to-date. I recently submitted an article on library services in correctional settings to the Library Journal, describing my experience as a jail librarian. I love being engaged in discussions about my profession and never tire to advocate for our mission. In June 2010 I was selected as recipient for the 2010/2011 Chesterfield Manufacturing Corporation Scholarship. It makes me proud that my work was recognized as meaningful contribution to our profession. A particular interest of mine in the field of business information services is the question of how librarians can deliver virtual reference and research services to users with business information needs. I am currently part of two projects that explore the possibilities of virtual services in Second Life. The University of South Carolina, under the direction of Dr. Feili Tu, has created the Davis 2.0 Virtual Campus to deliver reference services, research assistance, and to help students connect with each other and explore immersive, interactive learning. I also work with Dr. Bryan Carter, Associate Professor at the University of Central Missouri, Dept. of English and Philosophy. He has created Virtual Harlem, one of the first virtual reality environments for use in the humanities. I have the opportunity to add to this internationally recognized project by developing a bookstore that will support Dr. Carter's classes on the Harlem Renaissance period. Through one of the librarians at the university library, Carol Smith, I received the offer to speak about my project at the next gathering of the SLA Virtual World Advisory Council in August. I believe that virtual reference services are becoming increasingly important for librarians and users alike. I plan to return to Dr. Albright as a PhD student in the next five years, and we have already discussed the program and my research interests. After I finish my internship with LOC in late August, I am assuming the position of part-time law librarian at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. I have been chosen from a large pool of qualified candidates. Under the supervision of Michele Brown, Head of Reference, I will be responsible for delivering legal reference service to attorneys and the public, maintaining and developing the law collection as well as the collection of business-related items. I will also provide training on demand and introductions to legal research strategies. Ms. Brown, as well as Ann Haley, Adult Services Coordinator, feel that I will be a great asset to the library and their patrons, especially because I take a great interest in new technologies, social media, and a customer service oriented approach. Working part-time will give me the opportunity to still gather experience while focusing mainly on my studies. The DC/SLA 2010 Student Scholarship would be a tremendous help to cover some of my tuition. More importantly though it would be proof that I am on the right path to becoming a valuable member of the library community, and an outstanding information analyst. Aileen M. J. Marshall is a current MLIS distance education student at the University of South Carolina (USC), anticipating to graduate in May 2011. She also holds a M.A. in English Linguistics from the Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Germany. After graduating, she strives to work as business information analyst/competitive intelligence professional. She is also interested in virtual library services and is actively involved in projects taking place in Second Life. You can read about her previous and recent projects at www.cyndera.com.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 19
Meet the 2010 DC/SLA Scholarship Winners Jeffrey Nelson My goal is to obtain a Master of Science in Library Science from the School of Library and Information Science at The Catholic University of America ("CUA"), an achievement that will be greatly facilitated by becoming a recipient of the Catherine A. Jones Memorial Scholarship or the IOP Publishing Scholarship, which are generously being offered by DC/SLA. Currently, I am the Library Assistant at Groom Law Group, Chartered, a law firm specializing in employee benefits law in Washington, DC where I have been employed for three years. I currently am enrolled in my third semester at CUA, where I am focusing my studies on law librarianship. The experience of working at a law firm has allowed me to develop professionally through a “hands-on” approach to the analysis and understanding of library science, which has increased my overall skill level tremendously. My employment experience in the legal setting has been primarily in the areas of research, reference and technical services. As the only member of the library staff, I have assisted the library manager with the development and maintenance of our highly-specialized collection, which has been a challenge given the reduced budgets and cost restraints of the economy. I have also contributed to strategic planning projects of the library in an effort to maintain an excellent standard of service for the attorneys of the firm as they deliver their own high quality work product to our clients. The current developments in our nation's legislation affect the firm's practice and challenge me on a daily basis. This relevancy makes my contribution to the firm very important and it is one I would like to enhance by completing my Master's degree. While my experience at the firm has been a great method for me to develop my skills and learn the intricacies of librarianship, it is vital to me to expand my knowledge in library sciences in order to further support the firm's need, but more importantly, advance my own career goals. Groom Law Group is a boutique firm and as a result, much of the research I conduct focuses on employee benefits and tax law; I would like to expand my legal knowledge in other areas of the law. I have supplemented my work experience significantly by taking courses ranging from advanced legal research and law librarianship to the principles and foundation of library and information science. I look forward to the remaining courses of this focus on law librarianship. Upon graduation from CUA, I hope to take the combined learning experiences from my current place of employment and the Master’s program to obtain a position at an international law firm, where I will be able to use my skills and interests. I attended The George Washington DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 20
Meet the 2010 DC/SLA Scholarship Winners Jeffrey Nelson University for my undergraduate degree â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a double concentration in Latin American Studies and International Politics. I would like to be able to use the knowledge from this degree in a legal library setting. I am an active member of the librarian community in Washington, DC. I have joined professional organizations such as DC/SLA, the Law Librarians' Society of DC (LLSDC), the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), and the District of Columbia Library Association (DCLA) to connect with other librarians and to expand my network and access to resources. These connections t have had a direct affect on the way in which I perform my job. I now have access to many resources that have previously been inaccessible or cost prohibitive to obtain. In addition, the collaborative efforts of law librarians in the community have helped to energize and reinforce my commitment to librarianship. On a personal note, this network of law librarians has provided me with critical resources where I can ask questions about the profession and allow myself to be mentored by those who have many years of experience working in this field. I have taken advantage of the pool of collective knowledge to gain insight into the career I have chosen. In today's highly competitive job market, I feel that there are few professions where there are so many people who are eager and willing to be mentors to new professionals. It is this idea of fellowship and fraternity that I have come to respect and greatly appreciate. With the guidance of my mentors, I hope that I will someday be a mentor to future law librarians as so many have done for me. As a law librarian, I will continue to stay actively involved in these professional organizations. I currently serve as a member of the Public Relations Committee of LLSDC and have been an author of published articles in LLSDC's monthly publication, Law Library Lights. I continually attend brown bag lunches and other events sponsored by the professional associations in order to learn more about the profession in general, as well as the trends and challenges that many librarians face. These experiences have allowed me to further deepen my ties to the law librarian community in Washington, DC. This past year, I was nominated for the LLSDC position of Assistant Treasurer/ Treasurer, a two-year commitment to serve on the organization's board. Unfortunately, I did not secure position after elections, but decided to retain my position on the Public Relations Committee, one of which I am extremely proud. Over the next year, I will continue to bring fresh and creative ideas to the committee so that we can achieve our mission of promoting the value of law librarians. It is my hope that I will be run for another position again. Networking and communicating with other law librarians are excellent ways to gain experience, but this must be solidified by a formal education. I am committed to obtaining this education in the field of Library and Information Sciences as I strive to achieve my goal to become a law librarian. Jeffrey Nelson is a graduate student at the School of Library and Information Science at The Catholic University of America and is concentrating his studies in law librarianship. He hopes to someday work for an international law firm. Jeffrey is a graduate of The George Washington University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs. He is currently a Library Assistant at a downtown law firm while completing his degree.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 21
DC/SLA Members Were All Ears at NPR By Chris Vestal All things considered, librarians are information aficionados, so it’s no surprise dozens of chapter members jumped at the chance to go on a guided tour of NPR. Members gathered on Saturday 11 September at NPR’s headquarters in Washington DC. Chapter President-Elect Mary Talley introduced members to several NPR librarians who led the tour, including Janel White, Maureen Clements, and Lauren Sin. Talley also introduced members to long time NPR librarian, Kee Malesky. Malesky recently wrote a book All Facts Considered, a collection of facts she’s come across in her years as a reference librarian (see page 24 for a special Q/A with Malesky). Her book is available for pre-order from Amazon.com at http://tinyurl.com/32shk26. The tour started off NPR’s Broadcast Library. This library houses archival copies of NPR’s broadcasts both in cd and reel-to-reel tape formats. About fifteen librarians work in this area. Librarians retrieve archival programming, music, or other audio content of interest to reporters. In fact,
during the tour a reporter working on an obituary came to the library to request a copy of all programs the deceased had spoken on. There’s also a collection of over 70,000 music cds and records NPR staff can request. The library has a very experienced music librarian, Robert Goldstein, who can answer a request like “music about snow” by indicating which album and then what track on the album (and even what portion of the track) would be most useful. The next stop on the tour was the Digital Media Music Unit, which is home to the podcasts All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts. Musicians regularly perform mini-live concerts here which are in turn filmed and available for free download or streaming at iTunes or NPL’s website at http://tinyurl.com/3qfyzm. In addition to the Broadcast Librarians NPR also has Reference Librarians who are embedded with reporters. They train staff on how to use an internal wiki which links to several commercial databases, AP Style Guide, homegrown databases of NPR programming transcripts, a pronunciation guide, and information on important people and events. They also help reporters with fact checking stories and gathering background material. Each librarian is associated with specific NPR programming and sometimes receive on-air credits. For instance Malesky is associated with the weekend news programs and has received numerous on air-credits over the years. For a final treat members were able to watch a live broadcast of Weekend All Things Considered in NPR studio 2-A (the Daniel Schorr Studio). Following the tour half of the group networked and ate over tapas at La Tasca.
Members gather in NPR’s lobby following the tour (Photo by Chris Vestal) DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 22
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DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 23
The Last Word: Q & A with Kee Malesky, author of All Facts Considered Being bombarded by information is all in a days work for many librarians. But when all is said and done, what do you do with all the random data that crosses your desk during the work week? Kee Malesky, a long time DC/SLA member and reference librarian with NPR, took interesting facts she’s come across and wrote a book, All Facts Considered, on sale this October. Chapter Notes had a chance to ask Malesky what it was like working for NPR, how she went about writing the book, and what some of her favorite facts were.
What do you think the most important lesson you learned from library school was? I'd have to say the most important thing was learning how broad-ranging a reference librarian's skills need to be -- the ability to think fast, analyze queries and patrons' needs, select resources, embrace new technologies -- which made me realize what a challenging and gratifying profession this is. When did you first join SLA and what made you decide to join? What other professional memberships have you had? I contacted what was then called the Newspaper Division of SLA when I first heard of it in 1985, and applied for and received their student stipend to attend the SLA Conference. I immediately knew I had found the right organization for me. I've also been active in the local chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the international honor society for library science. You’ve been a member of DC/SLA for over 25 years, how has it changed since you first joined? New technologies have had a profound impact on what we do and how we do it, and I think the association has done an excellent job of keeping up with that trend, and offering us tools and services that help us thrive in this sometimes chaotic universe!
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 24
Kee Malesky (Photo provided by Malesky) What positions have you held in the chapter and in SLA overall? What other associations have you been involved with? For the Chapter, I was a board member (Second VP, Director -- worked on a revision of our By-laws in the '90s -- and archivist). For the News Division, I've been newsletter editor, membership committee chair, broadcast library chair, and I'm currently the archivist. I've been president of the Beta Phi Mu chapter twice.
You’ve been a librarian at NPR for over 20 years can you tell us how NPR has changed over the decades and how that’s affected your job? I've seen NPR evolve from land lines and typewriters to satellites and computers. NPR has always been on the cutting edge of technological developments, and the library has been an integral part of that -- creating in-house databases to document our programs and make the material easily available, providing desktop research tools to the staff, maintaining current awareness of changes in commercial and primary sources so we are constantly improving the service we provide.
The Last Word: Q & A with Kee Malesky, author of All Facts Considered What’s kept you at NPR all these years? Mostly it's the people. My husband spent his entire journalism career at NPR, and we enjoyed working together and sharing the joys and frustrations of being at a major news organization. The challenges that the journalists bring to the Library every day keep the job lively and interesting, and I've made many lasting friendships here.
Malesky’s new book is can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com at http://tinyurl.com/2wdpaft. (Photo provided Malesky)
NPR sounds like it’d be a very dynamic place to work, can you walk us through a typical day or particularly notable day perhaps? There is definitely no typical day. There's no way to predict when we'll be busy or what kind of questions will come. We do try to anticipate needs, and use wiki software to make information available to the entire newsroom. I'm part of the team of researchers who fact-check, provide background information, track down experts, give guidance on pronunciation and grammar -whatever the journalists need. Our colleagues in the Broadcast Library archive the finished programs (creating metadata for each individual piece on every program we produce or distribute), and curate our audio and video materials.
DC/SLA Chapter Notes | September 2010 | pg 25
What do you find most challenging at NPR? What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job? It's a challenge to find the time to do everything we would like to do -- prepare online briefing books in advance of major events, keep up with changes in resources, train journalists to do some of their own research -- in addition to answering all their questions. The most rewarding aspect is the gratitude of our patrons -- they're often willing to admit that they can't do their jobs without us. As a librarian what do you think your most important impact on journalism is? We help them be what they want to be -- accurate, comprehensive, reliable, fully-informed. In all your years at NPR what’s the assignment or accomplishment you’re most proud of? I would probably say I'm most proud of the briefing books we produce for national elections and other events. They used to be massive 800+ page volumes, and now we can provide the same info on our News Wiki in ways that are even more flexible and useful than the print editions. I'm currently starting a project that could make me very proud -creating an Audio Pronunciation Guide.
The Last Word: Q & A with Kee Malesky, author of All Facts Considered Your recent book All Facts Considered is a compilation of facts you’ve come across during your years at NPR, what inspired you to write it? I was contacted by an editor at John Wiley & Sons who assumed that I have hundreds of interesting facts stuck in my brain after decades of answering questions, so he thought we should put them into a book. Can you walk us through the process of writing the book? After you thought of writing it what happened next? What was the most challenging part of the process? I wrote a brief proposal, which included an essay about facts and what they mean and how they change (that became the Introduction to the book). Once it was accepted by the publisher, I arranged to take some time off from NPR and started on the research. Most of the facts in the book are not from actual questions I have answered at the NPR Reference Desk, but I did look through dozens of my old reference desk notebooks for queries that involved interesting facts. I carried a little notebook and pencil everywhere I went, to write down ideas as I found them. Much of the research was done online -- using commercial databases; government, academic and association websites; and online library resources. I also made several visits to the DC Public Library and to the Library of Congress. I collected as many reputable sources as I needed to compile the essential details of each fact, then I tried to tell its story in a couple of paragraphs. It took about six months to research and write. Once the editor accepted the manuscript, I worked with production and copy-editors until we were all satisfied with the final product. I turned in the final Index at the beginning of September. How are you promoting your book? Will you be traveling for book signings? NPR has several programs and podcasts devoted to books, will you be appearing on any of those? I have book-signings scheduled in DC and in New York. I'll be at Borders Books at 18th & L Sts NW on Tuesday, October 26, at 6:30pm. I'm also scheduled to be interviewed on Weekend Edition with Scott Simon (Oct 23) and Talk of the Nation (Oct 28). I may also do a "virtual tour" of NPR member stations, if there's any interest. A "virtual tour" means I sit in a studio here in DC and a station host or reporter interviews me for their local programs. I may also appear on NPR.org's Books pages.
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I have a website -- http://www.allfactsconsidered.com -where I plan to post all the sources for the facts so the online ones are "clickable" and so I can update them as the facts change. I may also do some blogging from the site, when we get a little closer to the publication date. When you were doing research over the years you probably didn’t know you’d be writing a book, how did you keep track of all the info you’ve mined? I do keep notebooks of queries while I'm on the Desk -to be sure I don't forget something when we're handling lots of questions simultaneously. So that was a good resource to start with, but I also pulled ideas from my brain and the brains of my colleagues, and found inspiration from listening to the news and watching Cash Cab and Jeopardy, and many other sources.
Many people dream of being an author, do you have any insights or advice you’d like to share for them?
Malesky’s desk with some of the books, notebooks, articles, and files she used in her research. (Photo provided Malesky)
The Last Word: Q & A with Kee Malesky, author of All Facts Considered Have you thought about writing another book? Let's see how this one does first! What do you do in your spare time? The same things that many librarians do in their spare time -- collect books, work on my family genealogy, read, travel.
Malesky poses with Joan Weeks and Roberta Stevens during a Beta Phi Mu meeting . (Photo by Maureen Clements)
What’s the most recent book you’ve read? What’s your favorite book and what makes it your favorite? I'm currently reading The Origin of Species -- not the one by Darwin; this is a novel by Nino Ricci. I read anything that Alberto Manguel writes about reading or libraries -- he's one of my favorite living writers.
The only book I'm willing to call a favorite (because there are just too many that I've loved) is my first I love to quote Dorothy Parker: "Hate writing; love favorite book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, because having written." I didn't actually hate the writing that's where I grew up and it gives me a connection to part, though of course it was a challenge and some my childhood that I really cherish. I've been collecting days a real effort to keep myself at the computer. The different editions of Tree for years, and have a nice other advice I got from a fellow author at NPR was shelf-full of interesting copies. not to focus on how much work remains to be done, but to emphasize how much you have accomplished. Some days, that really helped. When there’s a book you want to read do you usually go to the library, a bookstore, or download it to an ebook reader? What do you think of ebooks? Authors and librarians have a unique almost One of the great benefits of working at NPR is our symbiotic relationship with each other. Authors access to review copies of new books. I find all kinds create much of the content that libraries compile but of interesting titles that I can borrow, fiction and nonrely on libraries to help promote and disseminate fiction. I do buy books when I want to have a nice their content. Now that you’re a librarian and an copy to keep, but I also use the public libraries. I don't author do you have any insights about that yet have an e-reader, but I know it is inevitable that I relationship? will start reading that way. Ebooks have some great Well, I already fully appreciate the efforts of advantages, but I am concerned about losing the librarians everywhere to promote reading and connection to the physical book. What happens to research of all kinds! And I think many (if not most) signed books, marginal notes, association copies -- all authors realize that it's the library that makes them the wonderful things that make me want to collect accessible and helps to promote and preserve their books? work
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SLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centinial Showcase was on prominent display at SLA headquarters when members visited for the Virtual Meet the Candidates. (Photo by Chris Vestal) DC/SLA Chapter Notes | July/August 2010 | pg 28