Vol. 29, No. 2/Winter 2007

LIBRARY PROFILE Meet ’s Library: -Based with Global Reach, Renovated Digs and Revenue Streams

he TLimited BY AMY DISCH publishes newspa- pers in Jamaica, North America and the and maintains several Web sites with community, enter- tainment and trav- el information for Jamaica’s residents and visitors. The company’s “flag- ship” paper, The Gleaner, is pub- lished mornings Monday through The Gleaner’s Library Staff (December 2006). Back row, l-r: Malekia Stennett, Junior Research Saturday and con- Assistant: Apologies & Research; Kevin Fung, Research Assistant: Photographs & Research; tains “news, views, Nicolia McDonald, Senior Researche; Hyacinth Maitland, Photography Archives Clerk; Michele sports and in- Anderson, Research Assistant: Indexer & Research; Sheree Rhoden, Research Assistant - Sales/Copyright & Research. Front row, l-r: Mavis Belasse, Manager - Information Systems; Ahon depth reporting.” Gray, Junior Research Assistant: Archives & Research; Doneisha Williams, Junior Research Assistant: Apologies & Research; Judith Silvera, Indexer & Research; Oral Anderson, Archives. Assistant), Nickolae Fletcher (Administrative Assistant). Continued on page 9 PHOTO: Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

NOTES FROM THE KNIGHT/SALZBURG TECH TIPS/ 10 & 7 MILITARY THE INSIDE CHAIR / 5 REUNION/ 8 Derek Willis takes us DATABASE MARKS STORY Find out from the newly Leigh Montgomery writes into his Mac world with ANNIVERSARY / 11 seated Division Chair about her experiences at new software programs Military Periscope cele- what’s new in the News this 3-day conference in and their parellels in the brates 20th year track- Division. New York. Windows environment. ing military worldwide. CHAIR, Jim Hunter, Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, PUBLICITY-PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIR, Claire NEWS OH, 614/461-5039, Wollen, Toronto Star, Toronto, CN, 416/869-4518, e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] DIVISION CHAIR-ELECT, Justin Scroggs, Newsbank, Inc., SMALL LIBRARIES CHAIR, Anne Holcomb, EXECUTIVE Naples, FL, 239/263-6004, Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo, MI, 269/388- e-mail: [email protected] BOARD 2705, e-mail: [email protected] 2008 CONFERENCE PLANNER, Ron Larson, TELLER/ELECTIONS CHAIR, Lynne Palombo, The Wisconsin State Journal/The Capital Times, Oregonian, Portland, OR, 503/294-5084, e-mail: Madison, WI, 608/252-6113, [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] WEBMEISTRESS, Amy Disch, The Columbus PAST CHAIR/DIRECTOR-AWARDS, Dispatch, Columbus, OH, 614/461-5177, Denise Jones, The News & Observer, Raleigh, e-mail: [email protected] NC, 919/829-8918 e-mail: [email protected] NLN MANAGING EDITOR SECRETARY NLN STAFF Amy Disch, The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Leigh Montgomery OH, 614/461-5177 The Christian Science Monitor e-mail: [email protected] Boston, MA TREASURER, Peter Johnson, Preservati Partners, 617/450-2682 Los Angeles, CA, 323/478-9417 or 213/590-5983, e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] DIRECTOR-EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTING EDITORS DEVELOPMENT CHAIR, Dana Gordon, PEOPLE Newsweek Inc., New York, NY, 212/445-4012, e-mail: [email protected] Jennifer O’Neill The Florida Times-Union DIRECTOR-PUBLICATIONS, Gail Hulden, The Jacksonville, FL Oregonian, Portland, OR, 503/294-5086, e-mail: [email protected] 904/359-4184 e-mail: [email protected] LIBRARY PROFILES COMMITTEE NEWS DIVISION COMMITTEE CHAIRS Amy Disch CHAIRS ARCHIVIST CHAIR, Teresa Leonard, News and The Columbus Dispatch Observer, Raleigh, NC, 919/829-4866 Columbus, OH e-mail: [email protected] 614/461-5177 AUTOMATED-TECHNOLOGY CHAIR, e-mail: [email protected] Peter Johnson, Preservati Partners, Los Angeles, CA, 323/478-9417 or 213/590-5983 TECH TIPS e-mail: [email protected] Derek Willis The Washington Post BROADCAST CHAIR, Kee Malesky, National Public Washington, DC Radio, Washington, DC, 202/513-2356 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] GOVERNMENT RELATIONS CHAIR, vacant Total membership: 657 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CHAIR, vacant MEMBERSHIP CHAIR, Alice Pepper, Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, 313/222-5135 e-mail: [email protected] NOMINATIONS CHAIR, vacant

News Library News News Library News (ISSN 1047-417X) is Special Libraries Association assumes To place advertisements or to obtain the bulletin of the News Division of the no responsibility for the statements and advertising information, you can con- WINTER 2007 Special Libraries Association. SLA opinions advanced by the contributors tact Leigh Montgomery, the managing Vol. 29, No.2 Headquarters address is: SLA, 331 of the association’s publications. editor, at her e-mail address: mont- South Patrick St., Alexandria, VA Editorial views do not necessarily rep- [email protected]. 22314. The phone number is: 703/647- resent the official position of Special Copy for bylined columns should be 4900. News Library News is published Libraries Association. Acceptance of an submitted to the column editor. All four times a year by the division. advertisement does not imply endorse- other copy may be submitted to Leigh Reproduction in whole or part without ment of the product by Special Montgomery at her e-mail address. permission is prohibited. Libraries Association.

PAGE 2 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS WINTER 2007 THE ASIDE BAR

t is now the depth of winter and despite the frigid temperatures, January always feels like a fresh start. It’s as if the Zamboni has just resurfaced your own personal ice rink, Iwiped away last year’s blade scrapings, gouges, scratches, scribbles, and hot chocolate spills. Time to lace up the skates and get ready for at the very least, an eventful 2007. I like to think this Winter issue of the News Library News will help you do just that! Derek Willis is back with his Tech Tips column - one I know I will have taped to my ❝ new iMac myself - with his recommendations …January always for customization. For non-Mac users, some LEIGH MONTGOMERY feels like a fresh start.❞ cool library tools are also mentioned. Amy Disch is back with one of her wonderful library profiles, so you can take a virtual visit to the Gleaner library in Jamaica! Catch up with your news library colleagues and moves in the People Column, and a most interest- ing seminar attended by some friends you might recognize...addressing multimedia jour- nalism, and global topics for American audiences - or any audiences! We’ve got an item on the 20th anniversary of the database Military Periscope, and Notes from our new Chair, Jim Hunter. So enjoy these inspiring stories of our colleagues and useful tips they have provided - to take to your own “home ice!”

WINTER 2007 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS PAGE 3 The word for today is transition. farther out than just the next conference. In January, the News Division transi- Ron Larson is already planning the confer- tioned to new leadership, reflecting our ence after the current year (Seattle 2008). new calendar year cycle. I’m a big fan of long term planning, conti- NOTES Congratulations to Justin Scroggs, nuity, goal setting, tackling larger issues, FROM Chair Elect, NewsBank; Chair Elect Elect heading off problems and making the most Ron Larson, Wisconsin State Journal/The of opportunities. The Chair Elect Elect THE Capital Time; Secretary Amy Disch position is a big step in that direction. Columbus Dispatch; and Publications SLA is on the move as well. CHAIR Director Gail Hulden, Oregonian; who will Our association is revamping the be working closely with newly appointed mechanics of the annual conference; an News Library News editor Leigh event with far too many programs, dupli- Montgomery, Christian Science Monitor; cate programs and (quite frankly) weak NewsLib listserv owner Carolyn Edds, St. programs. Under the new rules, divisions Petersburg Times; and Webmaster Amy will be allowed to run 4 to 6 programs and Disch, Columbus Dispatch. They join Past will be able to cosponsor two additional Chair Denise Jones, Raleigh News & programs with other divisions. (The News Observer; Treasurer Peter Johnson, Division typically runs 10-11 programs). Preservati Partners; Dana Gordon, Since the News Division has a tradition of BY JIM HUNTER Newsweek, and myself as your leadership. very strong programming, we will need to Dana Gordon has planned something leave our “silo” to work with new partners special for us,-an all-day CE entitled “News by the Seattle conference. Ron has the chal- Researcher’s Tech Toolbox: Turning Data lenge of planning programs with broader into Stories.” She will showcase some of the appeal to other divisions while satisfying projects our colleagues have developed the appetite of the News Division for using public records or internal informa- intense programming. tion to create databases or repositories; a Finally, the most painful transition of all, “how to” on ways to automate the intake the perfect storm of print media to digital and updating of records, open source and media continues unabated. Anecdotally we other software available, working with your hear of drastic changes, newsrooms (and IT staff, and resources for learning more. libraries) gutted and papers shrinking — a You don’t need to be a tech wiz to real shock-and-awe of downsizing. Yes, attend. You just need an interest in learning we’re losing staff and resources but most of more about some cool technologies that are us are hanging in there, becoming in some powering data-driven news projects- a tran- cases smaller and more multi-media, and sition we all need to embrace! continuing to provide real value to our Justin Scroggs has been working hard on news organizations as well as being daring the Denver program and has put together a and innovative. broad mix of important programs includ- I would love to know what’s going on in ing a reception and tour of the Denver Post your news libraries. To those of you fighting (fabulous!), high technology content man- the good fight, would you please drop me a agement systems, the future of news line and tell me your challenges and hopes? libraries with Nora Paul, managing and I would like very much to sift through your preserving digital archive with Vicky ideas and pass them back as ammunition. McCargar, copyright issues in the 21st Courage is contagious. century, Mary Ellen Bates, and online [email protected] sources for genealogical research. Our new Chair Elect Elect is planning

PAGE 4 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS WINTER 2007 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS News Librarians attend Knight/Salzburg Reunion in New York Global topics for American audiences, multimedia storytelling addressed

BY LEIGH MONTGOMERY THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR ixty-nine journalists con- vened at the Museum of STelevision and Radio in New York for a three-day dis- cussion about global stories, multimedia storytelling, and future journalism programming for the host organization, the Salzburg Seminar, an Austria- based global organization and educational institution that brings journalists, professionals and policy-makers together to address global issues and prob- lems. The attendees were from a varied group of news organiza- tions - from large city dailies to Pictured left to right: Lu-Ann Farrar, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Leigh Montgomery, The Christian Science Monitor, public radio stations; from edi- Barbara Semonche, School of Journalism, University of North Carolina / Chapel Hill, Susan Fifer Canby, National Geographic, Susann Rutledge, Business Week. torial writers to foreign corre- spondents. This group also Our occasional librarian hud- included five news librarians: dles did not go unnoticed and ❝ Susan Fifer Canby, National The conference’s mission was to more than one person referred Geographic, Lu-Ann Farrar, to us as a cabal,” wrote Susann affirm that global topics are of The Lexington Herald-Leader, Rutludge, recounting her con- Leigh Montgomery, The increasing importance for American ference experience in an e-mail Christian Science Monitor, message. ❞ Susann Rutledge, Business audiences… The conference’s mission Week, and Barbara Semonche, was to affirm that global topics indeed, all readers - need to be most pressing topics that University of North Carolina / are of increasing importance for kept informed about our inter- American audiences need to Chapel Hill. American audiences, this national economic and geopo- know about in the next five “In a room filled with despite the sobering reality that litical situation. This conference years. After ninety minutes, reporters, editors and produc- some newspapers are closing sought to reinforce the fact, as each of the groups came up ers, our perspectives as news their foreign bureaus in order to well as that global topics can be with a list of topics, which were media librarians brought value cut costs and focus on local top- covered in any news outlet and summarized on the final to the conference. Because we ics. While going ‘hyper-local’ is should be made relevant for Sunday (see sidebar on page 7 deal with all levels of our news largely to appeal to advertisers their audiences. for what they came up with). organizations, we’re especially as news organizations struggle The day began early with a The attendees also made rec- talented at seeing the big pic- to adapt to a multimedia envi- wide-ranging discussion with ommendations for ‘getting sto- ture and bringing disparate ronment, Americans - and an ambitious goal: identify the units together for collaboration. Continued on page 7

WINTER 2007 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS PAGE 5 PEOPLE atti Graziano of The Plain Dealer but will be working part-time at the in Cleveland, Ohio decided to take Glendale Public Library at the Reference Pa buyout. She posted her farewell Desk for the next few years: “an interesting to the NewsLib listserv thanking us for change of pace,” she predicts. being the consummate research and dis- Congratulations to Belinda Harris cussion group. She said it had been a who graduated from the University of tremendous 34 years, and she wished us all South Carolina in December with a the best. Masters in Library and Information Darlean Spangenberger at the Dallas Science. She started at The Roanoke Times Morning News has accepted the position of in 1978 and has been the librarian there the Reference Editor. since 1984. A librarian friend told her that Sharon Reeves of The San Diego the University of South Carolina was plan- BY JENNIFER O’NEILL Union-Tribune decided to take a buyout. ning to start a distance education MLIS She says she will be signing onto the list degree in Jan. 2003. She applied, was from her home email address so she can accepted and The Roanoke Times paid the stay in touch. She says, “It has been a real tuition. pleasure working with all of you over the Derek Willis told me he’ll be leaving years, and it is with very mixed emotions his position as Research Database Editor that I leave.” Sharon became a member of for the Washington Post and joining wash- SLA in 1972 and was president of her San ingtonpost.com as Database Editor. We Diego Chapter in 1981. In the News know he’ll do a great job in his new posi- Division she was Strategic Planning Chair, tion. Nominations Chair, and was a member of Paul Koehler has been promoted to the Automation/Technology Committee/ the position of Assistant Librarian at the Text Archiving Special Interest Group. As St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Paul’s new respon- Barbara Semonche said in her post sibilities include overseeing the creation regarding Sharon ‘s departure, “ Sharon, and maintenance of the newspaper’s digi- with rightful pride, announced on tal and hard copy archives, including NewsLib in April 2006 that The San Diego microfilming and vendor feeds. Paul was Union-Tribune’s research staff was part of also recently married, on December 30th the newspapers Pulitizer Prize-winning 2006, to Amanda. series. Sharon was always prepared to Researcher Matt Fernandes at the St. honor her library’s team for their extraor- Louis Post-Dispatch was recently engaged dinary research contributions. Seems only and plans to marry his fiancée, Rachel, on fair for us now to salute Sharon for her Labor Day. efforts and achievements over the past three decades.” Carol Bradley Bursack, News Researcher/Elder Care Columnist for The Forum in Fargo, ND has an ezine for care- givers and seniors at www.mindin- goureldersblogs.com. Julia Franco has retired from the Los Angeles Times Editorial Library after 14 years. She started as a News Research librarian, and became the Training/ Communications Specialist. She says that she is retiring in order to have family time,

PAGE 6 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS WINTER 2007 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Knight/Salzburg Conference - In Summary

BY SUSAN FIFER CANBY ❖ be a bridge tion or pause the reader for a moment NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ❖ encourage individual social ❖ film anything that moves he Knight Fellows agreed that key responsibility ❖ edit for the medium subject trends for the new few ❖ creative presentations that may utilize ❖ more citizen journalism with readers Tyears are: pop culture to draw in reader and journalists turning to the web for ❖ climate change (implications for ❖ come in for a story from the oblique fast breaking news and to print water, food, energy, health, etc.) or provide nuance sources for the “record” ❖ America’s role is the World (as eco- Strategically, news organizations, need ❖ providing transparency on how sto- nomic leader, in terms of civil liber- to also focus on: ries are created or to provide addi- ties, terrorism, etc.) ❖ increased collaboration across the tional information. ❖ global immigration (conflict of cul- news room, organization, and other Journalists are expected to be able to tures, ethnic pressures, regionalism, news organizations to share resources communicate on a multi-media platform divides, deployment, disruption of (staff, money) for the bigger stories ❖ to file stories, shoot photos, report on civil life leads to war) ❖ use technology their blogs. ❖ impact of technology and spread of Using the media means: Journalists are using news aggregators knowledge ❖ tell different stories with different to keep up on international news: ❖ nuclear proliferation mediums www.Globalvoicesonline.org Journalists, in the future, should: ❖ first write the story - you’ll need all www.WatchingAmerica.com ❖ make content relevant to reader the notes and the color to form the www.VoicesthatMustBeHeard ❖ establish context - tell the larger story ‘backbone’ www.OhMyNews ❖ photograph the faces to capture emo-

News Librarians attend a new way to think about journalism in Magistad, also of The World, who spoke Knight/Salzburg Reunion Lexington, Kentucky. For the next week or about a profile she did of a Korean young in New York so, I’m going to share a mental exercise in man who had spent some time in the US, our morning news meeting: I’m going to and how he used rap music to communi- Continued from page 5 see if I can attach the five international cate his nationalist sentiments - this was an news trends to any stories on our daily bud- example of the use of music ‘to pull the ries past gatekeepers’, and also provided get.” story along’ for readers. Another presenta- feedback for future programming and net- Other highlights of the conference tion was from Kevin Sites, who covered working for the 17,000 strong Salzburg included a panel presentation by Andrew world conflicts for a year as a multimedia attendees - a priority for the new Salzburg Nagorski, senior editor, Newsweek journalist for Yahoo!’s ‘Kevin Sites: In the Seminar president, Stephen Salyer. International - who discussed Newsweek’s Hot Zone.’ His presentation was followed Lu-Ann Farrar found this discussion International editions, translated into dif- by Nishat Kurwa, news director and inter- inspiring. Writing about her conference ferent languages, and Srennath Sreenivasan, national desk editor of Youth Radio, which impressions in an e-mail message, she stat- dean of students at Columbia University employs young people around the world to ed: “At the Herald-Leader, I believe we will Journalism School, where he also runs the cover stories in their countries for audiences cease to think of ourselves as a state-wide new media program. Sreenivasan not only of all ages. media and will begin to realize that the mentioned several web sites that aggregate Susan Fifer Canby, who was also a mod- world is now our market - more specifical- news in other languages, but also reminded erator for the breakout sessions, was an ly, the world of readers who are interested in attendees of some of the serious risks that advocate for the news library profession on Kentucky. Sounds obvious, really, but our young journalists are taking to cover con- occasion, summarizing so concisely on the newsroom organizational structure, our flicts around the world without the backing final day: ‘That all journalists need to start writing and editing style and our content and training of an employer. collaborating - more with librarians, and does not yet reflect this. To me, that is quite Other speakers included Mary Kay across their organizations.’

WINTER 2007 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS PAGE 7 TECH TIPS

BY DEREK WILLIS manager, MySQL, but this time I did it via use HandBrake, a free program that con- THE WASHINGTON POST a package built specifically for the Mac. verts video of nearly any format (DVD, his holiday season I got exactly Then I downloaded and installed the Mac MPEG, etc.) to an iPod-friendly format. what I wanted: a new MacBook version of wget, which I use to retrieve And when it comes to large text files, I like TPro, the top of the line laptop from entire websites or collections of pictures or TextWrangler, a free program from the Apple. So this column will be devoted to documents. In order to install nearly any- makers of BBEdit, one of the best pro- how I customized it with some of my thing on a Mac you need administrative gramming tools around. But I have to favorite programs. For those of you who are rights. If you bought the machine, that’s no admit that I also downloaded and installed new to Apple computers, or contemplating problem; otherwise ask your IT department WriteRoom, an old-school sort of text edi- the switch, I hope to show you that the leap to make you an administrator. tor that you have to see to believe: the from Windows to Mac isn’t very far and can default presentation is of a completely black be very rewarding. screen with green lettering. No drop-down New Mac desktops and laptops come ❝For those of you who menus or toolbars, just like Atex! with a wide array of software - the most Unfortunately, I can’t leave the Windows well-known being the “iLife” suite that are new to apple com- world behind, but there’s a great solution includes iTunes. But one built-in feature puters, or contemplating with the newest Apple computers that have that most new users don’t take note of is the an Intel processor. Parallels is software that most powerful application on the machine: the switch, I hope to costs about $80 and enables Mac users to the Terminal. install and run Windows or another operat- The Mac’s Terminal is a command-line show you that the leap ing system alongside OS X. It’s not a dual- interface similar to the DOS or C:\ prompt from Windows to Mac boot system, where you have to log out of on Microsoft Windows; you have to type one OS to switch to another. Parallels will things in to make anything happen, but in isn’t very far and can let you run two or more operating systems the case of Apple computers, the Terminal be very rewarding.❞ side by side, provided you have the memo- is a gateway to a whole other world. Apple’s ry to do it. And you can run Windows in operating system, OS X, lies atop a Unix- full-screen mode, so everything looks the based operating system called Darwin. So normal size. Now I can take my while the Mac OS looks really pretty when There’s plenty to like about the software MacBookPro with me knowing that I have you start using an Apple, the blandness of that comes with the Mac, but there are access to any files and programs I might the Terminal hides its power. other applications I sometimes prefer to need. Inside the Terminal is where you’ll access use. For example, instead of Apple’s iChat [Note: a full list of the programs mentioned some of the best tools available for the Mac. instant messaging program, I use Adium, here, and where you can go to download them, These include my favorite scripting lan- which keeps great logs of conversations. To will also be posted on the News Division web guage, Python, but also other languages like keep track of my book collection, I use a site at http://www.ibiblio.org/slanews/], or refer to the following URLs: Perl, PHP and Ruby. All of them are pre- program called Delicious Library, which installed on every Mac running OS X. has nothing to do with the web book-mark- xPDF - http://www.foolabs.com/xpdf/ Same thing for Apache, the popular server ing service. Delicious Library takes advan- MySQL - http://www.mysql.com/ that runs most web sites - it’s already tage of Amazon.com’s collection and the Adium - http://www.adiumx.com/ included. MacBookPro’s built-in iSight camera in a Delicious Library - http://www.delicious- So what did I add to my new laptop? really neat way: when I want to add a new monster.com/ Those of you who have heard me talk about book to my collection, I simply hold up the xPDF, a conversion utility that extracts text bar code in front of the camera, which scans HandBrake - http://handbrake.m0k.org/ from electronic PDFs, know how useful it it and then fetches the details from TextWrangler - http://www.barebones.com/ is to me. But there’s no Mac version - unless Amazon.com. Imagine not having to enter products/textwrangler/ I install it via the Terminal, since there is a book details any more! WriteRoom - http://www.hogbaysoftware.com Unix version available. So that was one of Macs are great at dealing with video, but /product/writeroom the first things I did. sometimes I want to watch something dur- Parallels - http://www.parallels.com/en/proucts/ I also installed my favorite database ing my commute on my video iPod. So I desktop/

PAGE 8 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS WINTER 2007 LIBRARY PROFILE

Meet the Gleaner’s paper form a complete record of all strategic plan for the Information Systems Library: Jamaica-Based Gleaner publications and to provide Department and the launch on February information and services in support of the 28, 2005 of The Gleaner newspaper archive. with Global Reach, editors and reporters of The Gleaner The Library & Archive has an impressive Renovated Digs and Company as well as any other interested collection of materials in both print and Revenue Streams persons.” electronic format. The former includes Continued from page 1 The value the Library & Archive provide 2,000 books, 25 magazine titles, statutory is best demonstrated by its accomplish- and non-statutory reports from 2001 to the First published in 1834 and based in ments over the past five years. Completed present, photographs from 1948 to 2000, Kingston, Jamaica, it “is the oldest oper- projects have included a library renovation, photo negatives from 1980 to 2002 and ating newspaper in the Caribbean.” creation of a Research Desk, development bound volumes of Gleaner publications The Gleaner Company’s Library & of the book /periodicals /photographs and from 1968 to the present. Electronic collec- Archive, which is part of the Information reports collections and establishment of “an tions include a photograph database span- Systems Department, plays a crucial role e-commerce based photo gallery, scholar- ning 1948 to the present, an e-Library of within the company. Its primary goals, ship database and print publication.” In Gleaner publications from 2001 to the pre- according to Mavis Belasse, Information addition, there has been digitization of old sent and a newspaper archive going back to Systems Department Manager and photographs, implementation of several The Gleaner’s beginning in 1834. The Librarian, “is to preserve in electronic and marketing initiatives, the development of a Continued on page 12

The newly renovated Gleaner Library

WINTER 2007 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS PAGE 9 NLN FEATURE

Military Periscope Celebrates 20 Years as an Electronic Weapons Database

BY PAULA BROOKS, CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER MILITARY PERISCOPE here does one go to find the missile warhead weight for a WNorth Korean No Dong MRBM? The secret weapon of researchers is a user-friendly, authoritative database, Military Periscope. Military Periscope has been helping defense contractors, media researchers and military analysts obtain quick, accurate weapons information for decades. Military Periscope celebrated its 20th anniversary as an American innovation for tracking military resources worldwide. The anniversary was marked by a luncheon at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC on November 15th. Two of the database’s co-creators, Dr. Scott C. Truver, a researcher and author specializing in home- land defense and security and naval/mar- Employees celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Military Periscope database at the Army and itime requirements, and Mr. Norman Navy Club, Washington DC, in November 2006 Polmar, an internationally known naval each nation’s order of battle. Today, Military Periscope’s clients are analyst and author, attended the luncheon. UCG (a privately-held, Rockville, MD- global, including government agencies, Dr. Truver presented a fascinating odyssey based information company) took control armed forces, intelligence agencies, educa- of how a few determined military analysts, of the database in 1989 and greatly expand- tional institutions, the media and defense most being one step away from a typewrit- ed its coverage thereafter. Some of the earli- contractors. Military Periscope includes er, developed a weapons database - that is - est clients included the Pentagon Library, more than 5,000 weapons records, span- after the concept of a database was National Security Agency, National ning the spectrum of multinational explained to them. Defense University and the Australian weaponry: complex systems, combat Were it not for author Tom Clancy, the Defence Armed Forces. Many in the media ground vehicles, ships, aircraft, tanks, mis- database might never have been created. and defense industry quickly saw the bene- siles, mines, chemical/biological/nuclear Flush with revenues after publishing fits of having ready access to records and weapons, unmanned vehicles, a wide vari- Clancy’s blockbuster title, The Hunt for photos of weapons in an easy-to-use, updat- ety of sensors and experimental systems. Red October (1984), the United States ed format. It became a necessary resource Records on the military structure of more Naval Institute (USNI) and Information for analysts worldwide. than 164 different nations, commonly Spectrum Inc. spearheaded the database in One longtime subscriber notes: “The referred to as the order of battle, are con- 1986 as an alternative to the paper version technical library has been using Military stantly updated. of researching weapons records. Military Periscope for many years,” comments “I enjoy Military Periscope immensely,” Periscope (then called the USNI Military Mary-Ellen Read, Technical Librarian at notes D. Mitchell Garner, CEO & Database) became the first all-electronic, BAE Systems in Nashua, N.H. “It is an President of Symetrics Industries in subscription weapons database of global excellent resource for information and it is Melbourne, Fla. “It contains all the infor- unclassified information that also included a product that I value.” Continued on next page

PAGE 10 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS WINTER 2007 NLN FEATURE

Military Periscope Celebrates 20 Years as an Electronic Weapons Database Continued from previous page mation we need on a day- to-day basis to assist us in our international marketing efforts.” In response to client feedback, Military Periscope now includes databases on United Nations peacekeep- ing missions as well as ter- rorist organizations. The Web site carries current, often hard-to-find, military news: Daily Defense News Capsules. In addition, the editors provide subscribers with in-depth coverage of topical events through fre- quent special reports. “Periscope is invaluable to journalists for up-to-date military information,” says Madeline Cohen, Director, Newsweek Research Center. After 20 years of grow- ing popularity, Military Periscope has proven that its creators were on target for this specialized market. Not all researchers know a Katyusha rocket from a Zelzal missile. However, they will if they subscribe to Military Periscope. For further information on Military Periscope, visit the Web site, www.mili- taryperiscope.com.

WINTER 2007 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS PAGE 11 LIBRARY PROFILE

Meet the Gleaner’s Library: Jamaica- Based with Global Reach, Renovated Digs and Revenue Streams Continued from page 9 library utilizes subscription databases such as Lexis / Nexis, Factiva and AutoTrack, as well as “local databases” for research pur- poses. The library’s recent renovation allowed for the addition of staff workstations and a customer service area where users can read magazines or utilize available PCs to search several Gleaner databases and library-creat- ed Web pages. The renovation also allowed for the incorporation of a Research Desk Students from St. Cecilia’s Prep School tour the North Street offices of the Gleaner Company, which has, according to Belasse, resulted in October 2005. PHOTO: Andrew Smith / Photography Editor a better monitoring by staff of research requests and an improvement in customer The Library & Archive is open from 8 says she and her staff “have to complete our service. a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for Gleaner employees routine tasks and assignments and projects Twelve employees comprise the Library and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for public cus- around the requests of our customers.” She & Archive’s staff. In addition to tomers. Belasse says “there is no typical day” adds that as a result, it is often difficult to Information Systems Manager Mavis and that she and her staff “are extremely plan a week’s activities in advance. Belasse, there is one senior researcher who busy most days” dealing with requests from Belasse has been with The Gleaner coordinates research efforts and Company for five years and supervises two research assistants, recounts her hesitation in whose duties include indexing ❝…The library’s recent renovation pursuing the Information newspapers for inclusion in the allowed for the addition of staff work- Systems Manager position. “I library’s digital database. There saw an ad in The Gleaner are two research assistants, one of stations and a customer service area newspaper and thought I whom performs research and ful- would apply as I met most of fills hard copy photo requests where users can read magazines or the requirements,” she says, and another who is responsible utilize available PCs to search several adding that the ad did not for research and sales and copy- state a company name. “It right issues, as well as three Gleaner databases and library-created was not until I received a call junior research assistants who ❞ to say that I was short-listed deal primarily with archival Web pages. for an interview that I knew issues. The remainder of the staff the vacant position was at the includes an archives assistant, a photogra- Gleaner’s London, New York and Toronto Gleaner.” Belasse says she “became more phy archive clerk who works with the elec- offices as well as with customers from apprehensive about pursuing the position tronic photo database and an administra- around the world who contact the staff as I knew nothing about working for a tive assistant. Working in the Gleaner with requests via telephone and e-mail. newspaper company or for that matter Library, Belasse says, requires computer, The amount of requests, which concern working for the private sector.” (Belasse’s research and “excellent organizational back issue and photograph sales as well as skills.” copyright issues, are so numerous Belasse Continued on next page

PAGE 12 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS WINTER 2007 LIBRARY PROFILE

Meet the Gleaner’s Library: Jamaica-Based with Global Reach, Renovated Digs and Revenue Streams Continued from page 1 past experiences have included ten years working in public libraries and seven years in college and university libraries.) With encouragement from friends and col- leagues, Belasse went in for an interview “and to my surprise I was offered the job and decided to take on the challenge.” That decision has proven to be a successful one. “I have gained so much knowledge and experience working at the Gleaner,” she says. It has “given me many opportunities Librarians tour the Gleaner Library on Friday, September 30, 2005. Standing far left is the Manager for the Information Systems Department assisting Research Assistant, Judith Silver (seat- and given me the confidence to take on ed) whilst she demonstrates how the newspapers are indexed and imported into the Library's elec- new challenges.” tronic database. Many of those challenges fall within the Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer areas of copyright and licensing and finan- Company’s staff magazine and for “local The important role the Library & cial management. Of the former, Belasse library network newsletters.” Library tours Archive and its staff has and will continue points to the difficulty of drafting policy are offered to both internal and external to play in the company’s success is perhaps given Jamaica’s 1993 Copyright Law, which customers and “open days” are held during best demonstrated by a quote on the Web “has brought about change in the way we “Library and Special Library Week.” page of The Gleaner Company’s use and re-use intellectual property.” With an eye toward the library’s future, Information Systems Department. It sim- As for financial matters, Belasse says Belasse has two main initiatives she wants ply states: “The Library & Archive is a rich being a senior manager means “my job is to focus on. The first is “doing more collab- source of information and a valuable not so much hands-on but more decision orative projects with the Editorial and On- national treasure.” making. Every decision I make has to be line Departments of the newspaper.” This Gleaner Web sites done with financial issues in mind, so has already occurred to a degree, with staff assessing revenue loss or gain, budgeting “collating information to produce both • Gleaner Company: and making projections is a must.” She print and on-line publications for supple- http://www.go-jamaica.com/ adds that both these topics are things she ments, handbooks and scholarships,” but • Archives http://gleaner.newspaperarchive.com/D wished she would have learned about dur- Belasse is hoping for increased involvement esktopDefault.aspx ing her time in library school. in this area. The library employs a variety of meth- • Library services: http://jamaica-gleaner The second goal is to develop “sales and .com/gleaner/library/ ods to market its services. Advertisements copyright initiatives to increase revenue” in are placed in Gleaner publications, outside • Scholarship database: http://www.go-ja order to meet the yearly target that is set for maica.com/scholarship/ radio broadcasts promote library services the library. Belasse adds that there is a need • Photo gallery: http://www.discoverja and brochures and business cards are dis- to further develop the library’s photo gallery maica.com/gallery/ tributed. A feature known as “From our and she “would like to see us offer other A full list of Gleaner newspapers and Archives” touts the photo collection and products such as those offered by NI Web sites can be found at: exhibitions displaying those photos are Syndications, Getty and The Miami http://www.jamaica-gleaner. held. In addition, Belasse writes about the Herald.” com/gleaner/about/newspapers.html#1 library in “Gleanings,” The Gleaner

WINTER 2007 NEWS LIBRARY NEWS PAGE 13