DC/SLA Chapter Notes - March 2001

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About Us Board March 2001 Committees Volume 60, No. 7 Chapter Manual Minutes Archives

Contents z

Register Now for the Joint Spring Workshop

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President’s Corner

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DC/SLA Candidate Biographies and Voting Ballot

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DC/SLA and CUA Present Career Day 2001

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Who's Using What, How Much, When and What For? A Forum on Usage and Other Statistics

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USAID Library to Sponsor April Development Dialogue on E-Governance

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A Scene from a Mixed Marriage

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Mini-Minutes of the January DC/SLA Board Meeting

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Members’ News

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Membership in Interlibrary Users Association Benefits DC-Area Libraries

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DC News Group Program “Digitizing Your Archive,” on Tap for March 16

Special Libraries Association assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by the contributors to SLA’s publications.

Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official views of SLA. Acceptance of advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product by SLA. Chapter Notes is free to DC/SLA members.

Subscriptions to non-members are available at $10 per year. Advertising rates effective September 1997 are: $95 - 1/4 page; $175 - 1/2 page; $290 full page. Discounts are offered for both prepayment and for purchasing ad space in five or more issues.

Donna Kanin, PG&E National Energy Group, 7500 Old Georgetown Road, 12th floor, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301/280-6785; e-mail: donna.kanin@neg.pge.com.

EDITORS’ NOTE: Friday, March 16 is the deadline for materials, which can be included in the March 2001 issue. The issue is distributed approximately three weeks after the deadline. The preferred submission format is ASCII text sent via e-mail. Materials for Chapter Notes should be sent to both of the editors: Eileen Deegan, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th St., SW, Rm. 4 South, Washington, DC 20547; 202/619-4870; fax 202/6194879; cneditors@yahoo.com

Amy Pass, 426 6th Street, NE #5, Washington, DC 20002; 202/543-0465; cneditors@yahoo.com

Event announcements should also be submitted electronically to the DC/SLA Internet Committee chairs: Greta D. Ober-Beauchesne, Joint Bank-Fund Library; 202/623-6413; fax 202/6236417; goberbeauchesne@imf.org or greta@worldbank.org

Kristina Lively, National Endowment for Democracy; 202/293-0300; fax 202/2930258; kristina@ned.org

Register Now for the DC/SLA, LLSDC, DCLA Joint Spring Workshop Professional Development in a Technological Age: Skill Building to Increase Personal and Team Effectiveness

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Friday, April 20, 2001 - 8:30 am–4:30 pm Speakers: Morning session: Linda Burrs, President & Consultant, Step up to Success!

Featured Topics: Situational Leadership, Excellence in Customer Service, Change Management Afternoon session: Robert Newlen, Library of Congress and Author of Writing Resumes that Work: A How to Do It Manual for Librarians Featured Topics: Tips for Employers, Resume Writing Techniques (Bring your Resume!)

Contacts: Charlotte White (202) 662-6177; Mary Longchamp (202) 783-8400 ext. 47079 Price: $45 Registration: No purchase orders, training request forms or credit cards. Make checks payable to: Joint Spring Workshop. No refunds after April 1, 2001 and lunch not guaranteed for reservations after April 16, 2001.

Complete the registration form and mail it to:

Place: Charlotte White George Mason University Law School, Covington & Burling Library 3401 North Fairfax Drive, 1201 Penn. Ave., NW Arlington, VA 22201; Washington, D.C. 20004-7566 (703) 993-8100; VA Square/GMU Metro (Orange line); The JSW complies with ADA. We can For detailed directions, please visit: accommodate your needs, provided you call www.gmu.edu/departments/law/geninfo/directions.html

by March 20, 2001.

Sponsors: LLSDC, DCLA, DC-SLA. Thanks to Global Securities Information, Inc. – LIVEDGAR for sponsoring the continental breakfast.

Registration includes continental breakfast and lunch.

DC/SLA, LLSDC, DCLA Joint Spring Workshop REGISTRATION FORM: Name: ______________________________________________ Organization: _______________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ City/State/Zip: _______________________________________ Daytime Phone: ______________________________________ Affiliation(s): ASIS__ DCOU__ DCLA__ FLICC__ LLSDC__ DC/SLA__ OTHER_________(please specify) Lunch: __Turkey Sandwich __Vegetarian Pita

Return to contents

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President’s Corner Vital Signs

By Dave Shumaker, DC/SLA President Growing up outside Philadelphia, I couldn't avoid regular doses of the wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin. One of his aphorisms I’ve never quite managed to forget is: "Early to bed and early to rise make a man healthy, wealthy and wise." In later years I've come to find out that Old Ben didn't follow his own advice. Early to bed definitely wasn't his rule, and his nocturnal pursuits may have had something to do with his health problems. Still, he was right that health, wealth and wisdom are worthwhile personal goals.

They're good goals for the D.C. Chapter as well. Are we as a corporate body healthy, wealthy and wise? I've talked about our wealth in my past two columns – I’ve no more to say on that.

And as for wisdom, well, I'll leave that question to somebody wiser than I. That leaves me with this question: Is DC/SLA healthy? Let's look at some vital signs and see what they tell us.

Purpose A healthy organization needs a clear sense of purpose. Fortunately, we share a vision that equips us well. The DC/SLA Strategic Planning Committee clearly articulated this vision in their August 2000 report. Our Chapter, they wrote, strives to be “a connected community of information professionals who help each other to realize their full potential in the global knowledge-based economy and to provide leadership for the international association."

Leadership If the organization doesn't attract good leaders, it won't remain healthy for long. By this measure, our future is bright. Elsewhere in this Chapter Notes issue is the ballot for 2001-2002 Chapter Officers. Did you know that we're one of the few -- if not the only -- SLA unit that runs a competitive election? Most chapters and divisions are glad just to find one candidate for each office. In our case, not only did our Nominating Committee come up with two candidates, they came up with two strong candidates for each office. It's wonderful to know that no matter who wins, we will have excellent leadership next year.

Involvement Having a few active leaders isn't enough to assure a healthy organization. Health requires broad participation and involvement by the membership. In our Chapter, this is the most exciting, positive aspect of all. Start with Chapter Notes. We have an outstanding, monthly newsletter thanks to our editors and many contributors. DC/SLA’s active website and email list hosted by our Internet committee co-chairs, augments our print newsletter. Members’ frequent submissions are instrumental in keeping these information channels vital.

Then look at our programs. Not only do we have a meeting every month -- thanks to our President Elect and Hospitality Committee -- sometimes we have more. Active groups like the Military Librarians, News Librarians and Business Information Finders put together many interesting and useful programs. Next, add in the contributions of our Professional Development and Student Affiliation Committees. Include the Joint Spring Workshop, and our past and future involvement in Technology Day, an event we co-sponsor with our Maryland sister Chapter. Finally, don't forget other, less visible but no less important committees, like Awards, whose members take care of valued Chapter functions. Seen in its entirety, you get an idea of the significant number of members pursing their professional interests by participating in Chapter programming activities.

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Growth A healthy organization is a growing organization. Here, I have to say, our health isn't so robust.

A recent letter I received from SLA Finance Director, Scott Smiley, reports that the Chapter has 1,059 members. This is almost unchanged from last year. In fact, our membership has fluctuated between 1000 and 1100 for the past decade. Not bad, compared to the many Association units that have lost members, but not really healthy either. Growth is an important area for us -- and the Association -- to address.

Diagnosis Our Chapter is a healthy organization with many strengths. Our measures of purpose, leadership, and involvement are high. Let's put all of these strengths to work on the one area that is weak: membership growth!

Return to contents DC/SLA Candidate Biographies and Voting Ballot Members, look for your ballot in this month's printed edition of Chapter Notes or download Ballot01 (a 20 KB Microsoft Word file) and mail it to: SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION Attn: Ellie Briscoe, Elections Chair 1709 Stonebridge Rd. Alexandria, VA 22304 Please mail the ballot with your NAME and RETURN ADDRESS clearly marked on the envelope.

Ballots should be postmarked no later than Saturday, March 31st.

First Vice President/President-Elect Anne Caputo, Director, Knowledge and Learning Programs, Factiva, Washington, DC

Roberta Geier, Reference/Vertical Files Librarian, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

Education: BA, Lewis and Clark College; MLS, San Jose State University.

Education: BA, Queens College; MLS, University of Maryland.

Previous Employment: Various positions (most recently Director, Quantum Information professional program) with The Dialog Corporation; Academic Librarian, San Jose State University Engineering Library, San Jose, CA.

Previous Employment: Technical Information Specialist, National Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

Professional Activities: Director, 19992001, DC/SLA; member, SLA’s Global Conference Planning Committee.

Professional Activities: DC/SLA Government Relations Committee Chair, 1998 to present; Art Libraries Society of North America, DC-MD-VA Chapter, ChairElect, 1996, Chair 1997; ALSNA Public Policy Committee.

Second Vice President Mandy S. Baldridge, Branch Manager of Library Staffing, Information Management Division, InfoCurrent, Washington, DC.

Jill C. Konieczko, Marketing Manager, Lexis-Nexis, Washington, DC

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Education: BA, University of Florida, Gainesville; MLS, Marshall University.

Education: BA, Pennsylvania State University; MLS, University of Pittsburgh.

Professional Activities: Second VP, DC/SLA, 2000-2001; Chair, DC/SLA Hospitality Committee, 1998-2000; AALL, ARMA, DOCHSIN Committees.

Previous Employment: Information Professional Consultant, Lexis-Nexis, Washington, DC; Library Manager, NOAA Coastal Services Center, Charleston, SC; Reference Librarian, US EPA Headquarters Library, Washington, DC. Professional Activities: SLA Library Management Division, subscriptions manager, 1995-1998; marketing section chair, 1997-1998, knowledge management section chair, 2000-2001.

Corresponding Secretary: Estelle Alexander, Senior Research Information Specialist, AARP Research Information Center, Washington, DC Education: BA, Temple University; MLS, University of Maryland Previous Employment: Reference Librarian, Montgomery County Public Libraries.

Professional Activities: DC/SLA Hospitality Chair, 1996-1998; DC/SLA Chapter Member of the Year, 1997; DC/SLA citation, contributions to Winter Meeting; Secretary, Beta Phi Mu, Iota Chapter, 1999-2000.

Eileen Deegan, Reference Specialist, Economic Security Team, Office of International Information Programs, US Department of State, Washington, DC. Education: BA, University of Alabama; MA, University of Texas; MLS, The Catholic University of America.

Previous Employment: Editorial Assistant, America Illustrated Magazine, US Information Agency, Washington, DC; Paraprofessional, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. Professional Activities: DC/SLA Chapter Notes Editor, 1999-2001.

Director, 2001-2003: Frederik Heller, Manager, Information Center and Virtual Library, National Association of Realtors, Washington, DC.

Kenlee Ray, retired, and active volunteer (most recently at a secondary school library in rural Zimbabwe).

Education: BA, Bates College; MSLS, Catholic University of America.

Education: BA, University of Michigan; MALS, University of Michigan.

Previous Employment: Information Specialist, National Association of Realtors, Washington, DC; Library Assistant, National Association of Realtors, Chicago, IL.

Previous Employment: Senior Information Officer, World Bank, Washington, DC; Head Librarian, Executive Directors’ Library, World Bank; Legal Librarian, World Bank; Librarian, Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Librarian, U.S. Civil Service Commission.

Professional Activities: DC/SLA Corresponding Secretary, 2000-2001; Chapter Notes Editor, 1995-1999.

Professional Activities: DC/SLA Finance Committee, 1990-1991; DC/SLA Corresponding Secretary, 1975-1976; Chair, DC Chapter Social Science Division,

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1988-1990; SLA Library Management Division, Chair, Awards Committee, 19941995; Chair, Social Science Division, 19921993; Secretary/Treasurer, Social Science Division, 1986-1988.

Return to contents DC/SLA and CUA Present Career Day 2001 Special librarians at all career stages, especially those recently entering the profession, are invited to Career Day 2001 at The Catholic University of America’s Hannan Hall. Please join us Saturday, March 24 from 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., to learn, share your experiences with “newbies,” and make new contacts. There will be a place designated for job/internship postings.

Be sure to bring your resume!

Program Schedule 11:30: Check-in, Lunch, and Informal Discussion / Networking 12:45: Keynote Address by DC/SLA President-Elect Candidates -- Roberta Geier, National Gallery of Art and Anne Caputo, Factiva 1:30: Panel Session #1 -Associations/Government/International A) Michelle Halber, Food Marketing Institute; Jim Madigan, U.S. Census Bureau; Marcelle Saint-Arnaud, Commission for Labor Cooperation B) Linda Paez, Interamerican Development Bank; John Latham, Special Libraries Association; Sharon Lenius, Dept. of Defense 2:30: Panel Session #2 -Nonprofit/Nontraditional/Medical A) Sabra Breslin, Goodwill Industries; Mary Ellen Bates, Bates Information; Susan Whitmore, National Institutes of Health Panel Session #2 -Law/Academic/Corporate B) Barbara Folensbee-Moore, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Anne Linton, George Washington University; David Shumaker, Mitre Corporation

Directions (www.cua.edu/about_cua/visitcua.html#5): CUA is located off Michigan Avenue between North Capital Street and South Dakota Avenue. Free parking on weekends is available in the McMahon lot adjacent to Hannan Hall.

Via Metro: ride the Red line in the direction of Glenmont to the Brookland/CUA stop.

See campus map at: www.cua.edu/centers/cuamaps.cfm.

ALL LUNCHES MUST BE PREPAID. PLEASE MAKE CHECKS OUT TO DC/SLA. MAIL CHECKS AND REGISTRATION FORM BY MARCH 15 TO: Meg McCully, The Boston Consulting Group, 4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20814.

301/664-7482.

Please Note: The CUA School of Library and Information Science will host an informational session for prospective students from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. (lunch included).

For more information, or to register, contact Dr. Bill Turner, Assistant Dean, at 202-3195085, turnerjr@cua.edu.

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CAREER DAY REGISTRATION FORM Name_________________________________________ DC/SLA member ___ Affiliation_____________________________________ Student ___ Phone/E-mail___________________________________ There is no charge for the program. A boxed lunch -- sandwich, soft drink, chips, fruit, and cookies -- is available for $10.00.

To order a boxed lunch, please check here _____ To order a vegetarian lunch, please check here _____ Please select one session from each Panel Session so that we may plan space accordingly.

Panel Session #1 A)___ B)____ Panel Session #2 A)___ B)____

Return to contents Coming Attraction: DC/SLA Annual Meeting and Banquet Eleanor Clift, a Newsweek contributing editor, frequent panelist on political discussion programs, and author of Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling, is the featured speaker for this year’s DC/SLA Annual Meeting & Banquet. Tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 21, the event is the Chapter’s last major gathering prior to the SLA Annual Conference in San Antonio. The Banquet’s location has not yet been announced. Please mark your calendars and watch for additional details in April’s Chapter Notes and on the DC/SLA Discussion List.

Return to contents Who's Using What, How Much, When and What For? A Forum on Usage and Other Statistics

By Dee Clarkin, DC/SLA Professional Development Chair If the word “statistics” causes your eyes to glaze over, try this trick. Visualize the word “statistics,” add a plus sign and the word “library.” At the end of the equation, insert an equal sign followed by the word “survive.” According to the speakers at DC/SLA’s January 16 forum, we librarians have always kept statistics as part of the ongoing struggle to justify our value to our organizations. What has changed, they say, is the special challenges we must face in collecting usage statistics on electronic resources. Consider, for example, the Primary Research Group’s 2001 Survey of Academic and Special Libraries which revealed that webaccessed databases now account for 20 percent of total library database spending. So, how do you capture usage statistics for those databases? In the forum held at Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., Judy Luther of Informed Strategies, Denise Davis of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), and other experts addressed these thoughtprovoking and challenging issues.

Luther began the program with a presentation on her October 2000 White Paper on Electronic Journal Usage Statistics. Her mandate from the Council on Library and Information Resources, she explained, was to investigate how and what statistics are currently collected. In addition, her task was to identify the issues that must be resolved before librarians and publishers feel

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comfortable with the data and confident in using them. One of Luther's major discoveries was that librarians and publishers share a significant number of concerns about the development of statistics, and that both groups seek agreement on what core data are needed. Her excellent study can be read at: www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub94/pub94.pdf.

Following Luther, Joe Ryan, principle of Ryan Information Management and adjunct professor at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies, discussed current research on networked environments. Ryan serves as project coordinator for the Institute of Museum and Library Service's work on developing national library network statistics and performance measures. He raised several important points for those of us grappling with these issues. No matter what kinds of national standards are developed, he said, it is paramount to create and present usage data that are relevant to our own environment and that speak to our local decision makers. Equally vital, he stressed, is the need to mesh our electronic usage statistics with measures of paper tools. Ryan ended with an interesting query about the need to capture qualitative "stories" that show our libraries in positive lights. These issues and other valuable ideas can be found on Ryan's webpage at: web.syr.edu/~jryan/infopro/stats.html.

The forum also featured professionals working in the publishing and content aggregator sector.

Beth Bigman of Lexis/Nexis demonstrated "PowerInvoice," a tool providing billing and usage data to some of Lexis' large law-firm clients. PowerInvoice allows clients to access data by account, specific library searched, online time, number of searches, print lines, or printed documents. This information, updated daily and available 24-48 hours after the search, may be printed, viewed or downloaded in a variety of formats. Currently, Lexis/Nexis is resolving issues concerning privacy and security, accounting for web vs. dial-up usage, ISP provider difficulties, and several other problems. Hopefully, Lexis/Nexis will make PowerInvoice available to all clients, so that the rest of us can determine if it addresses our usage statistics issues.

Another aggregator view was presented by Carol MacAdams of JSTOR (www.jstor.org).

JSTOR's mission is to help the scholarly community by building a reliable and comprehensive electronic journal archive, and by alleviating academic librarians' rising shelving and subscription costs. Originally backed by the Andrew Mellon Foundation, JSTOR is a not-forprofit organization that charges users a subscription fee to access its impressive and expanding electronic journal collection. It provides usage information to both its subscribers and participating publishers -- a unique two-way challenge. Usage statistics can be accessed on a separate web page, and subscribers can search by title, compare themselves to peer institutions, and download data into Excel. Interestingly, the JSTOR experience has proved that electronic access has actually increased the use of older literature. The concept of information value, MacAdams concluded, must be clearly understood by all parties utilizing usage data.

Denise Davis, NCLIS director for statistics and surveys, presented the last, and perhaps more familiar, part of the problem. Davis addressed the dilemma we face in dealing with electronic usage statistics and our motivation for conquering this challenge. Our hard work will pay off, she contends, because measuring usage helps build understanding about how our resources are utilized. Davis recommends that we start by choosing a few key measures important in our environments, collect them for a reasonable length of time, and study the data collected. Basic questions we might ask are: Where did our clients go? What did they look at? What did they print or download? She outlined the difficulties posed by adding vendor-supplied data to the information we are collecting ourselves. Finally, in order to paint a complete picture of resource use in our libraries, Davis discussed the need for measuring such additional variables as: z

The number of individuals sitting at computers;

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z z z z

Remote logins to library servers or proxy servers; How many reference transactions involve referrals to electronic resources; The cost of resources including paper, toner, and equipment; and Building overhead.

I attended the forum with two colleagues from the FDIC library who are currently working on electronic usage statistics -- Reg Gerig and Eddie Rozier. They told me their biggest challenge is the lack of uniform statistics that can be used across all databases or electronic journal providers. Most of our vendors, they commented, provide inadequate statistics. One vendor’s "usage statistics" are actually just dollar amounts. Another vendor gives us all our data broken down by type of file or library, forcing us to add up all the figures ourselves. Another news service we provide all FDIC employees via our intranet provides us with "statistics" that are simply the names of our users--something we already know. To compensate, my colleagues wrote their own program utilizing Perl language. It extracts data from the server logs that can then be translated into meaningful statistics. It is indeed frustrating, they remarked, to pay $250,000 annually for a source that provides no meaningful user data.

In the face of my library’s and other information centers’ similar experiences, the DC/SLA forum provided valuable food for thought. In these days of limited budgets and the constant necessity for libraries to justify their existence, the need for meaningful data on online sources will only increase. Through their fascinating presentations and additional Internet resources, Denise Davis, Judy Luther, Joe Ryan, and the other presenters gave the audience valuable insight into usage statistics. Thanks also to Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. for hosting the forum, and to Knight Kiplinger for his brief visit and witty remarks.

Return to contents Employment Opportunity: George Washington University, The Gelman Library George Washington University is accepting applications for the position of Manager of Gelman Library Information Service (GLIS) / Media Services. GLIS is a separately budgeted cost-recovery operation that provides research and fast, accurate retrieval and delivery of documents from both George Washington University library collections and outside document suppliers. GLIS serves clients in the research, business and legal communities. Media Resources provides information services and access to media materials for the GW community. For a full position description and qualification requirements, see GWU’s website at: www.gwu.edu/gelman/library/employment/staff Return to contents USAID Library to Sponsor April Development Dialogue on E-Governance Can emerging information technologies help build SMART (Small, Moral, Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent) governments?

Yes, says Dr. Subhash Bhatnagar, a professor of information technology and a World Bank e-government consultant. At the USAID Library’s Development Dialogue on Monday, April 2, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Dr. Bhatnagar will discuss how India and other developing countries have successfully used information technology to improve public sector programs. Included will be examples of how e-governance applications have been implemented in programs related to trade facilitation, poverty alleviation, tax reform, and service delivery.

A professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmadabad, India, Dr. Bhatnagar specializes in national IT Policy, corporate IT strategy, MIS design frameworks, IT for development, and e-commerce. A

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prolific author of papers, books and video film scripts, he has also received the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP) Distinguished Service Award. Additional information about his work can be found on his homepage at www.iimahd.ernet.in/~subhash.

Place: USAID Information Center Conference Room, Mezzanine Level, Ronald Reagan Building (RRB), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Via Metro: Orange or Blue line to Federal Triangle. Follow the signs to the RRB. No reservations are required. All are welcome. Non-USAID attendees do NOT need a USAID pass, but should proceed to the Information Center where the receptionist will direct you to the conference room. For additional information, please call (202) 712-4464.

Return to contents A Scene from a Mixed Marriage

By Suzanne Pilsk, DC/SLA Liaison to the SLA Committee on Cataloging I am in a mixed marriage. That is to say, I am married to a non-cataloger. Worse, I am married to a non-librarian. I envy those of you who are in “same career” partnerships. What is your pillow talk like? Mine can be rather droll.

On various occasions, my husband has adopted a serious demeanor, sat up in bed with his eyes wide open and asked: “Okay, tell me again, what exactly is it that you do?” So earnest. So eager to learn what helps pay the heating bill. On one recent evening, appreciating his sincere attempt to understand, I decided to explain my line of work.

“Well, remember the card catalogs in school?” I take things slowly, calling on his happy memories of school and book reports. “The information on those cards is what we now call ‘metadata.’” His eyes glaze. Shoot, I shouldn’t have used the M word.

“No wait! Umm, the information on those cards describes the books in the library, right?” He is still with me. “The librarian behind the big brown doors to the left of the catalog made those cards. Remember her? Mrs. Sharpe? She was nice and her son was in your brother’s class.” I got him. He is still with me.

“Each book that came into the library had to have a card made so that people would know the school had that book in its collection. Today we don’t make those cards anymore but, instead, use computers.”

He is no longer sitting up as straight, but he knows the computer. He even chips in. “Oh, I’ve used the one at the public library. They had a sign up that said the card catalog was not being updated, so use the computer.”

I continue. “You may not have noticed this, but the books are described physically – how many pages they have, what illustrations they contain, etc. The books are also assigned a topic – like dogs.” The dog example always helps since he has been pestering me about getting a dog. He likes my example. He is still with me.

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“That is what I do! I describe the book – the number of pages it has and whether or not it has color illustrations. I also put in the appropriate topics such as, Dogs of North America.”

“That sounds okay,” he remarks. “I think I understand.”

Do I let him get comfortable? Do I let him feel satisfied? Stop, I think, don’t go further! But I just can’t control myself.

I rattle on. “Now I do this all on the computer and have to worry about indexes, authority control, multiple formats, and access points.” He slumps a bit. He was already thinking about the Friends rerun about to air. I start to really speed up: “I tag each field using a standard format known as MARC. I participate in the NACO program and establish names. My records go into a giant union database and have to meet national standards.”

I have obviously gone too far and way too fast. He is glazed. “Okay,” I wrap up, “lets just say it is more complicated than it looks.” He is ready to agree with me without knowing why.

I still want to give him another good example. It’s clear, though, that he is more interested in seeing if this Friends episode is the one where Phoebe sings “Smelly Cat.” Wait! There is my example!

I resume. “Say I get the “Smelly Cat” episode of Friends into the library on video. I need to make sure the record that I create has the right name of the show. I need to make sure the episode is described correctly, and even has a way for you – the user – to search for “Smelly Cat.” My husband likes this. "So you make sure the title of the show is right and you describe it so someone like me can find it? I think I get this."

Yes. I think he gets it. At least the basics and the overall goal. I let him turn on the TV. But I still can't stop myself! "Suppose we get the copy in DVD. I'll have to decide if I should add our holdings onto the VHS record or make a new record. I'll have to determine if it is it a new manifestation or just a new carrier or whatever."

"Uh huh," he mutters distractedly. I shouldn't push my luck. I'll wait for another opportunity, some other day, to tell him more about my craft. But then again, maybe not. After all, this is a mixed marriage!

Author’s Disclaimer (as dictated to me by my husband): Any resemblance to my real husband is purely coincidental and unintentional.

Return to contents Mini-Minutes of the January DC/SLA Board Meeting Highlights of the January 9 meeting conducted by DC/SLA President Dave Shumaker, held at the Urban Institute, include the following items: z

List-manager Greta Ober reported that the Chapter list has had large decreases in

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membership numbers. Headquarters has been notified of the problem. z

z

z

Lynn Berard, SLA Director, will use our Strategic Planning Survey in a discussion of strategic planning at the Winter Conference.

Career Day will be held on Saturday, March 24 at Catholic University. Admission to the event, itself, is free, and a boxed lunch can be purchased.

The Chapter needs to have an audit of finances in accordance with SLA rules. Murray Howder was nominated for this position as a disinterested party. The motion passed.

Return to contents Members’ News At SLA’s 2001 Winter Meeting in Savannah, President Donna Scheeder announced that Roger Haley, U.S. Senate Librarian Emeritus and a DC/SLA Past President, has been elected to the SLA Hall of Fame.

Beginning in 1959, leading SLA members have been elected to the Hall of Fame in recognition of their distinguished service to the association and extensive contributions to the profession.

The winner of the 2001 President’s Award, Donna announced, is DC/SLA’s President-Elect, Sue O’Neill Johnson. An Information Officer at The World Bank, Sue has earned this award for her outstanding work in coordinating SLA’s Global 2000 Conference fellowship and mentoring programs.

Another SLA award recipient is DC/SLA’s Susan Fifer Canby, Director of the National Geographic Society Library. Susan has won the Association’s 2001 Innovations in Technology Award. Donna will officially present these honors to Roger, Sue and Susan at the SLA 2001 Annual Conference in San Antonio.

Return to contents Membership in Interlibrary Users Association Benefits DC-Area Libraries

DC News Group Program “Digitizing Your Archive,” on Tap for March 16

Do you ever get requests for particular books or articles and wonder: “Where in the world am I going to find that?” One local source you might try is the Interlibrary Users Association (IUA) – a nonprofit membership organization consisting of more than 50 DC-area special, federal, academic, and public libraries.

Please join the DC News Group for a discussion on the merits of "Digitizing your Archive." The Baltimore Sun’s Sandy Levy will talk about her experiences with digitization over the years, and The Washington Post’s Jen Belton will discuss the issues involved in selecting a vendor. Computers-in-Libraries Conference attendees are welcome to attend this News Group program.

IUA members allow mutual access to their collections for interlibrary lending and borrowing, usually at no charge. This reciprocity allows members to gain access to specialized collections and extend their resources.

For more information, see the IUA website at www.lib.umd.edu/Guest/IUA/iuahome.html. Please direct your questions about membership to Merri Wolf (202-686-7962, wolf@hl.ciw.edu) or Donna Kanin (301280-6785, donna.kanin@neg.pge.com).

When: Friday, March 16; 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Place: The Washington Post; 1150 15th St NW; Washington, DC; 20071-0002 Via Metro: Farragut North on the Red line, and McPherson Square on the Orange or Blue line.

RSVP: Please send a response by March 9 to Sheryl Rosenthal at srosenthal@usnews.com.

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