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Vol. 60, No. 2 October 2000 Contents Knowledge Sharing: How Cool Information Professionals Can Take the Lead President’s Corner Military Librarians Group Event DC/SLA Members DC/SLA Announces Contest for Student Membership Award BIF and Bop in Fall 2000 DC/SLA Wraps Up Global 2000 Campaign to Fund Fellows’ Attendance at Brighton SLA Recognizes John Latham and DC/SLA Volunteers for Global 2000 Contributions Info Career Trends: A Newsletter for Our New Brilliant Careers, Reviewed by Deirdre Clarkin Members’ News "Muchas Gracias" for Your Book Donations! Are You Beta Phi Mu? DC/SLA Coming Attractions Strategic Planning Committee Recommends Actions to Advance Chapter’s Goals
DC/SLA presents Sylvia Piggott, Deputy Division Chief and Deputy Chief Librarian of the Joint Bank-Fund Library speaking on "Knowledge Sharing: How Cool Information Professionals Can Take the Lead." WHEN: Wednesday, October 11, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Snacks and Soft Drinks -- 5:30-6:00 Presentation -- 6:00-7:00 Optional Dutch-Treat Dinners at D.C. Restaurants -- Following Program WHERE: The World Bank Africa Building Auditorium, 701 18th St, NW. Via Metro, exit at the Farragut West station, and cross Pennsylvania Ave to 18th Street. WHO: Sylvia Piggott, the 1996-1997 SLA President and a SLA Fellow, is a well-known, progressive thinker in the field of knowledge management (KM). This past year, she has served as the Lazerow Memorial Lecturer and as a workshop seminar leader at Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science. In these settings she delivered presentations on "Knowledge Management as a Development Tool," and "Introduction to Knowledge Management. " This November, she will participate in the Jamaica Library Association’s KM program held in conjunction with its 50th anniversary celebration. WHAT: In her DC/SLA presentation, Sylvia will offer an important analysis of the changing alliances and positioning opportunities in the information profession. She will discuss how KM serves as a business process for managing the intellectual assets of the enterprise. She will also focus on the library’s lead role in starting-up KM within an organization. PRICE: Members (SLA/DCLA/ASIS/LLSA) $10.00 ______ Students $5.00 ______ Retirees $5.00 ______ NonMembers $15.00 ____ Name: _______________________________________________
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Organization:___________________________________________ Phone:_____________________ Email:______________________ __ I am interested going to dinner with a group of attendees after the program Please send your completed registration form and check to: Barbara Folensbee-Moore Pepper Hamilton LLP 600 14th Street, NW, Library Washington, DC 20005 All registrations must be received no later than Friday October 6, 2000 Return to contents
President’s Corner Open Letter to A Student By Dave Shumaker, DC/SLA President Sometimes when you are struggling with a problem, circumstances intervene and give you the solution. So it was with me in drafting this month's column. Because there are so many events affecting our Chapter -- change initiatives in SLA, our own Strategic Planning Committee's report and the many issues it raises -- I didn't know where to start. Then I received an email that gave me the direction I needed. Here's an excerpt from that note, followed by my response. The note is reproduced with the permission of the sender, whose name I've changed. Hello David-I am a graduate student in the early stages of my … degree at [one of our local graduate schools]. I am interested in the "special librarian" category of library science (I think)…. I'm looking for a library career of a less traditional nature….I want to associate with a group (like yours) at the beginning of my studies … so that I can shape my course selection in light of my career goals. However, I don't know what my career goals are because I don't know exactly where a special librarian could work, or what she would do.… I think your organization would be good for me.… When you have a chance, let me know if I would fit in with your group. Do you, or would you, offer any workshops that I could attend? Thanks for your help! —"Catherine" Dear "Catherine," Thank you for your thought-provoking note. It is a paradox that at a time when the importance of information is greater than ever before, the traditional role of the librarian, a professional who has managed information for generations, is undergoing tremendous change. You say you don't know where a special librarian would actually work, or what she would actually do. The truth is, your professional future is filled with incredibly diverse options. You might work in market research, or you might manage an Intranet. You might supervise 100 people in a corporate information services operation, or a government agency. You might be the content manager at a "dotcom" startup, or a solo knowledge management consultant. Chances are, you will take a range of assignments in your professional career, and you will develop a range of technical, business and management skills. It's no wonder you're not sure of your career goals. Setting them is a hard task. And, no matter what goals you set today, be prepared to change them. Be flexible. A few years ago, I attended a banquet of a local library group. I sat next to a retired librarian who told me that when she entered the profession she wanted to be a cataloger, and that's exactly what she did throughout her entire career. Well, as that librarian knew, those days are gone.
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Librarians today work on XML authoring, taxonomy development, metadata assignment, knowledge management, digital resource licensing, intellectual property counseling — you get the picture. Some of these terms weren't even invented at the time of that banquet. You -- and all of us -- have to thrive in a complex and changing environment. That's where SLA can help. In SLA you can meet people doing all the jobs I've mentioned above. You can learn about the innovations in technology and society that affect how information is managed. SLA is a great way to augment the coursework you're doing now with a dose of perspective from experienced practitioners; to keep learning after you finish your degree; and to stay connected to others like you who want to learn, grow and innovate. Being in SLA helps you manage change, rather than letting change manage you. I hope to see you at our next Chapter meeting. Sincerely, Dave Shumaker Return to contents
Military Librarians Group Event An Evening at the Globe and Laurel The Military Librarians Group of DC/SLA will sponsor an evening program of Marine Corps lore at the Globe and Laurel Restaurant in Triangle, VA. The program will include dinner and a talk by owner Rick Spooner, a retired Marine Corps officer and raconteur. The restaurant houses a large collection of Marine Corps and FBI memorabilia and is featured in several of author Patricia Cornwell's mystery novels. The program will be held Wednesday, October 25, 2000, 6:30-8:30 PM, at the Globe and Laurel, 18418 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA. A social hour will begin at 6:30, with dinner and the program at 7:00. Event cost is $19.00, which includes dinner (choice of beef, fish or vegetarian entree; with soup, salad, dessert, tea or coffee), tax and tip. Limited free parking. Due to space constraints, attendance is limited to 30 persons. Carpooling from the Springfield Metro station (Kiss and ride/Taxi stand) is available. Contact Wendy Hill, 703-7678225 (email: whill@dtic.mil) for more information. Please send a check made payable to DC/SLA to Ms. Connie Wiley, 1002 Shaw Court, Fredericksburg, VA, 22405, by October 18, 2000. Indicate entrĂŠe choice and interest in carpooling from the Metro station. Return to contents
DC/SLA Members New Members -- March - August 2000 The Chapter gained 82 new members from March through August this year. A warm welcome to you all! Joanie Cornwell, Membership Committee Chair March: Antoinette Arsic Kent C. Boese David P. Carrier Julie Herrick
April: Lisa C.A. Benjamin Lowell A. Bezanis Julia M. Foscue Denise M. Gibson
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May: Robert Cagna Elizabeth J. Conte Anne Harrison Germaine Leahy
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Todd M. Hines David S. Jones Terry M. Owen Dane Russo Len Samowitz Patricia Sproehnle Martha Terry Marian E. Yancey
Harriet H. Gray Janice M. Herd Hong Hu Jennifer L. Jack Pam J. Jack Everette E. Larson Stephen R. Mayer Carla J. Pomager Hillary C. Rubin Terrie R. Smith Jill Strass Clifford H. Urr Pamela Von Gruber Michael A. Yared
Donna M. Lombardo Mary G. Misch William T. Owens-Smith Eileen E. Rourke Vicki A. Severietti Katherine E. St John Jeanne A. Tuger Eve I. Valdivia Diane Wian Pamela M. Wroten Laura D. Wukovitz
June: Mary L. Boone Christina J. Dunn Barbara J. Hillson Erika L. Howder Cynthia R. Kahn Richard J. McKinney Anthony P. Minerva Virginia E. Robinson Richard D. Spencer Gail M. Wadsworth
July: Rob Aldrich Michael W. Andrews Diana S. Fitgerald Laura Hays James F. Igoe Becky A. Milton Cynthia F. Overland Marcelle Saint-Arnaud Cyril W. Sernak Michael Stumpf Tanya J. Whorton
August: Jane J. Barkley Page L. Brannon Lori A. Brown Laura A. Burns Jose Camacho Heather M. Crocetto Catherine Delia Christine L. Glaab Jennifer Jentsch Joanna K. Lozano Moncia V. W Martinez Shannon N. Mavica Craig A. McKinnis Cynthia R. Plisch Suzanne Ryder Jennifer Schrager Paul J. Vizza Victoria Walden Wendy E. Willis
Thank you to Factiva, a Dow Jones & Reuters Company, for your generous support of the DC/SLA Chapter Meeting in September. Return to contents
DC/SLA Announces Contest for Student Membership Award Students, get acquainted with the Special Libraries Association and meet your future colleagues from Washington-area libraries and information centers – FOR FREE. Enter the DC/SLA essay contest, and you may win the Student Membership Award. One winner, each, from the Catholic University of America and the University of Maryland will receive SLA student dues for one year, free attendance at three DC/SLA events, and free attendance at the Chapter’s December holiday social. The total value of the award is approximately $100.00. Eligibility: Any student currently enrolled or accepted in the library science program at U-MD or CUA. Contest Rules: Write an essay of 300 – 500 words on the topic of "Strategies for Professional Organizations to Attract and Retain New Members." Submit the award application, evidence of your enrollment, or acceptance, in the U-MD or CUA library science master’s degree program, and your essay, which must be printed on 8.5" x 11"
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paper using a PC or typewriter. Deadline: Entries must be received by November 10, 2000 Additional details and the application form are also available at www.sla.org/chapter/cdc/award2000.html DC/SLA Student Membership Award Application Form Name_______________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________ Phone_______________________________________________________ Are you enrolled or accepted in a library science master’s degree program? ____enrolled ___accepted At which school? ___University of Maryland ___Catholic University of America How many semester/credit hours have you earned?______ Are you currently a member of the Special Libraries Association?_____ Mail this application, evidence of enrollment or acceptance, and your essay to: Special Libraries Association Student Membership Award P.O. Box 287, Benjamin Franklin Station, Washington, D.C. 20044 Return to contents
BIF and Bop in Fall 2000 By Jennifer Boettcher The Business Information Finders (BIF) plan to swing this fall, and the dance card is filling up fast. In October, BIF will bop over to the International Trade Administration’s research center to learn about its services, sources and methods. In November, the hustle is on when we hear from a statistician speaking on the mysteries of presenting data through graphs. The brisk tempo will continue as even more BIF events follow. BIF’s field trip to the Trade Research Assistance Center (TRAC) in the International Trade Center is October 11 from 3:00 to 4:30. Please RSVP by October 9 to Jennifer Boettcher at (202) 687-7495 or BOETTCHER@gunet.georgetown.edu. Also, please send her any questions about TRAC that you would like the Center’s director, Sylvia Key, to address. To follow BIF’s dance steps, join BIF-L. Send an e-mail to listproc@listproc.georgetown.edu. Leave the subject line blank, and in the message space type: subscribe BIF-L [your name]. Return to contents
DC/SLA Wraps Up Global 2000 Campaign to Fund Fellows’ Attendance at Brighton By Sue O’Neill Johnson Thanks to a late contribution of nearly $25,000 by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DC/SLA raised $81,704 -
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- the most money ever raised by a SLA chapter! Twenty chapters and 14 divisions sent donations to the cause. As a result, our DC Chapter Selection Committee was able to nominate 25 fellows from developing countries to attend this month’s Global 2000 Conference in Brighton, England. Twenty-three fellows representing 21 countries are attending the conference and one pre-conference course; two fellows are unable to attend. However, all of the 25 fellows will receive a one-year SLA membership. All fellows will be assigned a mentor at the conference. The seven DC/SLA members who have volunteered to be mentors are Sylvia Piggott, Sue O'Neill Johnson, Benita Vassalo, Anne Caputo, Daille Pettit, Brenda Corbin, and Mary Nell Bryant. A Mentoring Committee, chaired by Doug Newcomb, SLA’s Senior Director of Public Affairs and Publications, will continue work in support of the fellows and the more than 400 fellowship applicants. In addition, the Mentoring Committee, on which several DC/SLA members serve, will earmark any donations not used for the conference for funding similar activities. At the conference, two fellows from Viet Nam and China will deliver papers in Brenda Corbin's session for the Physics-Astronomy-Mathematics Division entitled "Equity of Access to Information Resources: Problems and Possible solutions in Developing Countries." Peter Ballantyne from the Federation for International Development has scheduled seven fellows from South Africa, Nigeria, China, Nepal, Croatia, India, and Swaziland to present papers at a session entitled "Information for Development: Current Trends and Issues." All fellows have been invited to send papers for inclusion in the conference’s "Contributed Papers" publication. The fellows are: Mr. Damodar Adhikari, Nepal Mr. Innocent Afuh Awasom, Cameroon Mr. Muhammad Chaudhary, Pakistan Mrs. Lilia Echiverri, Philippines Mr. Cao Minh Kiem, Vietnam Ms. Doreen Lambert, Jamaica Mr. Aguinaldo Marcelino, Brazil Mr. Paiki Muswazi, Swaziland Mr. Godfrey Ncongwane, South Africa Mrs. Ozioma Orji, Nigeria Mrs. Guisella Ruiz, Costa Rica
Mrs. Jadranka Stojanovski, Croatia Mrs. Lyudmila Pharaphovna, Russia Mrs. Xiumei Wang, China Ms. Zana Bufi, Albania Mr. Ivan Herasym, Ukraine Mrs. Joycelyn Jaca, Philippines Mr. PK Jain, India Ms. Maria Das Gracas Souza Filho, Brazil Mr. AKM Shamsuddin, Bangladesh Ms. Patricia Okiemute Idahosa, Nigeria Mr. Widharto, Indonesia Mrs. Jariah Jais, Malaysia
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SLA Recognizes John Latham and DC/SLA Volunteers for Global 2000 Contributions By Sue O’Neill Johnson DC/SLA member John Latham was recently awarded a well-deserved Palm Pilot for his contributions to the Global 2000 Conference. At the August SLA meeting, Executive Director David Bender and staff also lauded the DC/SLA volunteers for their work in sending 23 fellows to the conference. John, Manager of the SLA Information Center and developer of the association’s new website, was instrumental in creating the database that houses information on the 400 fellowship applicants. In addition, he has been responsible for corresponding with all the applicants. Following the conference, the database will be used to further SLA’s professional relations with the applicants. As a volunteer from day one of the project, John has been extremely important to the Global 2000 Fellowship Program’s success. Congratulations to John and DC/SLA volunteers! Return to contents
Info Career Trends: A Newsletter for Our New Brilliant Careers Reviewed by Deirdre Clarkin, Senior Librarian, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
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All of us sift through mountains of information in our professional journals and newsletters devoted to harnessing new technology in our libraries and information centers. Wouldn't it be refreshing to turn to a newsletter that focuses on a slightly different angle to the story -- how do technology shifts personally affect the working librarian? In what ways have our careers changed, or even, as one friend recently put it, "morphed," as the future rapidly becomes the now? Illinois-based librarian, author and systems expert Rachel Singer Gordon is attempting to address these questions in her new online newsletter, Info Career Trends (www.lisjobs.com/newsletter). Designed specifically NOT to be another "how to run your library good" publication, Info Career Trends focuses on how librarians are retooling careers to keep pace with the information world’s transformation. Gordon's premier issue (September, 2000) includes articles on coping with change, the challenges of working with Generation Xers in an IT context and a profile of an "accidental" systems librarian. Also appearing in the newsletter are book reviews and a list of reviewed web sites. The September issue, for instance, reviews Spencer Johnson's fable on change management, Who Moved My Cheese? I found this month's web sites, linking to articles on career reinvention, technostress and staff development, so interesting that I was in danger of being diverted from Gordon's original site. Themes for upcoming Info Career Trends issues include writing for publication, the job search, distance education, and changing careers. Each issue will feature articles written by librarians, so check out the submission instructions on the newsletter site if you wish to contribute. Gordon hopes to eventually move the newsletter from a bi-monthly to a monthly format and offer a print version. This will allow her to include more material than she now publishes in the online version. All in all, Info Career Trends is a good read for those of us struggling to retool or reinvent our careers. I would recommend subscribing to the free online version and checking it regularly — as well as other career sites such as the SLA web site (www.sla.org). Of note to job seekers or those who like to read job postings (myself included)---Info Career Trends is only part of Gordon's larger website devoted to library job seekers. Scan her site at www.lisjobs.com for an impressive list of job openings, and to join a discussion group, post your resume, read articles on interviewing, and much more. There are even handy links to state job-bank information. Clicking on Washington, DC, for example, links to our own beloved Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Jobline among others. Many thanks to Rachel Singer Gordon for producing an interesting newsletter and helpful website. Return to contents
Members’ News William Turner has been appointed assistant dean of Catholic University’s School of Library and Information Science. An alumnus of the CUA MS in LS program, William has also held the position of CUA adjunct instructor, teaching "Libraries and Information in Society," and "Information Sources and Services." Previously, he was head of public services at the U.S. Census Bureau Library. He also holds a Ph.D. and MA in English from West Virginia University. The new chair of the DC/SLA News Group is Sheryl Rosenthal, U.S. News & World Report’s Director of Library & Information Services. Prior to this, Sheryl was the Washington Post’s Manager of Research Systems. She has also worked as an information consultant, online services representative, and a reference librarian at the University of Maryland’s Health Sciences Library. As the News Group chair, she hopes to organize meetings addressing burgeoning issues of current interest to the membership. Use this column to tell the Chapter about your news! E-mail the editors at cneditors@yahoo.com. Return to contents
"Muchas Gracias" for Your Book Donations
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Many thanks to the DC/SLA members who helped in the project to collect books for the Instituto Technologico Nacional in Granada, Nicaragua -- Irene Minich, Danielle Green, Jacqueline Virando, Dawn French, Sylvia Piggott, and Sue O'Neill Johnson. These "how to" books will be cataloged in the library for use by high school students studying technical trades. In addition, Steve Frantzich, a professor in the U.S. Naval Academy’s political science department, donated 20 boxes of books about computers. These books were collected from several Rotary Clubs in the region with which he is working. Return to contents
Are You Beta Phi Mu? Beta Phi Mu is the international honor society for professional librarians. If you joined in another location, we would like to invite you to reaffiliate with the Iota Chapter here in the Washington area. This year our program will be held on Thursday, November 16, at the Sumner School in downtown DC. A mailing with more details will go out soon to all members. If you'd like to join the chapter, please write to Kee Malesky, NPR, 635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001, or kmalesky@npr.org. Return to contents
DC/SLA Coming Attractions The program: "You Want Me To Do WHAT? The Skills You Need Today" will be held on Wednesday, November 15, from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. in downtown, D.C. (exact location TBA). The speaker will be Mary Ellen Bates, President of Bates Information Services. A nationally recognized writer and speaker, Mary Ellen will reprise her 2000 SLA Conference presentation on how we can redefine ourselves, survive and thrive in the information revolution. Topics she will address include who our competitors are, whose reality we are operating from -- our own or our clients, and some specific survival tactics we need to adopt now. Watch the November Chapter Notes and DC/SLA Discussion List for registration details and news about the December Holiday Party. Return to contents
Strategic Planning Committee Recommends Actions to Advance Chapter’s Goals Last spring, DC/SLA’s Strategic Planning Committee created and administered a membership questionnaire covering Chapter demographics, membership involvement, member services, communications, and expectations for the future. Distributed via the Chapter website and newsletter, 213 members returned their questionnaires. Committee members Ellie Briscoe (Chair), Anna McGowan, Lyle Minter, Jennifer Little, Jane John, and Daille Pettit compiled the responses and have recommended numerous actions for implementation. The following is a summary of the committee’s findings and recommendations for action. Members who wish to review the tallied information may request a copy of the committee’s complete report by contacting Ellie Briscoe at (202) 857-7050 or ebriscoe@ngs.org. Strategic Planning Committee Report Summary The DC Chapter appears to be an aging group, interested primarily in personal professional development. Over half are members of at least one other professional organization. The members primarily work in either small or quite large libraries, and although they’ve belonged to the Chapter for years, they have not been in their current positions very long. They show strong approval of current activities. Members like the printed Chapter Notes, but
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want it to have more content. They approve of the timing, location and thrust of programs, and show a willingness to pay for them personally if they are perceived as professional development or an opportunity to network with colleagues. However, most members actually attend few meetings. Networking is a high priority. Of those who replied to the open-ended question about their plans for the future, more than one-third expected to be retired or out of the profession in five years. There is very little interest in awards, scholarships, mentoring, international projects or fostering the growth of the profession. Members belong to this Chapter because they live in the area. Recommendations for Action: We see numerous potential short-term actions which could be implemented in the current year or next year. The long-term Chapter goals these actions support include: z z z z
Expanding the geographic distribution of the membership served beyond the downtown District of Columbia; Supporting the continued health of the Chapter by attracting younger members as older ones retire, and satisfying the expressed desires of the existing members; Educating the membership as to the real cost of the Chapter’s services; and Expanding the means of communication to fit the variety of styles preferred by the members.
Ten specific short-term activities the committee recommends: z z z z z z z z z z
Continue improving Chapter Notes. Continue printing Chapter Notes. Increase networking opportunities. Offer professional development programs. Make meetings accessible. Determine future course for Joint Spring Workshop. Serve the Tyson's Corner area. Educate members about the Chapter budget. Publicize the Chapter website. Publicize the Chapter Internet discussion list.
Long-term Goals: While the ten recommendations we listed above for immediate attention all support long-term goals of the Chapter, five additional recommendations are primarily long-term and may take more planning. These are: z z z z z
Draw in younger members Update the Washington DC-area Library Directory. Continue the mentoring program and publicize it. Publicize consulting opportunities. Focus fundraising locally.
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