Information Outlook, May 2007

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This Magazine is brought to you for free and open access by the Information Outlook, 2000s at SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Information Outlook, 2007 by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 05 information 07 V 11 | N 05 outlook THE MAGAZINE OF THE SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION

SLA 2007

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info View info tech 5 some Changes Happen So 50 earning the Right to an Fast And Gradually, It’s Hard Opinion Requires Real-World To Notice Experience Rebecca B. Vargha Stephen Abram

info news info rights 6 New SLA Centennial 54 assume That Online Works Commission Seeks Are Copyrighted Comments Lesley Ellen Harris

info sites info business 7 if You’re Looking for 56 Becoming the “Go-To” “Invisible” Info, This Site May Person in Your Organization Answer Your Questions Debbie Schachter Carolyn J. Sosnowski 58 Coming Events sla member profile Ad Index 30 a Special Librarian Creates a Special Library Info Management Forrest Glenn Spencer 60 if You Want Rave Reviews, 8 Try The U.R.A.V.E. Approach Your Career to Evaluating Service Focus: SLA 2007 36 everyday Leadership: John R. Latham It’s an Inside Job 8 Discover Denver Marshall Brown Kathleen Rainwater and Theresa Leming 40 turbo Charge Your Job Search 12 scientific Sights of the Barbara Flood, Ph.D. Denver Area Joe Kraus 44 who’s the Best Person To Show New Employees 16 al Gore To Discuss Climate the Ropes? Change and the Economy Annette Feldman

18 interview: Scott Adams

26 how To Take Better Conference Photos Cybèle Elaine Werts

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 information outlook The Monthly Magazine of the Special Libraries Association Vol. 11, No. 05 May 2007 Make Your Publisher, Editor in Chief: John T. Adams III ([email protected]) Columnists: Stephen Abram Lesley Ellen Harris Janice R. Lachance John R. Latham Debbie Schachter Future Happen Carolyn J. Sosnowski Rebecca B. Vargha Layout & Design: Nathan Yungkans

Information Outlook® (ISSN 1091-0808) is the monthly, award-winning publication of the Special Libraries Association, at SLA 2007 331 South Patrick Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, [email protected]. (703) 647-4900

2006 Subscription Rates: Annual subscription, $125 (U.S. and Interna- tional). Single issue, $15. Please report missing copies promptly to [email protected]. To ensure continuous delivery of Information Outlook, please notify SLA promptly of address changes by writing [email protected]. When submitting address changes, please include all the information on the Featuring Keynote Speakers: mailing label. Changes may not go into effect for four to six weeks.

The Honorable Al Gore Postmaster: Send address changes to Subscriptions, Information TH6ICE0RESIDENTOFTHE5NITED3TATES Outlook, Special Libraries Association, International Headquarters, 331 South Patrick Street, Alexan- dria, VA 22314-3501, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and at additional mailing offices. Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40031619. Return Undeliverable Canadian Ad- Scott Adams dresses to: P.O. Box 1051, Fort Erie, ON L2A 6C7. #REATOROFTHE$ILBERT#ARTOON Advertising: Acceptance of an advertisement does not mean endorsement of the product by the Special Libraries Association. To advertise, contact:

Eastern United States and Europe Nancy Wood 55 Old Highway 22 Clinton, NJ 08809 Phone: (908) 730-7220 Fax: (908) 730-7225 www.sla.org/Denver2007 [email protected] Conference and Hotel Registration are Now Open Western United States and Pacific Rim Bill Albrant 250 El Camino Real Suite 106 Tustin, CA 92780 Phone: (714) 544-2555 Fax: (714) 832-6840 [email protected]

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Some Changes Happen So Fast tioned to explore and adapt to new roles in a constantly changing world of informa- And Gradually, It’s Hard To Notice tion and knowledge management. There are many opportunities to enhance your skills and career—both online and in person—by attending chapter meetings or the SLA Annual SLA is uniquely poised to help members adjust Conference. The conference planners to shifting baselines. for Denver have created an excellent sequence of programs, including the By Rebecca Vargha opening general session with former Vice President Al Gore and the closing keynote address from Scott Adams, creator of the Change is an integral part of our our profession. From chapter meetings to Dilbert cartoon. modern lives as librarians and informa- Click U and the 2007 Annual Conference There are new additions to conference tion professionals. and INFO EXPO in Denver, our associa- programming such as “Synergy Sessions” Earlier this year a newspaper head- tion offers a diverse range of activities that and SLA candidate speeches. The SLA line caught my eye. The headline read, deliver valuable and tangible benefits for Synergy Sessions are designed for inter- “When normal is a moving target.” The your membership dollars. active learning among the participants. Washington Post (January 6, 2007) article There are numerous valuable oppor- With the change in SLA’s governance by Linton Weeks addresses the trend of tunities for professional development. For year, the candidate speeches will occur shifting baselines. He cites examples of example, in March, Click U began offering for the first time during our conference shifting baselines, such as an increase in a new, exclusive member benefit in the in Denver. This is an exciting opportunity the amount of daily traffic on the drive to form of the “SLA Course of the Month.” for more members to hear from the SLA work and the shrinking leg room on air- This is an excellent learning resource. candidates in person. The SLA award planes. Other examples of rising baselines Members may take this designated self- recipients, leadership and members will are longer, healthier life spans, innovations paced e-course at no charge so seek out celebrate together at Coors Field, the like plasma television and ubiquitous com- this opportunity at your earliest conve- home of the Colorado Rockies. Play ball! puting in general. nience. The web site is: http://sla.learn. Congratulations and thank you to Essentially shifting baselines are com/learncenter.asp?id=178409&sessioni all SLA Denver Conference Planners, changes that occur incrementally and so d=3-4ABA96D8-4B0F-45D1-8BFC-C2947 the Rocky Mountain SLA Chapter, the gradually that overall pattern shifts are hard 6A0BBB5&page=207&mode=preview Denver Annual Conference Advisory to detect. Professor Daniel Pauly created There is excellent news about our pro- Council, and the SLA staff for developing the term “shifting baselines” in 1995 to fession in general, U.S. News & World such an impressive conference program. describe changes in marine ecosystems. Report (March 19, 2007, page 36) listed In particular I wish to acknowledge the He is a biology faculty member at the librarians as one of the 10 professions Denver Annual Conference Advisory University of British Columbia and in 2003 that will flourish in terms of demand for Council: Brent Mai and Ty Webb, co- co-authored the book, In a Perfect Ocean: our skills. The article by Marty Nemko chairs, Bernadette Ewen, Peggy Jones, The State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in says that “even though anybody can do Karen King, Lynne McCay, Martha the North Atlantic Ocean. a Google search, librarians will still be McPhail, Agnes Mattis, Kristin Foldvik, The monograph analyzes the effects needed to help navigate…digital informa- and Lorraine Bell. of over fishing specific fish populations tion.” There is an expanded list of 25 By choosing to attend the annual with a result of “fishing down the food recommended careers for 2007, including conference you are investing in yourself. web.” In addition to the cautions he librarians, with a listing of median pay, job There are numerous opportunities in raises about the ecosystem, there is a market outlook, and degree requirements. Denver for networking, high quality con- very positive side to his message. The The most interesting portion of the pro- tinuing education, exhibits and career author says “we can make adjustments file is that special librarians are considered development. The very essence of our to an ever-changing environment.” The the “smart specialty” by the publication. work is changing with the constant impact same philosophy applies in our profes- To paraphrase, the article says that special of technology like RSS feeds, podcasts, sional lives. Our work environments are librarianship is the field’s fastest growing blogs and wikis. in a state of constant flux. job market. Our profession is described as In summary, “normal is a moving tar- As members of SLA, we have the “high-tech information sleuths.” get” and attending the SLA Conference opportunity to actively participate in an From traditional library settings to more is a first-rate method for adapting to and organization that is an integral part of cop- unique models such as embedded librar- anticipating changes in our careers and ing with change and shifting baselines in ians in teams, we are strategically posi- the profession. SLA

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 info news

Info File New SLA Centennial

Writing for Information Outlook Information Outlook welcomes queries from Commission Seeks Comments authors about articles of interest to information professionals. For writer’s guidelines and a current editorial calendar, see www.sla.org/ content/Shop/Information/writingforio/index. cfm or write to [email protected]. Please allow six to eight weeks for acceptance. Updates on the information professional and SLA. Letters to the Editor Comments on articles or opinions on any topic of interest to information professionals may be submitted as letters to the editor. They should be sent to [email protected], with a subject line of “Letter to Editor.” All letters should include the following: writer’s name, SLA volunteer title (if applicable), city and state, and phone number. (We won’t publish The year 2009 will mark the centennial SLA, started his library career in Denver, the phone number; but we may wish to call for verification.) Letters may be edited of the founding of the Special Libraries Colorado, where the association will for brevity or clarity—or to conform to the Association as an organization dedicated to stage its 2007 Annual Conference and publication’s style. Letter writers will have an opportunity to approve extensive editing prior serving the needs and interests of profes- Exposition in June. to publication. sionals who handle specialized information Permissions and research services. Authors may distribute their articles as pho- SLA has formed a Centennial Sylvia James Wins tocopies or as postings to corporate intranet or personal Web sites—for educational Commission to plan anniversary activi- ALA Business Award purposes only—without advance permission. ties—and asks its members to send ideas In all cases, the reprinted or republished articles must include a complete citation and on how to best celebrate its anniversary to Sylvia James, principal, Sylvia James also reference the URL www.sla.org/content/ the commission at [email protected]. Consultancy, United Kingdom, is the Shop/Information/index.cfm. For permission to reprint Information Outlook Commission members are: recipient of the 2007 Thomson Gale articles in other publications, write to edi- • Chair, Dav Robertson, National Award for Excellence in Business [email protected]. Include the issue in which the article was published, the title of the article, Institute of Environmental Health Librarianship. and a description of how the article would Sciences, Research Triangle Park, The award is administered by the be used. North Carolina Business Reference and Services Subscriptions • Tom Calcagni, chief communications Section of the Reference and User Print subscriptions are available for $125 per year, which includes postage to addresses strategist, SLA Services Association, a division of in the U.S. and other countries. To order a • David Cappoli, UCLA, Los Angeles the American Library Association. subscription, see www.sla.org/merchandise. Click “Publications” in the left column under • Patricia Cia, Langara College, James will receive a citation and “Categories,” then scroll down to “Informa- Vancouver, British Columbia, a cash award of $3,000, donated tion Outlook Subscription.” There is no discount to agencies. Canada by Thomson Gale. Bulk subscription orders may be sent by • Nick Collison, Prenax, New York City She has written prolifically on postal mail to: Information Outlook Subscrip- tions, 331 South Patrick Street, Alexandria, • Kristin Foldvik, director, events, SLA, international business, from the VA 22314, USA. Enclose payment with the • Stacey Greenwell, University of theory and practice of interna- order to avoid delays in activation. Online subscriptions are included with mem- Kentucky, Lexington tional business information to the bership and are not available to non-member • DeVonne Henry, director, exhibits, researching of global informa- subscribers. SLA, tion. She is a regular contribu- Claims • Jill Konieczko, U.S. News & World tor to Business Information Alert Claims for missing issues should be sent to [email protected]. Claimants should Report, Washington, D.C. and writes a column in the SLA include full name and address of the • Karen Kreizman Reczek, Bureau Business & Finance Division subscriber and volume and issue numbers of missing issues. Provision of additional Veritas, Buffalo, New York Journal on career development in information—such as purchase date of • John Larrier, Elsevier, New York City the business information field. SLA subscription, check number, invoice/account number—may reduce processing time. • Lynne McCay, Congressional Membership Research Service, Library of Inquiries about SLA membership should be Congress, Washington, D.C. sent to [email protected]. • Tamika McCollough, North Carolina To update your address or other account information, to join SLA, or to renew your A&T State University, Greensboro membership, go to www.sla.org/content/mem- John Cotton Dana, the polymath law- bership/index.cfm and select the appropriate item from the menu in the left column. yer, educator and librarian who founded

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 INFO sites

If You’re Looking for “Invisible” Info, This Site May Answer Your Questions

stuff. First established to keep waste And if you just can’t keep up with all the LIS out of Tucson landfills, Freecycle is blogs, another site collects feeds and helps now in over 4,000 communities, with with searches. 3.5 million members, worldwide. Join your local network (free, of course)

By Carolyn J. Sosnowski, MLIS and use it to post information about your items (“legal and appropriate for all ages”) and give away what a quiet afternoon; search for the you don’t want or need to others in OEDb: Research town where you grew up or went to your area. Bartering is not permit- Beyond Google school…you might be surprised to ted, since the original and sustaining http://oedb.org/library/college-basics/ find that someone is blogging about it. philosophy for Freecycle is gifting to research-beyond-google your community. Sometimes Google is the easiest LibWorm place to get a quick answer, but is a www.libworm.com EarthTrends general search engine the best place It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the http://earthtrends.wri.org to get the best answer? We know number of LIS blogs, which is growing A product of the D.C.-based World the answer to that question. This by the day. Here’s a tool that helps Resources Institute, EarthTrends page on the OEDb (Online Education you find the content without having to is bursting with information, mostly Database) site presents a topical subscribe to all of them. LibWorm has compiled from over sixty reputable index of sites that are “authoritative, collected the feeds of about 1,500 global statistical agencies, on environ- invisible, and comprehensive,” and blogs, and you can search or browse mental, social, and economic trends. which will come in handy in our librar- to find what you need. I sometimes Access news stories, country pro- ies and information centers when a use the search engine to locate a post files (over 200!), maps, data tables, Google search just won’t do for us or I read but can’t remember where. The and research articles on topics that our clients. You’ll find links to: busi- categories are helpful for finding feeds include climate, population, agricul- ness and economic data, government by broad topic (including podcasts), ture, economics, and governance. sites, international organizations, and the subjects section is powered RSS feeds, the monthly newsletter, online books, science and medical by pre-set searches. Or, you can and podcasts (both informational and sources, and transportation data, conduct your own word and phrase musical) make it easier to keep up among other resources. Bonus con- searches. with the vast subject matter. Add this tent: There is also information on why site to your bookmarks and resource these types of sources are important Freecycle lists. Thanks to member Mary Maguire in research. www.freecycle.org for bringing this informative site, now Most of us know about craigslist in its sixth year, to my attention. SLA Placeblogger (featured in a previous column), www.placeblogger.com through which you can buy, sell, and Social networking tools can bring barter items and services. But what people together as a community, but about Freecycle? It’s a “place” to give they can also bring you to a com- away and find free (and only free) munity and give you a sense of the “lived experience” of a place. Here’s an index of blogs that give snapshots into the culture, business, and politics of thousands of neighborhoods and locales across the globe (most Carolyn J. Sosnowski, MLIS, is SLA’s information specialist. She are U.S.-based, but the number of has 10 years of experience in libraries, including more than three years in non-North American sites is grow- SLA’s Information Center. She can be reached at [email protected]. ing). These blogs could be used as research tools or as diversions on

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 FOcus: sla 2007

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 The 2007 SLA Annual Conference and Exposition Will Give You a Chance to Discover Denver

By Kathleen Rainwater and Theresa Leming

LA’s Rocky Mountain museums and special libraries, and Chapter is excited to host inviting outdoor spaces. the 2007 SLA Annual The weather in June is usually perfect Looking for Conference in Denver for a visit to Denver. The average high more information? June 3-6, 2007, and we temperature for the first week of June Sare looking forward to sharing our is 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius). • The Denver Local Arrangements beautiful, vibrant city with confer- The days are mostly sunny, so don’t Committee has created a wiki full of ence attendees. forget your sunglasses and sunscreen. information on Denver, including travel, Denver is known as the “Mile High If it does rain while you are visiting, attractions, entertainment, restaurants, City” because it sits a mile above just wait a few minutes, because the and other topics: http://lib.colostate.edu/ sea level on the plains of Colorado, weather will probably change. publicwiki/index.php?title=Special_ close enough to the Rocky Mountains SLA members who attended the Libraries_Association that snow-capped peaks can be seen conference in Denver in 1988 were • The Rocky Mountain Chapter is host- from most downtown street corners. treated to a rare event: A tornado ing a listserv to answer all your confer- The downtown area, which is clean touched down just two and a half ence questions. The list e-mail address and pedestrian friendly, has dozens of miles from the city center. Because is [email protected]. To subscribe great restaurants, several fascinating this was the only tornado in history to the list: Send a message to lyris@ sla.lyris.net in the following format: Body of message: Subscribe sla2007 Your e-mail_address Your_Name (e.g. Theresa (Tracy) Leming, J.D., M.L.I.S., is a reference librarian Subscribe sla2007 [email protected] John at Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Shreck, P.C., a law firm based in Denver. Doe). Leave the subject line blank. She is a member of the Legal Division and the Rocky Mountain Chapter. • The SLA conference page links to many She can be reached at [email protected] helpful sites: www.sla.org/content/ Events/conference/ac2007/index.cfm • The Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau has an informative Web Kathleen Rainwater, M.L.I.S., M.B.A. is the corporate librarian site: www.denver.org for the Gates Corporation, a global manufacturing company headquartered • The Rocky Mountain Chapter will in Denver. She is a member of the Business & Finance, Competitive staff a local hospitality booth at the Intelligence, Engineering, and Solo divisions; is currently serving on the Convention Center, where you can SLA Scholarship Committee; and is the Local Arrangements Chair for the pick up information from the city and 2007 Conference in Denver. She can be reached at [email protected]. a copy of the Local Arrangements Hospitality Guide.

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 FOcus: sla 2007

that has touched down so near the When gold was discovered at the Mattie Silks, and the “Unsinkable” city center, the chances that 2007 SLA confluence of Cherry Creek and the Molly Brown. The town survived Conference attendees will experience a South Platte River in the summer of through gold rushes, silver booms, second tornado are pretty slim. 1858, prospectors from around the crashes, and depressions to become a world rushed to the area. Several towns financial and cultural hub of the west Denver History were founded that year, but the one that by the 1890’s. The Denver area is believed to have survived was “Denver City,” which was Pioneers from the East Coast and been inhabited by Native Americans established by General William Larimer Midwest quickly settled in Denver and as early as 15,000 years ago. Since the in 1858. The Colorado Territory was had a civilizing influence on the frontier 1500s, it has been home to Apaches, created in 1861, and Colorado became town. The legacy of these early settlers Comanches, Kiowas, Utes, and finally a state in 1876. is still part daily life in Denver. The first Arapahos and Cheyennes, who claimed Denver City was a wild western town, local newspaper, the Rocky Mountain the area when French and American fur full of gamblers, saloons, and color- News, was started by William Newton trappers arrived in the early 1800s. ful characters such as Soapy Smith, Byers in 1859. In 1868, a young

RM/SLA and Libraries We Love the history, literature, art, music, religion, and politics of African Americans in Colorado and throughout the Rocky Mountain West. The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the SLA (RMSLA) has mem- It is the only library of its kind between Detroit and Oakland. The bers in four states (Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, and Colorado), first floor of this library holds a normal full-service branch of the and our libraries are just as diverse as the landscapes and peo- Denver Public Library, while the second floor holds an archive ple in these four states. Several fascinating special libraries and research area, and the third floor holds the Western Legacies are open to the public and easily accessible from the Colorado Museum and an exhibit space. Convention Center. Also accessible by light rail is the Westminster Law Library at The Central Branch of the Denver Public Library, a postmodern the University of Denver, which is in the first law school build- building designed by Michael Graves, is only a few blocks from ing in the United States to receive certification as a “green” the MallRide’s Civic Center stop. In addition to the usual public building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental library collection, this library holds an amazing genealogy collec- Design program. tion and the Western History Collection, which includes 600,000 At the Denver Botanic Gardens, which is one of the of the photographs, 3,700 manuscript archives, 200,000 cataloged Cultural Connection Trolley stops, conference attendees may visit books, pamphlets, atlases, maps, and microfilm titles, as well as the Helen Fowler Library, which houses more than 28,000 titles on a collection of Western fine art and prints. Both of these collec- botany, including books for all ages, videos, software, magazines, tions are on the fifth floor of the libr ary. nursery catalogs, slides, rare books, and the plant inventory of The Stephen H. Hart Library is located inside the Colorado History Denver Botanic Gardens. Museum, which is also just a few blocks from the Civic Center In Boulder, which is accessible by bus from downtown Denver, MallRide stop. The Hart Library is a research facility that focuses there are at least two libraries worth touring. The National Indian on Colorado and Western History. It also features the Falkenberg Law Library, which supports both the Native American Rights Gallery, which contains rotating displays of items from the library Fund and the public, is the only library in the United States that collection. specializes in Indian law. This library is within walking distance The Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 Library just of Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, a lively pedestrian shopping area moved into a new office that earned certification as a “green” known for its colorful street performers. It is also just a few blocks building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental from the William A. Wise Law Library at the University of Colorado, Design program. The most unique sustainable feature of this which proudly inhabits the second law school building in the building is Denver’s first “green roof,” which reduces and filters United States to receive LEED certification. This gorgeous new storm water runoff and saves energy using vegetation. The main library was opened in the summer of 2006. entrance to the building is right off the 16th Street Mall, at 1595 Golden, Colorado, which is about half an hours’ drive west Wynkoop, and the library is on the second floor. (Please note that of downtown, also has at least two libraries worth a field trip: the library closes at 4:30 p.m. and some form of identification American Alpine Club Library and the Colorado School of Mines’ with a photo is required to enter the building.) Arthur Lakes Library, which has one of the largest circulating map The Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, a few collections in the United States. stops north of the Convention Center on the light rail, focuses on —Rainwater and Leming

10 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Downtown Denver in One Day Gio Ponti, is home to one of the finest collections of American Indian art anywhere, as well as European, American, Asian, and If you have one full day to devote to exploring downtown Denver, other collections. The Fredrick C. Hamilton addition, which was we suggest you follow this itinerary, choosing one or two places to designed by Daniel Libeskind, opened in October 2006 and holds tour and making brief stops at the rest. Most of these attractions the modern/contemporary, African, Oceanic, and Western American are shown on the SLA accommodations map at www.sla.org/PDFs/ art collections. sla2007/2007HotelMap.pdf. Byers-Evans House, 1310 Bannock Street State Capitol, 200 East Colfax Avenue (This is not on the SLA Accommodations map. From the Denver (From the Convention Center, walk north to 16th Street and get Art Museum, walk one block west on 13th, then walk north on on a MallRide heading east. Get off at the last stop, which is the Bannock.) Civic Center station on Broadway. Walk half a block south on This Italianate house, which was built in 1883, has been restored Broadway to Colfax, then walk one block east.) to the 1912-1924 period. This Denver landmark reflects the char- The Colorado Capitol Building, which was modeled on the U.S. acter of two early and important Colorado pioneer families. Capitol building, is constructed of Colorado granite. The dome is gilded with Colorado gold, and the interior is decorated with Denver Mint, 320 West Colfax Colorado marble and rare Colorado rose onyx. Tours are available (From the Byers–Evans House, walk two blocks north on Bannock, Monday through Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The 45-min- then two blocks west on Colfax.) ute tours include information on Colorado history, the capitol build- The Denver Mint is one of only two United States Mints that are ing, the lawmaking process, the gold dome, and more. All historic open for tours. Tours of the mint cover both its history and the pres- tours begin at the tour desk, which is located near the north (Colfax ent state of coin manufacturing, from original designs and sculp- Avenue) entrance on the first floor. The best time to visit is in the tures to the actual striking of the coins. Please note: Reservations, morning before the larger tour groups arrive. The 13th step on which can be made through the United States Mint Web site, are the outside of the building, which is one mile above sea level, is highly recommended. Also, tours of the Denver Mint are not avail- marked with a bronze star. able if the Homeland Security Advisory System threat level is at or above the Orange (High) level. Molly Brown House, 1340 Pennsylvania (This is not on the SLA accommodations map. From the Capitol 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, 16th Street from Broadway Building, walk two blocks east on 14th Avenue to Pennsylvania, to Wewatta Street then walk south for half a block.) (From the Denver Mint, walk two blocks north on Court Place.) The home of the “unsinkable” Molly Brown, who was a hero Lots of people watching is always available on the mall, which in the Titanic disaster, has been restored to its original Victorian stretches across the downtown area. Free wi-fi access is also avail- splendor. Tours are led by costumed guides, and a gift shop in able. The free MallRide shuttles, which travel the entire length of the old carriage house sells old-fashioned toys, candy, and other the mall frequently each day, are the easiest way to get around souvenirs. downtown.

Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway LoDo (Lower Downtown, from Larimer Street west to (From the Molly Brown house, walk four blocks west on 13th Wewatta Street) Avenue.) (From 16th Street and Court Place, take a MallRide west to The Colorado History Museum allows visitors to get a quick dose Larimer Street.) of Colorado history without cracking a book. You will find plenty of shopping at Larimer Square, Writers Square, and the Tabor Center, which are all on Larimer Street. The Denver Public Library Central Branch, 10 West 14th downtown branch of the Tattered Cover bookstore is at 16th Street Avenue and Wynkoop. Coors Field is five blocks north on Blake Street. (From the Colorado History Museum, walk across Broadway at 14th or 13th avenues.) Brown Palace Hotel, 321 17th Street The 1995 addition, which was designed by Michael Graves, (From LoDo, take the MallRide east on 16th Street to Tremont, complements the 1956 building. Visit the fifth floor to explore the then walk two blocks north.) Western History and Genealogy departments. The Brown Palace Hotel was built in 1892 and continues to be a beautiful example of 19th century elegance. The staff historian Denver Art Museum, 13th Avenue between Broadway and gives free tours each Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Lunch in Bannock the Ship’s Tavern and afternoon tea (reservations recommended) in (From the Denver Public Library, walk east across the plaza.) the nine-story atrium lobby are both great ways to enjoy the hotel. The original building, which was designed by Italian architect —Rainwater and Leming

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 11 FOcus: sla 2007

German by the name of Adolph Kuhrs retail core of downtown Denver. Free Convention Center and carries visitors moved to town, changed his name to public shuttle buses (MallRides) run to several attractions outside the down- Coors, and started a brewery. the entire length of this mall every few town area, including the Denver Zoo, The Denver Public Library, which minutes, stopping at every block. Large the Denver Museum of Nature and was established by the local school street maps are prominently displayed Science, the Denver Botanic Gardens, board in 1889, hired John Cotton at each shuttle stop, making it easy for the Downtown Aquarium, and other Dana—SLA’s founder—as the first visitors to explore the downtown area. attractions. librarian. Denver also has a light rail system that includes a stop at ground level under Exploring Museums Getting Around the convention center, as well as a bus The Denver Art Museum has a new The Colorado Convention Center, system that serves most of the metro wing designed by Daniel Libeskind. where most of the conference events area. Libeskind says the new wing, which is will be held, is just two blocks south Conference attendees may also covered in 9,000 titanium plates, was of the 16th Street Mall, a 16-block purchase tickets for the Cultural inspired by the peaks of the Rocky pedestrian street that serves as the Connection Trolley, which stops at the Mountains, geometric rock crystals

Scientific Sights of the Denver Area Joe Kraus, M.L.S. is the science and engi- the place for you. By the time the June conference starts, some exhibits, including a mammoth tooth, a saber-cat skull, a T-Rex skull, neering librarian at the University of Denver. renovation of the 68-year-old facility should be completed. One of and a live milk snake. Museum workers often encourage youngsters to By Joe Kraus He is chair of the Physics, Astronomy & the notable planes is a B-1A bomber, supposedly one of only two help excavate a dinosaur bone. Mathematics Division and a member of in existence. During the end of the SLA conference, a “Collector’s Colorado is a tourist destination for many who are interested in the Science-Technology Divisions and the Extravaganza Antique Show” will be taking place from June 6 National Center for Atmospheric Research geology. However, the area offers museums and facilities in many Rocky Mountain Chapter. His email address through the 10th. (www.ncar.ucar.edu and www.eo.ucar.edu/visit) of the other sciences. I have a six-year-old son who enjoys going out is [email protected]. You should visit this lab just to take in the great view from the to museums to learn about science, so I have had the opportunity Downtown Aquarium mesa. However, it can get windy. Inside the facility, you will find to take him to most of these places. All of these places are family (www.aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumdenver) engaging hands-on educational exhibits. The Library has a good sci- friendly, and many have been recently renovated and updated. Even can tour the rest of the universe at various computer kiosks, talk This used to be called Colorado’s Ocean Journey. It was pur- ence collection. If you get a chance, sign up for the bus tour on if you visited one of these places 10 or more years ago, a second with any of the galaxy guides, see a demonstration at the galaxy chased by Landry’s Restaurants and renamed the Downtown Thursday, June 7. visit would be worthwhile to see the changes. There will be tours to a stage, or read and learn in the “Infolounge.” Aquarium in 2005. One section of the aquarium is a path that number of these facilities on Thursday, June 7. • Gates Planetarium: This renovated and updated planetarium now follows the Colorado River to the ocean. The other major sec- National Renewable Energy Laboratory uses a state-of-the-art digital projector system. The dome is rotated tion depicts African and South American freshwater habitats. My (www.nrel.gov and www.nrel.gov/visiting_nrel) Denver Museum of Nature and Science so the facility can employ comfortable upright theater seats. son enjoys touching the horseshoe crabs and the stingrays. The This government laboratory provides an interactive exhibit hall and (www.dmns.org) • Phipps IMAX Theater: There is always an interesting variety of films Downtown Aquarium houses an interesting but mediocre restau- self-guided tours through the visitor center. At this laboratory, visi- This is one of the first museum stops for anyone interested in sci- showing at the IMAX. rant, and it is open later in the evening than most other muse- tors can learn about energy from the sun, wind, biomass, and other ence. While this museum is mentioned elsewhere in this article, it is • Wildlife Exhibits: This section includes great displays of plants ums. sources of renewable energy. Best of all, entrance to the museum is worth taking a deeper look. For those who are staying in town after and animals native to Colorado and a good collection from around free. There is a Thursday morning bus tour, June 7. the conference, there is a tour to the museum on Thursday morning, the world. Denver Botanic Gardens June 7. The A.M. Bailey Library is open to the public on the third (www.botanicgardens.org) Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum floor, near the South American Wildlife Exhibits. Some sections of Denver Zoo This is a beautiful urban retreat. The Gardens’ mission is to (www.mines.edu/Academic/geology/museum) the museum hold temporary or traveling exhibits, but it has many (www.denverzoo.org) “connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky I recently visited this museum for the first time, and I wish I had permanent exhibits, such as: This is the fourth most popular zoo in the nation. With the wonder- Mountain region.” The Gardens feature a great collection of plants gone sooner. It has a fantastic collection of gold, silver, minerals, ful display of habitats covering over 80 acres, it is easy to see why that thrive in Colorado’s dry climate, as well as orchids and other rough and cut gemstones, fossils, mining artifacts and more. Entrance • Gems and Minerals: The Coors Mineral Hall houses a Mexican it is so popular. Originally built in 1896, the zoo is being updated tropical plants in the Conservatory. If you get a chance, visit the is free. Do not miss the lower level! The stairwell is at the back left of silver mine and a fantastic display of rhodochrosite crystals. It in many areas with renovations worth more than $130,000,000. Helen Fowler library. the main room. The Arthur Lakes Library is about two blocks away. has a great collection of minerals and crystals from Colorado and Predator Ridge was finished in 2004, a new parking garage was around the world. installed, and the main entrance was updated. Other areas will be Dinosaur Ridge (www.dinoridge.org) and the Morrison Coors Brewery • Hall of Life: This recently renovated section has been updated. It renovated in the future. You simply must take rides on the zoo train Natural History Museum (www.mnhm.org) (www.coors.com/about_tour.asp) has displays on the human body and pregnancy, the importance of and the fantastic Conservation Carousel, which features 48 one-of- Both of these places are on the west side of town. Dinosaur Once you are in Golden, you might as well stop at the Coors Brewery a sound diet, and a DNA forensic laboratory. a-kind, hand-carved wooden animals representing rare and endan- Ridge runs along a stretch of West Alameda Parkway. Your first for a tour. If you only want to imbibe some of the adult beverages • Prehistoric Journey: My son loves this section. He especially enjoys gered species around the world. stop should be at the small visitors’ center, where you can get your (free), ask to take the “Short Tour,” which includes taste tests. There looking at the huge Diplodocus and examining the fossils at one of bearings. Along the parkway, you can see evidence of many dino- is also a long tour (free) that provides an in-depth look at the brewing the “touch carts.” You can also view scientists working on speci- Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum saur footprints, mangrove swamps, invertebrate and crustacean process at this world-famous facility. mens for cataloging and display. (www.wingsmuseum.org) trace fossils, Brontosaurus bulges, and dinosaur bones. At the • Space Odyssey: This new area has a special focus on Mars, but you If you are a military buff or just like to look at airplanes, this is Morrison Natural History Museum, you can see and touch many

12 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 found in the foothills near Denver, and als (many from Colorado mines). system of paths and trails that allows “all the wide-open faces of the people Denver also has dozens of small- bikers, rollerbladers, and pedestri- of Denver.” In June, the Denver Art er museums, including the Black ans to get to just about any part of Museum will be hosting temporary American West Museum; the Mizel the metro area, including Confluence exhibits of contemporary American Museum; the Museo de las Americas; Park, which is on the western edge of Indian, Japanese, and modern art. the Firefighters Museum; the Museum downtown. At Confluence Park, visitors The Denver Museum of Nature and of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys; and the can watch or try rafting and kayaking Science offers a spectacular view of Vance Kirkland Museum. on the Platte River, watch the action at City Park and the mountains from its the Skatepark next door, or take a stroll top-floor terrace. It also houses an Fresh Air on a pedestrian bridge that crosses the IMAX theater, a planetarium, hands- Just a block south of the Convention Platte River. Cherry Creek is also the on activities for kids in the Discovery Center, the Cherry Creek Trail runs a location of the only commercial punt- Zone, hundreds of dioramas featuring few feet below street level near Speer ing operation in the United States. animals from all over the world, and an Boulevard, right next to Cherry Creek. The Colorado Rockies will be play- amazing collection of gems and miner- This wide cement trail connects to a ing at Coors Field, Denver’s down-

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town stadium, during the SLA convention. Games are scheduled against John Cotton Dana Cincinnati for June 1, 2, and 3; and SLA Founder Has Denver Connection against Houston on June 5, 6, and 7. Attendees who have access to a car John Cotton Dana—the first president of the Special Libraries Association and a man can be hiking in the mountains less than who made significant contributions to the library profession—began his library career an hour after leaving downtown Denver. in Denver. The city of Denver owns and maintains After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1878, Dana spent two years in Colorado several parks in the mountains, includ- surveying mining claims from 1880 to 1882. He returned east in the spring of 1882 ing Echo Lake, Summit Lake, Red to study law. After passing the New York bar exam in 1893, Dana moved to Minnesota, Rocks Park (home of the world-famous where he experimented with a law practice and edited a local newspaper before return- Red Rocks Amphitheater), Lookout ing to Colorado in 1885. Mountain Park (site of the Buffalo Bill In Colorado, Dana worked as a surveyor and construction supervisor for a few years Grave and Museum), and Genesee before marrying and settling into ranching. During that time, he delivered lectures about Park (home of a bison herd that can philosophical and social topics, and even briefly tried preaching. Dana also wrote many often be seen from I-70). letters and articles, which were published in a variety of national journals including the Other attractions in the moun- Chicago Current, the Journal of Education, and the Vermont Standard. tains include gambling in Central City In 1889, three months after Dana wrote a letter to the Rocky Mountain News analyz- and sightseeing in Rocky Mountain ing the effectiveness of the Denver public school system, he was appointed the first National Park, which is less than two librarian of the newly established Denver Public Library and the secretary of the board hours’ drive from Denver, and includes of education. The new library held 2,000 volumes and was located in the East Denver the highest paved highway in the conti- High School. nental United States, Trail Ridge Road. Dana entered his new career with enthusiasm. Conservative librarians called him Pikes Peak and the Air Force Academy a radical after he advertised the new library in every possible print publication in town. are also less than two hours from During his years at the library, Dana embraced and championed modern library prin- Downtown Denver. ciples and practices. He adopted the new practice of open stacks, created a picture collection, established the first children’s room in a public library, loaned books to teachers Other Notes for schoolroom libraries, and extended library hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day Denver has something to interest just of the year. He believed in open, accessible libraries filled with natural light, plenty of about any visitor. The Denver Center seating, and study areas, that “the library should be the most inviting, the most whole- for the Performing Arts, which is right some, the most elevating and the most popular place in the city…” across the street from the Colorado Dana regularly corresponded with other librarians and declared, “The spirit of friendly Convention Center, offers excellent cooperation can in no profession be more hearty than it is among librarians.” In 1895, theater, opera, symphony, and ballet Dana served as the president of the Colorado Library Association and chair of the 1895 performances in several theaters and American Library Association conference, which was held in Denver. concert halls. Denver also offers a busy As Dana became more involved in the national library community, he felt that his influ- local music and performance calen- ence was limited by his geographic isolation. After serving as ALA president in 1896, dar, from Broadway shows to classical Dana left Denver for a position at the Springfield, Massachusetts, public library. Dana music to hip-hop and jazz. left Springfield in 1902 to become the director of the Newark New Jersey library. There is a thriving arts and crafts Later in life, Dana wrote in a letter to a friend, “I assume that you have some of the scene in Denver, with dozens of art same feeling about Denver that I do— that it should receive all the praise it is entitled galleries in LoDo (Lower Downtown) to. And of course I realize that it was in a good degree that the Denver atmosphere, of and the Santa Fe Art District. Attendees wishing to do things better than they were ever done before, which made possible the who are interested in art should con- new methods of its library.” sider arriving early to catch the First —Rainwater and Leming Friday Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. June 1, in the Santa Fe Art District, which Sources is easily accessible from downtown Frank Kingdon, D.B. Updike, “John Cotton Dana: A Life,” The Merrymount Press, via light rail and the Connect the Dots Boston, 1940. shuttle. The Capitol Hill People’s Fair, which Chalmers Hadley, “John Cotton Dana: A Sketch,” American Library Association, Chicago, will be held June 2 and 3 in Civic Center 1943 Park, offers free entertainment, booths full of unique arts and crafts, delicious food, and great people watching.

14 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 There are a dozen or more shopping Tattered Cover now has three locations, See You in June! districts in Denver. Both local establish- one of which is in a historic building on Most Information Outlook readers ments and national chain stores can the corner of 16th and Wynkoop (easily already understand that attending an be found along the 16th Street Mall, accessible via the MallRide). SLA Annual Conference is a great way particularly in the Denver Pavilions, Last, but not least, there are the to renew and create professional con- Larimer Street, the Tabor Center, and brewpubs. According to the Denver nections, find out about new informa- Writer’s Square. Western wear and Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, tion products, get inspired, and learn unique souvenirs of the West can more beer is brewed in Denver than more about our profession. Now that be found in many stores downtown, in any other city. Whether that claim you have read this, you also know including Rockmount Ranch Wear, is accurate or not, it is clear that that, by attending the convention in which has been selling its famous Denverites take their brews very seri- Denver this year, you can do all that shirts in LoDo since 1946. ously—so seriously that we elected while enjoying great weather, fascinat- If you need some outdoor gear, John Hickenlooper, owner of the ing museums and libraries, amazing check out REI, where you can test your Wynkoop Brewing Company, as our shopping, and many brew pubs. SLA gear on hiking and biking tracks and mayor in 2003. See you in June! an indoor climbing wall. There are at least five great brewpubs The Tattered Cover Bookstore has in the downtown area, including the been a favorite among Denver book- Flying Dog Brewery, the Breckenridge lovers for more than three decades, Brewery, the Chop House, the Rock in part because it offers plenty of Bottom Brewery, and the Wynkoop comfortable seating and has a policy Brewing Company, which claims to be of encouraging browsers to linger. The one of the largest brewpubs in the world.

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 15 FOcus: sla 2007 Al Gore To Discuss Climate Change and the Economy

ummer storms are increas- for 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 3. Before ing. The Arctic ice cap is his speech, he will be available at shrinking. Sea levels are ris- 3:45 p.m. for a book signing at booth ing. 257 in the INFO EXPO Hall. SThe average temperature in the Gore’s speech will encourage continental U.S. last year was the attendees to consider broader issues warmest on record. of global warming—environmental, Despite a small but vocal chorus of social and political—when planning naysayers, there is little doubt among economic strategy. most scientists that the effects of Gore addressed these issues in global warming—caused by increased hearings in March on Capitol Hill, emission of carbon dioxide from fac- where two decades earlier, as a tories, power plants, automobiles, member of Congress, he held the first and other users of fossil fuels—is hearing on global warming. upon us. Calling climate change “a planetary If the release of these greenhouse emergency,” he urged, among other gasses isn’t slowed, the results for increased agricultural yields, will dis- things, a ban on new coal-burning future generations will be dramatic: appear as temperatures continue to power plants that do not include millions of people displaced, coast- increase. technology to capture carbon dioxide al cities flooded, too much rain in Former Vice President Al emissions. some parts of the world, too little Gore—whose documentary, “An “The planet has a fever,” Gore said elsewhere, accelerated extinction of Inconvenient Truth,” captured a in his testimony. “If your baby has a plant and animal species, economic 2007 Academy Award—will discuss fever, you go to the doctor. If the doc- upheaval. climate change and the economy tor says you need to intervene here, Even under the best-case scenario at the SLA Annual Conference and you don’t say, ‘Well, I read a science plotted in a 2005 report prepared for Exposition in Denver. fiction novel that told me it’s not a the Pew Center on Global Climate His opening keynote address, problem.’ If the crib’s on fire, you Change, any beneficial effects of “Thinking Green: Economic Strategy don’t speculate that the baby is flame warmer temperatures, such as for the 21st Century,” is scheduled retardant. You take action.” SLA

16 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Search: arthritis 74% of ACS journal search results In 1948, Percy Julian developed a new way to are from the ACS synthesize hydrocortisone, which is still used to treat rheumatoid arthritis; Legacy Archives more than 40 articles published by Julian are in It may come as no surprise to you: When scientists search the ACS Legacy Archives. the journals of the American Chemical Society, a large percentage of their results are often from the ACS Legacy Archives.

The ACS Legacy Archives provides full-text searching and instant access to all titles, volumes, issues, and articles published by the ACS from 1879 to 1995. That’s 464,233 high- quality, high-impact articles! Find out how affordable an Archives subscription can be for your organization Contact your ACS Account Manager for an institutional price quote. For more information, visit the ACS Legacy Archives web site at http://pubs.acs.org/Archives One-time payment option now available FOcus: sla 2007

18 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Dilbert, Dogbert, Catbert, The Boss, Alice, and the rest of the gang aren’t available for one of the big speeches at SLA 2007, but we got their creator Scott Adams

irst, there was the Peter Werts: Oh really? I didn’t know you got Principle, expounded in into trouble for those. 1968 by the academic Laurence J. Peter. He said Adams: I get in trouble all the time but that in a hierarchical organi- usually it comes from left field, which is Fzation, an employee will rise to his or her what makes it interesting. You’ll get to level of competence—then rise one level see some comics that weren’t published higher, to a level of incompetence, and and some that were published, and we’ll remain in that position. It’s, like, well, an just have some fun. accident or something. Nearly 30 years later, cartoonist Scott Werts: The opening keynote speaker at Adams, himself an MBA, put forth the our conference is former Vice President Dilbert Principle, which takes Professor Al Gore. Do you have anything you’d Peter’s theory a step farther. In Adams’s care to share with him should he read satirical view, companies systematically this interview? promote less competent employees to middle management positions—because Adams: I met Al at the White House, that’s where they can do the least dam- and he asked me to do some work on a age to the organization. No accident report he used to do as part of his job. here. It’s part of the plan. He was looking for some cartoons for The Dilbert comic strip, syndicated a report to try to convey some material in hundreds of newspapers, displays that was unusually dull. Adams’s view of the corporate world Werts: I suspect a lot of people actu- I forget its official title, but he did a every day, in color on Sundays. ally think of you as Dilbert, himself. Do regular report that was basically about You’ll get to meet him at the 2007 SLA you channel him sometimes when you efficiency in government. His sub-task Annual Conference and Exposition, where do speeches? within the vice presidency was to make he will deliver the closing keynote speech the government more efficient through at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 6. Adams: Probably not intentionally, but automation and other means. And he Cybele Werts, an SLA member and I’m sure I do. The content of my talk is had to explain his progress on a regular a regular contributor to Information the strange odyssey of going from cubi- basis, but it was kind of very dry mate- Outlook, recently chatted with Adams cle to cartoon. And I’m going to share rial so he, at one point, asked my advice on the phone, trying to learn what makes some comments that got me in trouble on that. So I have a little bit of past him (and Dilbert) tick, and provide every- for reasons that sometimes were obvious interaction with him. one with a preview of his presentation. and sometimes were not.

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Werts: You started drawing Dilbert in Werts: It still is about the people when computer programmer or something. 1989. How would you say the theme has it comes down to it is what you’re saying? I don’t really give up to any car- changed in the intervening two decades? toonist side. How has technology or the increasing Adams:. Humor is about human feel- pace of information affected how your ings and human interaction and they use Werts: You don’t have that wild artist characters interact? computers. The technology are really look about you? just a backdrop, they’re more like just a Adams: There are some things that page setting. Adams: No, not so much. are difficult in comics. I’d like to do more comics where they’re using instant Werts: There’s a hackneyed stereo- Werts: Maybe need to work on that messaging, stuff like that, but it doesn’t type about librarians, as in Marian the and grow your hair a little longer or really look good, just people sitting in Librarian (from the play, The Music something. front of a computer, likewise with cell Man) just as there is a stereotype about phones. I used to draw a telephone and engineers that Dilbert represents. And Adams:, Or just throw some airs on, you could tell somebody was talking on yet, I know that I’m at least one “librar- that would be good too. a telephone in a comic… [now] they just ian” who doesn’t fit the profile, and I have a Bluetooth thing in their ear…or know some others as well. So I ask you: Werts: If you just let your beard grow a cell phone that actually is completely What’s the stereotype for cartoonists and out a little, get that scruffy artist look, covered by the size of their hand. tech- do you fit that stereotype? wear black… nology has become problematic for me just because I can’t draw it; it’s harder Adams: I’m kind of an odd cartoonist Adams: Yeah, yeah. Actually, it’s tough to do things. because most cartoonists they start when I do speaking; I have to figure out Other than that, the workplace really out as artists and then they become what to wear because I can’t show up doesn’t change that much. The jobs go cartoonists. It’s often they’re in one in a worthless suit. You know, you’ve from being downsized in the old-fash- kind of art and then there’s a little bit met everyone else who’s in a suit, ioned way to being off-shored and rein- of the cartoonist. because it would look wrong because vented in a more modern version. My background is economics and I’m a cartoonist. There are little things that change. Any business school. I have an MBA, so time you’ve got a boss and a coworker cartooning was kind of a sharp left turn Werts: What do you wear? the dynamic is going to be pretty similar for me. When people meet me, they no matter what the technology is. figure I sell insurance or I must be a Adams: I have this tough balance—I always try to find a shirt that you can’t find easily, so it’s all about wearing some- People will change their plan to avoid thing that you’re not wearing and… being mocked, and they won’t change Werts: What are you going to wear for their plan because someone had a us information specialists? better reason. Adams: It’s a few months away so I’ll probably [get] a new shirt between now and then.

20 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Werts: You’ve said many times that Almost everything I do has that quality you started out in “a variety of humiliat- ing and low-paying jobs” and I think about it that people would pay you to do you definitely say you’re long past that it if they could. now. In fact, I think most people think that you have a dream job, what with drawing pictures all day and making mil- the Twilight Zone where someone comes like irresponsible or maybe a bunch of lions of dollars. What’s your take on this, to you, a magic genie or something and irresponsible things? and do you think that you’ve kept your says, “For the rest of your life, your job is perspective? to eat ice cream.” Adams: I own a couple of restaurants. Your first response is, “Woohoo, all I Adams: That’s a large collection there, have to do is eat ice cream. I love ice Werts: I’ve read about them, in San so let me see if I can get the components cream.” And then the genie says, “But Francisco. I’m not sure that restaurants out. So yes, a great job. I often say it you have to eat at least a barrel of it a counts as being irresponsible. isn’t working. Almost everything I do day,” There’s just a lot of it; it’s like that. all day are things that if you could just Now, what’s the second part of Adams: A lot of people think it is … take out the pieces, you could actually the question? It was how I keep my And I don’t have any restaurant exper- charge money for people doing what I perspective? tise, I have restaurant managers, all that, do for money. If you said to somebody, the working partner. “How much would you pay if you knew Werts: How do you keep your per- that you could draw a cartoon and it spective? Werts: Why do you have the res- would appear in newspapers all over taurants? the world?” people would say, “I’ll pay Adams: I certainly don’t aim to keep $1,000 for that.” my perspective. There’s no point in Adams: It’s completely irrational, I actually get paid for doing what being successful if you think exactly the there’s no rational reason, you just—you I’m doing right now—I’m talking about way you thought before. want what you want. myself. If you said, “All right, how would

you like to talk about yourself?” Well, Werts: Some people just go completely Werts: What kind of food are they? people pay people to listen to them. berserk with the money and turn into Almost everything I do has that qual- Britney Spears … Adams: California cuisine so it’s a little ity about it that people would pay you to bit of fish and beef things, chicken and do it if they could. The only downside is Adams: If you look at the people who pasta and lots of other stuff. there’s too much of it … are nuts with money, they’re all people who got it very young. I mean I was well Werts: That leads into my next ques- Werts: Too much happiness? into my 30s before any of the good stuff tion. Many people aren’t aware that you happened, so… have so many tangential interests. You Adams: Yeah, there’s just too much have those other books, God’s Debris stuff. I liken it to like a bad episode of Werts: So, have you bought something and The Religion War, you have the two

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restaurants, and you have the blog, and Adams: No. In my case, it’s completely My most popular cartoons ever, the the interviews. And then you’re drawing different. ones that are most reproduced, I per- a cartoon every day … What’s keeping In other people’s cases, it’s full pen sonally don’t care for, and they didn’t you motivated? and paper and, I think everybody at this take much thinking, didn’t take much point is at least e-mailing their work off time. So you can’t really predict that well Adams: We’ve touched on that with to the communication companies that what’s going to catch the imagination. your earlier question, which is that I send them off to the newspapers. So I So I don’t fret over it. I sit there and only do things that are interesting to think everybody has at least some elec- within 10 minutes I start drawing a me, so there’s nothing in that list you tronic component involved to finish their comic, whether I have an idea or not or mentioned that doesn’t excite me. I love work, or they finish it up in Photoshop. it’s an idea I love, I just start something going to the restaurant and even hear- A couple of years ago, I moved to a and just see where it goes. ing about the problems and helping fully paperless version, so I actually draw work those out, and I love writing my directly to the computer now. That’s just Werts: My next question has to do with blog and I really love writing my cartoon. like paper except much, much better. a particular cartoon. When my editor So it’s sometimes indistinguishable from told me I was going to have the honor my own leisure. Werts: How many do you produce in of interviewing you, my mind went to a day? one of your cartoons that I mailed to our Werts: My dad wasn’t a millionaire, chief executive officer last week. It’s the but he had enough money to do what Adams: I would just do one a day, one where the CEO lays a golden egg he chose. He said, “The difference isn’t but now I’m trying to get my weekends to justify his $40 million salary, and our that you get to buy all this stuff when free because I got married this past CEO thought it was hoot, which says a you have money. The difference is that year. So I’m doing usually two per day lot about her. you get to choose how you’ll spend during the week. And I realized that we use your work a your time.” That sounds like that’s what I started this cartooning thing when I lot in our office to communicate difficult you’re saying. had my day job, so I’d have to get up things through the use of humor. And I early in the morning and do my comics wondered if other people have told you

Adams: I mean to put it another way: before I went to my day job, and I didn’t that they use your cartoons to commu- The only thing you could really buy is really have a choice of waiting until the nicate awkward, difficult things to each freedom. It’s the only product or service next day because I just would miss the other—not that I was saying my CEO anybody is buying … Now, it turns out deadline. I learned that no matter what shouldn’t be making her salary... that I like working and I get a lot out of it it took as soon as I sat down, or I only besides the money. I get a lot of satisfac- had 15 minutes left and I had to do Adams: I hear versions of that all time. tion, so I choose to spend a lot of time something in that 15 minutes, whatever I I hear people saying, “We are going to doing it. cranked out, other people seemed to like implement some specific kind of man- it; just as much regardless of how much agement program, but as soon as we’re Werts: Is technology changing how time I spent doing it. I learned to not ago- ready to roll it out, your comic came out you do the actual job of creating Dilbert nize because it turns out I’m not a good on that topic and it looked so stupid we or is it basically the same. judge of what my best work is… decided not to.” I hear that all the time.

22 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 I hear people giving a comic to people of all the suggestions I get are from Werts: All my questions are gigantic, I because they think it has a message people who don’t realize that they got don’t want to bore you. they’ve been trying to tell them, but the idea by reading a Dilbert strip in couldn’t do it themselves without some the first place. Adams: I would say that, first of all, as risk of being fired or ostracized. It’s not because they directly read the far as my strategy, I tend to be more of It’s also true that all forms of commu- strip and then suggested that they know a content guy, so as the distribution sys- nication depend on hitting an emotional it’s funny; they see the situation and they tems change and ways you order them note, not just a factual note. recognize it as funny because they’ve shift, I’ll following that trend, I won’t be And sometimes all the reasons in the already read it in a Dilbert comic. About pushing it. world aren’t as strong as that—they recognize some folks in the comic and they realize they’re being mocked for being I certainly don’t aim to keep my the way they are. People will change their plan to perspective. There’s no point in being avoid being mocked, and they won’t successful if you think exactly the way change their plan because someone had a better reason. you thought before.

Werts: Our jobs as information specialists vary a lot, but broadly speaking, a lot of us who work in the information indus- 5 percent of the things that come in are It was a little different when the try recognize that we might not know things that I haven’t already done. Internet first came on. I was early on the answer to a question but we know to the Internet because I didn’t have find the answer. I know many interview- Werts: Changes in technology and much to lose and everybody told me, ers ask you the same question, which is information resources have had a major “Don’t put your comics on the Internet where do you get your ideas? impact in my field, which is broadly for free because then no one will want As an information specialist myself I called knowledge management, and I to buy it because it’s already for free.” might not know the answer to that ques- can see that change reflected in the But it turned out to be the biggest mar- tion, but I bet I could find that answer for popularity of your Web site and your keting boon I had. you and I’m presuming it would be in the blog. And if there is a futurist in you—is I think my days of being first might heads of your legions of fans. So I won- there?—how would you see your fran- be over, because whoever goes first der, are you still coming up with ideas chise moving in the next decade? is either going to be a hero, as I was for your cartoons, or have you joined lucky enough to be at least one, or get our ranks, and are you an information Adams: Well, Dilbert depends entirely the arrow in the back. I’d probably be a specialist yourself? upon the health of newspapers first, little bit more conservative now on how and… the market changes. Adams: Yeah, I guess I am. I see myself as kind of a filter for other peo- Werts: Which some people say are not Werts: Well having been first, do you ple’s suggestions because most of the so healthy. think you were a hero or got an arrow suggestions come in by e-mail… in the back? And they’re not suggestions for spe- Adams: Yeah, but they said that about cific things, it’s not like “here’s what’s radio when television came along. So Adams: It made it safe for comics on funny,” it’s usually “here’s what’s bother- there’s a good chance it will work in the Internet, because for a long time ing me” or “here’s what someone did,” some fashion. people were holding back …So it helped or, “here’s some problem or here’s some me. Obviously, I’m watching any other trend you have to make fun of,” and Werts: Would you consider yourself technology that comes along. then I just run it through some formula a technophile? Do you use some of the and apply it to my characters and usually contemporary technologies such as real- Werts: What is the question that you something good comes out of it. ly simple syndication, podcast, webinars, really wish interviewers would ask you? and so on. How do you see these kinds Werts: And it never gets stale or you of technologies affecting how we learn Adams: Well, you know, most of the never start hearing the same things—or and change over the next few decades? interviewers ask me that question. maybe you do. Adams: Well, that is a gigantic ques- Werts: Give me some pearl of wisdom Adams: The truth is that 95 percent tion. I don’t know how to… that you’ve never said before, because

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 23 FOcus: sla 2007

I know you haven’t talked to our kind over, but a ton of people say I don’t read in person, there’s a good chance that I of group before. your comic or I didn’t read the comic won’t be able to talk. until I read the blog. Well, yes. There’s certain sounds that Adams: I often bring up a topic and I can say and certain sounds I can’t say rather than researching it, I just kind of Werts: Is there any question you really so I end up answering questions with put it out there and confess that I don’t hate the interviewers asking you? words that seem unfamiliar because I know all the details. can’t say those words and I can say other Adams: No, there aren’t any questions ones…But most of the time it doesn’t Werts: On your blog? I really hate. This is good. I like [your have much impact unless I’m going to questions] because they were in-the- lunch, so I don’t go to lunch much. SLA Adams: Yes. And then hundreds of face, so I got to talk about whatever I people would comment and they basi- wanted to talk about. Notes cally fill in all the details. For your daily dose of Dilbert, see www. Werts: So any time you get to just talk dilbert.com. The Dilbert Blog, which Werts: That’s pretty easy. You don’t as much as you want about yourself you Adams updates regularly, is at http://dil- have to do any research. love it? bertblog.typepad.com. The Dilbert cartoon strips used with this article are © 2007 by Scott Adams and reprinted with permission of United Feature Syndicate. The only thing you could really buy is They may not be reproduced or redistrib- uted without permission from UFS. For freedom. It’s the only product or service details, see www.dilbert.com/comics/dil- anybody is buying. bert/info/faq_and_contacts.html#31.

Adams: The beauty is that the old Adams: Well, again, it gets back to model is that whoever was the artist, that point—I have the kind of job that whoever was the pundit, whoever had people would pay to do… But maybe the, real estate in a newspaper or what- one interesting thing [is] about my ever, they got to put their opinion out issues with my voice… The bottom line there. So I’ve been doing the opposite on that is that I can talk in certain con- where I don’t offer my opinion. I usually texts…not in other contexts. say I don’t have enough information to have an opinion. Werts: What context can’t you talk in? And then hundreds of people try to fill in the information and you could Adams: At lunch it turns out. believe what they’re filling them with, usually links…I say this is the topic and Werts: You mean while you’re eating? these are things that are not known, and people rush to fill in the details because Adams: I can’t talk if there’s like a people like talking more than they like background hum…and a restaurant is listening. buzzing in the background. And this And the beauty of the blog is that I get is—it’s tough to explain. It’s not an immediate feedback. It’s more immedi- issue that I can’t speak loudly enough ate than any kind of feedback other than because, you know, I’m speaking loud being on stage in front of people. And it enough right now and I’ll speak loud changes what I write the next day. enough when I’m giving my keynote. There’s some kind of auditory interfer- Werts: But it is mostly your fans, right? ence that goes on with this condition that You get people who are actually dis- I have, so that if there’s noise coming in, agreeing with you? I can’t produce sound out of my throat. My point is that I can talk okay on the Adams: They’re not exactly the same telephone most of the time and I can as my comic fans, there’s a lot of spill- give my keynote, but when you meet me

24 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 More power to you! with Thomson Gale PowerSearch™

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26 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 How To Take Better Conference Photos

Use these tips for professional results. Your subjects will be happy, and your Web site or newsletter will shine.

By Cybèle Elaine Werts

ow many times have you the tips and techniques to take you gotten back from a pictures you’ll be proud to share conference and found around the office. And once man- that your photographs agement knows they have a skilled Hwere, well, pretty darn bad! Maybe photographer on their hands, you’ll the flash made everyone look like find that your skills and the prod- ghosts, or everyone was making silly ucts you provide will be much in Reject this kind of photo. And turn off the flash faces at the camera or had little devil demand. Here are some things I’ve unless you have a professional flash attachment horns behind their heads. Kind of learned from photographing a num- and know how to use it. The subjects are too puts the kibosh on a good memory of ber of work events. brightly lit and look like ghosts. a great trip, not to mention discour- tive. Unless you have a professional ages you from sharing those photos Preparing Your Camera flash that is designed to work effec- on your Web site or newsletter. tively, turn the flash OFF. You might be a great photographer at your family picnic or even when Turn the Flash Off Turn Your Display Off taking portrait pictures of your niece, Most indoor events have enough While using the display on a digital but taking photographs at work events light to take photos without a flash. camera is convenient, it also sucks up is a different skill. Professional events If the room seems dark, turn on battery power at an alarming rate. This are fast moving because speakers more lights—there usually are a causes two problems: First, you will run often stand up and speak or intro- variety of lights available at most out of battery power sooner. Second, duce someone for only a minute or hotel conference rooms. Using the you will have to wait 10 to 15 seconds two, which means you only have flash indoors is annoying to event between pictures for the camera to warm those two minutes to catch them with participants and causes them to be up again. That’s a long time if you only your camera. No do-overs! very aware of you, which is exactly have a minute or two to catch something You must be prepared and have the opposite of what you want. Even in action. Use the viewfinder instead, everything ready for this two-min- worse, flashes tend to make people and you’ll be able to take many more ute window. This article will give look ghostly and not at all attrac- photos in the same amount of time.

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 27 FOcus: sla 2007

Keep the Camera On Your camera does not lose much power when it’s left on for long peri- ods, so leave it on for the duration because you never know when that special photo shot will happen. The best shot that ever happened to me was when a little field mouse came running through a meeting I was in. I quickly rescued it under a water glass and held it up. An enterprising pho- Consider rejecting this photo. The participants, tographer (who had his camera on, obviously having fun mugging for the camera, of course) took my photograph at that may look silly in the context of a newsletter or very moment, a photo I still have! Web site.

Take Lots of Photos Keep this photo. Another conference attendee Set the Camera for Maximum At the last two-day conference I was ready when Cybèle caught the mouse in the Resolution attended, I took no less than 750 digi- meeting room. Digital cameras can take photo- tal photos! It may seem like overkill, graphs at varying resolutions. Even if but I’m glad I did, because so many photo printer if you have a good color you don’t know what this means, and of them came out less than perfect. printer. I bought mine because it was don’t want to—you’ll want to take your I actually ended up with about 100 one of the Consumer Reports Best photos at the maximum resolution. great pictures that we posted on our Buys. I have bought several more It’s like an apple. You can take a big Web site along with an article about over the years because they are far apple and cut it into smaller pieces, the event. The advantage of digital more user friendly than other digital but if you start with small pieces, you cameras is that you can take 25 cameras I have used, and the docking can’t stick them together to make a photos of the keynote speaker and it station provides instant download and big apple. If you start with high reso- doesn’t matter if 24 of them show her recharging capacity. This said, most lution (like 300 dpi for printing) you frowning, pulling a face, or otherwise cameras made by well-known camera can always reduce it later to a to low looking less than fabulous. As long as companies will work just fine. Be sure resolution (like 72 dpi for Web sites). you get that perfect one, you’re set. to get one with a zoom lens. But if you start at 72, you’re stuck with If you only take three photos of the it forever. speaker, then your chances of the About People perfect photo are far lower. Who’s Photogenic? Fake the Shots of Speaker Do you know how many people tell Speakers often do their official pre- me “I’m not photogenic?” All of them! sentations in the dark in front of Something about photographs bring PowerPoint presentations, which is out people’s insecurities. I tell them pretty much the worst possible pic- that there are no un-photogenic peo- ture-taking situation. I often visit the ple, only bad photographers. After speaker just before or after their pre- they laugh, I tell them that I’m a good sentation and ask for a few good shots that are, well, faked! I turn all the lights on and ask the speaker to tell me about something she feels enthu- siastic about. Soon enough she’s smil- ing and gesturing and we get some great photos.

What Kind of Camera? I recommend any one of the Kodak EasyShare series of cameras along Reject this photo. Your subject obviously doesn’t with the docking station (very impor- Reject this photo. The subjects don’t look want the paparazzi around. tant) although you do not need the engaged.

28 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Cybèle Elaine Werts is an information specialist for Learning Innovations at WestEd, a research, development, and service education agency. She can be reached at [email protected]. Her personal website is www.supertechnogirl.com. WestEd’s website is www.wested.org.

Optimizing Your Shots ing a purse or bag. Keep your hands and arms free for the camera. Circle the Room • A handy two-ended brush & lens A room of people may seem static but, cleaner. Clean the camera in your in fact, things change from moment car just before you go in, and then to moment. The best way to cap- leave this item in your car. Keep this photo. What a great moment! Aren’t ture these moments is to continu- you glad the camera was on? ously walk around the perimeter of the What to Wear room, slowly and not so obviously as Wear clothing that you can move, photographer, and that I can even to draw attention to yourself. If there bend, and walk in. For women in a give them hot pink hair if they want. I are breakout rooms or other places to professional situation, this translates promise them that I’ll delete any pic- visit, wander over to those as well then to a long skirt or pants (so you can tures that make them look less than come back. You’ll be surprised at bend over comfortably), flats, and a fabulous. This usually relaxes them a what has changed in a few minutes. shirt that is not low cut. Wear wash- little. Don’t embarrass your subjects by able clothing that is fairly light as you keeping photos of them chewing like a Zoom In may perspire. Dress as much like the cow or half-blinking their eyes. Respect Use your zoom lens as much as pos- participants at the event as possible people’s needs to look attractive. sible, which allows you to stand far- so you will blend in. SLA ther away from your subjects. Why do Hang Back if You Can this? It prevents them from realizing Because people are nervous about that you are taking their photo, and being photographed, you will want to allows you to catch them in unposed be as quiet and out of their way as moments. possible. Stand back. Don’t walk in front of the audience or between them Point It and Fake It and the speaker unless you can’t I often have an idea of someone I want help it. Be unobtrusive. This is where to take a photograph of but I know dressing like the participants and I’m in his or her line of sight and that having a zoom lens on your camera they’ll move if they see me. So I focus really helps. on the speaker and then quietly turn toward the person I’m actually aiming at and take the photo quickly. It works every time. Preparing for the Shoot

What to Bring • The camera! (sounds obvious, I know) • Your keys on a keychain that can be hooked on your belt so you don’t Keep this photo. By standing back and using the Keep this photo. The audience is engaged in have to carry them. You’ll want this zoom, you can get an intimate shot of a thought- the presentation—and obviously didn’t notice ful moment. the camera. because you’re better off not carry-

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 29 SLA member profile A Special Librarian Creates a Special Library

What started with a broken stove led to a new project to bring literature—and literacy—to children in Africa.

By Forrest Glenn Spencer

here is hope under construc- The disease has ravaged that nation Zambian’s life expectancy is 38.1 years, tion in sub-Saharan Africa. and the parental core of its society. one of the lowest in the world. The first Lubuto Library is According to a 2002 survey, one in six One result of the epidemic is that opening this spring in Lusaka, Zambians ages 15 to 49 are infected one in five children is orphaned, many TZambia. It is an ambitious endeavor to with HIV; young women ages 15 to 24 living on the streets and without hope. give homeless children affected by the are infected four times more than their These are the targets of the Lubuto HIV/AIDS epidemic a rich haven where male counterparts. It is estimated that 1 Library Project. they can read books and learn. million Zambians are living with HIV; a The project is the brainchild of Jane Kinney Meyers, an SLA member in Washington, D.C., who has had a long Jane Kinney Meyers association with that part of Africa. She is the president and board chair of the Joined SLA: 1982 non-profit organization founded to give these children a place of learning and Job: President and chair of the board of directors, Lubuto connection. Library Project, Inc. “It is a project is that is tar- geting the most vulnerable of children Experience: 30 years affected by HIV/AIDS who are primarily out of school because of the epidemic,” Education: MLS, University of Maryland College of Library Meyers described. “We are building and Information Services, 1978; bachelors, University of Arizona, 1976 (Summa publicly accessible libraries for them. Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) There is no other project like this that is trying to reach those children and, at First job: Reference staff at the National Agricultural Library the same time, engaging U.S .children in the effort. The libraries will be ini- Biggest challenge: Finding financial support for the Lubuto Library Project tially stocked with a collection of books primarily—at this point—hat we gather

30 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 The Reading Room of the first Lubuto Library under construction in February. here in the U.S. in programs working more enrichment…that’s very specifi- and it’s easiest to learn to read in your with schools, many other librarians, vol- cally tied to local culture. There’s almost original language.” unteers, and people involved with the nothing for children in print in the publication of children’s books.” Zambian languages. Zambia has seven More Libraries Planned Each library is designed to hold a main languages, and you could hold The library opening this spring in Lusaka book collection of 10,000 volumes. At in one hand the number of books that is the first of 100 libraries the project present, 5,000 books, all in English, are in print for children. It’s very sad, plans to build in Zambia and some are being sent initially from the U.S. and the reason this is important to our neighboring countries, like Malawi. The The libraries will have a specialized mission is that we want to build literacy, plan is to open two more libraries in classification scheme to provide access that is simple and sustainable. The project also is attempting to connect the children with traditional storytelling and indigenous tales in many local languages that are no longer in print. A Lubuto library will be composed of three structures, based on indigenous architectural styles and following the traditional layout patterns of Zambian homesteads. There will be a reading room, an arts center, and an entrance structure. “We’ll have story-telling events,” Meyers said. “We’ll have children tran- scribe stories and make books for their own libraries. We’ll have them tell their own stories. There’s going to be much Model of the first Lubuto Library Project library.

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 31 SLA member profile

Zambia in 1998 on behalf of his work with the International Monetary Fund. But it was a broken stove that began a series of chain events and led to the creation of the Lubuto Library Project. Meyers recalled how she and her husband needed to replace a stove because two of the burners did not work. They could not purchase a new one locally so IMF shipped them a replacement. Meyers called a friend who ran a large AIDS project in Zambia and asked if anyone could use a working-stove with two broken burners. “My friend took me to this place in the middle of Lusaka called the Fountain of Hope. It was run by young Zambians who volunteered full time. It was started by four young Zambian men; but by the time I came there, there were about 25 volunteers who came there every day Jane Meyers, left, with Zambia Permanent Secretary of Education Lillian Kapulu, at the White House and took care of some 600 street kids Conference on Global Literacy at New York Public Library. who came to this center,” Meyers said. “They were given this dilapidated old building by the city and they got Zambia this year. The project selects fully illustrated about the whole world.” some occasional donations from the sites where there are at least 500 Guidelines are detailed online at www. World Food program, so they were able children ages 5 to 18 within walking lubuto.org. to offer meals once every four days distance. In addition, Meyers said, biographies to these children. They started a little The collection will emphasize infor- are a good fit culturally with Africa. informal school, and I went and spent mational books. “There’s a sense of the largeness and the entire day. I couldn’t believe what “When people want to donate books, dignity of individuals who have come I was seeing and how incredible these they generally give fiction,” Meyers said. from nothing and overcame odds. I people were, by doing this work. By the “We request donations of non-fiction, cannot think of anything better for these end of the day I asked if I could come informational books. But if people insist children.” another time and read to the kids. They on giving fiction we recommend send- As construction of the first library were puzzled by this request but they ing us the classics, folk stories from nears completion and the books are said sure. The next Friday I showed up different cultures, or beautifully illus- readied for air shipment, plans are with a bag of books and I started read- trated picture books—that sort of thing being made to build the next two. ing. Eventually word got around and because, by definition, classics tran- “We are working closely with the more people joined in. It was satisfying scend cultural differences. host organizations and communities in and rewarding. I became a member of “In Zambia, we added materials on Zambia to seek construction funds,” Fountain of Hope’s board and started HIV/AIDS and dealing with psychologi- Meyers said. “We’ve gotten tremendous going almost daily.” cal trauma that some organizations are support in Zambia from the business After a couple of years, a container creating for an African audience. We community and other governments, as from the U.K. arrived in Zambia. It con- don’t include magazines and periodi- well as the U.S. Embassy. Our indig- tained wheelchairs and medicine that cals, and we’re asking for brand-new or enous library design is beautiful and will the center was expecting, but it also, like-new books.” create permanent structures that are unexpectedly, held books. The Lubuto Library Project has gotten rooted in the community.” Meyers went out to the airport and help from individuals at the National Meyers has had a long history with examine several thousand volumes Geographic Society, including many Africa, living first in Malawi for almost that had apparently been weeded from National Geographic books. “Almost four years from 1986 where she ran a British libraries, mostly non-fiction. everything they publish is in English World Bank-funded development proj- The thought of adding a library to the and a good choice for our libraries,” ect and a second three-year posting Fountain of Hope center was born. A she added, “because they’re beauti- when she followed her husband to 20-foot shipping container was donated

32 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 told my husband that I didn’t want to She began getting the word out through go back working in a downtown library the DC SLA listserv and in her children’s but to continue doing what I just did school newsletters. in Zambia, and he said, ‘Well, start-up “Through my son’s school we found your own NGO.’” a lawyer who knew how to form and Meyers spent the next couple of years incorporate an organization and helped thinking about that possibility and talk- us pro bono. Through the DC SLA listing with others—motivated by reports serv, I sought space for donated books, from the Fountain of Hope of the effect book-trucks, and bookends. Meyers with Bono. the library was having on the commu- “We got the point in our organization nity. Many of the youngsters—thanks where we needed to get our charity to be used as the structure. By the to the availability of the books—were status. Again, I went back to the DC summer of 2001—around the time able to pass entrance exams and take SLA listserv asking if anyone knew any Meyers and her husband were plan- advantage of scholarship money to anybody that could help us. I put that ning to return to Washington, D.C.—the attend high schools. out at the end of the day. At the opening Fountain of Hope library opened. “Once I heard this I realized we had of business the next day, there were a “It was a big event with members of to make more of these libraries avail- number of e-mails in response.” the Zambia Library Association coming able,” Meyers said. “That’s been the Meyers said that most of the proj- during Library National Week,” Meyers model we used for the size of the col- ect’s financial support has come from remembered. “The U.S. embassy pro- lection, the nature of it, and in serving book-related professionals. “That’s the vided a bus so members of the associa- about 500 children. We have learned incredible thing about SLA members. tion could come out, visit, and read to more since then.” Some librarians who may have heard the kids. They asked if that we could me speak at SLA last spring went back continue linking them directly in this Help Through DC SLA to their organizations and asked if they way with the street children. To keep the project focused, Meyers would consider helping our project. “On the flight back to the U.S., I moved to start her own organization. Special librarians are centrally unique to

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our profession, the way people will cooperate and network in order to support one another. It’s astounding.” Forrest Glenn Spencer is a Virginia-based independent Meyers knows personally how librar- information professional, editor, and writer. He is a deep back- ies can change a person’s life. “There’s ground researcher for political media companies and non-profit a powerful story that the five children organizations. He is also editor of The Google Government Report. in my family were raised with,” Meyers He can be reached at [email protected]. said. “My mother, who was born in 1912, was raised in a poor family in south Philadelphia. When she graduated from high school, she had no prospect in going to college. This was “It was a great time to be trained as with the World Bank, she became a around 1930. She had a job, but would a librarian,” Meyers said, “because it member of SLA. “It was the organi- spend all her free time at the wonder- was just at the time things were chang- zation that was relevant to what we ful Philadelphia Free Library. Around ing in terms of technology. I remember were doing. We were starting something 1930-1931, this extraordinary woman taking computer programming classes new in this incredible institution which physician, who had reached the end and writing a circulation program in required a lot of networking and sup- of her career as a doctor, came into COBOL, using punch cards, and have port from colleagues.” Over the years, the library and said wanted to send it spew-back huge printouts because she has become closely associated with members of the SLA DC Chapter, The library opening this spring in including former President Susan Fifer Canby, who in charge of the National Lusaka is the first of 100 libraries the Geographic Society Library, and Ann project plans to build in Zambia and Sweeney, who has become the Lubuto Library Project’s chief volunteer. some neighboring countries. Meyers’s days are filled with the work of the project. She spends her time mainly on the computer and the another woman through college and there were no terminals! telephone, and often in contact with medical school and did they have any “There was also an advanced refer- Lubuto’s regional office in Lusaka. ideas. And they said, ‘Well, how about ence course in my last year that offered There’s much excitement in many quar- Mary Seamon – she’s bright.’ online searching. What was nice at that ters for the potential success and ben- “So, my mother got a scholarship time was the solid training in reference efits from the Lubuto Library Project. through the Philadelphia Free Library. services, social services – the traditional People have often asked Meyers how She met my father in medical school ways of librarianship – but we were also they can get involved with international at Loyola Chicago. We five kids in my exposed to new technologies in cours- librarianship and she tells them spe- family grew up with the idea that we es system analysis. I was thinking of cial librarians have much to offer the owed our very existence to the oppor- becoming an information broker. I knew world because of their inventiveness tunity that came to my mother through I wanted to do something a little bit dif- and entrepreneurship. that library. My parents—especially ferent and but there was something in “When you’re working with other cul- my mother—were friends of the public being entrepreneurial.” tures,” Meyers said, “you start with the library, especially in my hometown. I In 1982, Meyers began working for essence of what a special librarian is even worked there one summer, after World Bank, developing a library for the and then learn what you need to learn high school. I worked in the university 750 agriculturists who were employed about the culture or the specific situ- library, shelving books. I never con- there. She worked with colleagues in ation and apply to that. I think special sciously thought that one day going other sectors to consolidate information librarians are the ones equipped to into this profession until the end of my services into a single library to serve the work internationally because we are senior year.” entire World Bank. very creative and very, very open. The Meyers graduated from the University She was offered a position with a whole Lubuto Library Project is a very of Arizona in 1976 with a bachelor’s World Bank project in Malawi in 1986, special library approach. If people are in English, and then traveled to the introducing CD-ROM technology to interested in working internationally it’s University of Maryland for a graduate the country and establishing the first important to understand the necessity assistantship. Meyers was able to work positions for professional librarians in and the power that networking and the 20 hours a week and pay no tuition to Malawi’s civil service. professional support you can get from earn her MLS. The same year she began working this community.” SLA

34 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007

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36 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Everyday Leadership: It’s An Inside Job

By Marshall Brown

usan worked a whole year to conductors, mayors. world matters—matters greatly—we bring a group of high school “In a world that is changing as rapidly are leading. students from New Zealand as this one, we need to think differ- In other words, leadership is a way to the United States to train ently about leadership,” says Susan of life, an expression of our fullest and other students in an effec- Collins, author of Our Children Are best nature, our unique gifts. And it Stive form of peer mediation. Watching: Ten Skills for Leading the starts on the inside. William began a weekly meeting for Next Generation to Success. “Leading “Everything rises and falls on leader- men at his church to fill the need for fel- is not done by those few in high places, ship,” writes John C. Maxwell, in his lowship and support beyond the annual but by parents and teachers and man- book The 21 Indispensable Qualities men’s retreat. Nobody is likely to write a book about Susan or William. But these everyday leaders are creating just as much By taking time to relax, herself, she impact in their workplace, family, and community as the captains of industry demonstrated great leadership, and in and politics described in the pages of the process reminded her group that it is New York Times bestsellers. Indeed, the challenges and opportu- often the simple things that restore order nities of today’s marketplace, homes, and balance, and help generate clear- and communities—of today’s world!— require that we all step forward and lead minded solutions. every day, become our own captains and find more of our own personal best to give to the world. agers and those governing—all working of a Leader. “If you can become the together to create the world that we leader you ought to be on the inside, Leadership as a Way of Life want.” you will be able to become the leader Too often, we believe that leadership When we dare to stand up for our you want to be on the outside. People is the domain of those with recognized beliefs or to follow through on our will want to follow you. And when that authority, and the title to go with it: big dreams and ideas, when we act happens, you’ll be able to tackle any- CEOs, association presidents, orchestra as though what we say and do in the thing in this world.”

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 37 Your Career

Leadership in Action Because leadership is inextricably connected to who we are deep down, Marshall Brown, a certified career and executive coach and every leader has a different style. founder of Marshall Brown & Associates, has always had a passion Some lead with their eccentric, char- for helping people find ways to live more fulfilling lives. He found ismatic selves on full, charming dis- that a personalized, “no nonsense” approach to coaching was the play. Other leaders bear no banners most efficient and effective way to get people on a successful life and sound no trumpets. course. As a coach, he helps individuals find their passions and Whatever their individual style, lead- encourages them to move ahead in reaching their goals. His first ers that generate high performance in book, High Level Resumes, reflects his work with hundreds of job individuals and organizations do the candidates. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the same general kinds of things, accord- University of Pittsburgh and is certified by the International Coach ing to James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Federation, Career Coach Institute, and the Coaches Training Posner. Kouzes and Posner, authors Institute. For more information contact Marshall at marshall@ of The Leadership Challenge, have mbrownassociates.com or see www.mbrownassociates.com. spent more than 20 years researching leadership, including 70,000 surveys, 1,000 written case studies, and 100 in-depth interviews. Their research revealed the following five common ing other people to want to struggle celebrate accomplishments, give practices of exemplary leaders of for shared aspirations,” Kouzes and credit, say thank you, and keep hope all varieties—whether entrepreneurs, Posner write. and determination alive by making community organizers, department people feel like heroes. There are heads, or parents. Challenge the process. Leaders hundreds of ways to acknowledge 3. are always on the lookout for how people have contributed to your Model the way. Leaders estab- innovation—not for innovation’s sake group’s vision, mission, values, and 1. lish principles, create stan- but to improve the status quo. They are goals—the only limits being one’s dards, and set examples that estab- not afraid of experiment and risk, and creativity and sincerity. lish the environment for the way they consider mistakes and failures as work will be pursued. Like parents, learning opportunities. For example, Leadership as Relationship leaders model the kind of behavior the peer mediation group that Susan Valuing the role of the heart in lead- they want to see. For example, dur- brought over from New Zealand did ership, Kouzes and Posner make the ing one long, grueling day leading amazing work training high school case for understanding leadership up to an important product launch, students in the unique method, but as a relationship, one that requires Elizabeth took her entire team to a fell flat at the junior high level. “We nurturing and care. drive-in movie in the afternoon to learned that junior high students need “Whether it’s one-to-one or one-to- relax and clear their mind. By taking a different approach,” Susan says. No many, business as usual or challeng- time to relax, herself, she demon- failure there, just learning. es in extraordinary times, leadership strated great leadership, and in the is a relationship between those who process reminded her group that it Enable others to act. Exemplary aspire to lead and those who choose is often the simple things that restore 4. leaders foster collaboration to follow,” according to Kouzes and order and balance, and help gener- and motivate extraordinary teams Posner. “North, south, east, or west, ate clear-minded solutions. much the way parents do: they success in business, and success offer resources, establish necessary in life has been, is now, and will be Inspire a shared vision. boundaries, knock down barriers and a function of how well we work and 2. Leaders see beyond the hori- guide as needed—all in the name play together.” zon of “what is” to the shores of of creating opportunities for others When we step forward and lead “what could be,” and they do so with to succeed. Part of the way they do every day, we find we make a dif- the passionate belief that they can so is by paying attention to the cor- ference to the success of our asso- make a difference. Whether through nerstones of mutual respect, trust, ciations, businesses, our homes, our magnetic attraction, exemplary mod- human dignity, and empowerment. communities, our lives—and this eling, or quiet persuasion, they enlist gives us meaning. SLA others in those dreams—or inspire Encourage the heart. Leaders others to envision their own dreams. 5. recognize the contributions “Leadership is the art of mobiliz- and needs of the human heart. They

38 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007

Your Career

40 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Turbo Charge Your Job Search

By Barbara Flood, Ph.D.

n his book, Yearnings: Embracing personal skills and strengths are, and the office looked, how smoothly it was the Sacred Messiness of Life, what we would identify as our “weak- now running and what an impact my Irwin Kula reminds us that the nesses.” ability to organize had made on the questions of life are meant only I remember how delighted I was department. In that moment I thought, to generate more and more when I arrived in India ready to offer “Doesn’t everyone know how to orga- Iinquiry. He says, what I saw as my greatest skills as a nize an office?” “There are never final answers to volunteer to an international foundation. I then realized that I had never identi- life’s big questions; only more pro- I had spent years developing successful fied the skill I held so naturally; the skill found questions…. We long for a programs and seminars. I had been a of organization. Clearly I had a belief comfortable landing place, the con- clinician for years and was good with that was “self-evident.” I believed that tentment of completion… we all main- people. Surely they would want me to everyone knew how to organize an tain beliefs we consider self- evident: oversee some program or department office, a desk, a home…whatever need- ideas and unquestioned presump- where I could demonstrate my talents. ed to be organized. And I was wrong! I tions that surface when the going gets tough, when we feel challenged or most vulnerable.” Clearly I had a belief that was “self- Any job search is a time when we feel challenged or vulnerable. It is the nature evident.” I believed that everyone knew of the beast. Whether you are just com- how to organize an office, a desk, a ing out of school with a frightening and challenging debt knowing that the job home…whatever needed to be organized. is the first step to some degree of freedom; or wanting to move out of a position that you have come to know all too well into a situation of more leadership Imagine my shock when I was intro- began to see how these skills had been or opportunity, the job search is inher- duced to my position. I was asked to the foundation of all my professional ently uncomfortable. We are creatures be an office manager of a department success. They were the reason why I of habit and taking this step will mean that, in my opinion, was not working was a good leader, a good manager, a stepping out of our comfort zone. very well. I set about arranging and good clinician. These skills and talents Whatever motivates you, the process organizing the office, throwing out old, came so naturally that I missed seeing remains one of inquiry about who you outdated files, and updating systems them as part of my contribution. are and the presumptions you have to provide an efficient response to the Much later I discovered the benefits made about the world of employment. requests that came to the department. of hiring a professional coach. I learned As Kula says, we all maintain beliefs It was not until I had been doing this that it is the coach’s responsibility to that we consider self-evident; like how for several months that someone came encourage us to engage fully in the to approach the job market, what our to me and commented on how great process of self-inquiry in order to iden-

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 41 Your Career

tify our skills and talents. She or he becomes our champion and our mir- Boost Your Career at SLA 2007 ror, providing us hope and clarity, and reminding us again and again to see the If you’re looking to advance your career or change jobs—or just get along better in the truth about who we are and what we job you have—you’ll find plenty of help during the SLA conference. Here’s a sampling: want in our lives. A professional coach can help us clearly identify our goals The SLA Career Connection, offsite in the more private Hyatt Regency, creates opportuni- and create the map we need to follow ties for face-to-face meetings between with prospective employers. Check the online in order to achieve those goals. Career Connections pages (www.sla.org/content/jobs/connection/index.cfm) for listings with the “CC” logo. That means the employer will be available for in-person meetings in Asking Questions Denver. Follow the instructions to apply for the position and schedule your appointment. A coach may ask questions like, “What Dates and times may very for each employer from Monday, June 4, through Wednesday, work environment is best for you? What June 6. Free to job candidates. kind of job would most suit your interests? What are your goals, not just for SLA Career Connection: One on One is your chance to meet privately with career coach your career but also for your life?” Barbara Flood. Tickets cost $30. Sessions will be held on Monday, June 4, and Tuesday, Building on your strengths is the June 5. Register for ticketed event #555 for June 4 and #675 for June 5. Then sched- most effective first step in the process ule your 30-minute session in advance (by May 30) by contacting SLA staffer Shelva of exploring and answering these ques- Suggs at [email protected]. Marshall Brown & Associates is the sponsor. tions. There are a variety of assessment tools that can support this inquiry; the How to Prepare For, Win, and Keep Your Ideal Job takes a holistic view of career develop- Meyers-Briggs Personality Inventory, ment and the tactics necessary to progress to the top. The all-day seminar on Saturday, People Map System, to name a few. June 2, will include discussion of starting the process; self-assessment; changing direc- These are strength based methods of tion and job focus; the resume and cover letter, marketing and networking; preparation matching you with the job of your for the interview process; negotiating the job offer and accepting the position; keeping dreams or, as Jim Collins, the author of the job; and career growth. During breakout sessions, participants will examine sample Good to Great would say, “finding the job descriptions, resumes, and applications. InfoCurrent Consultant Diane Goldstein right seat on the bus” where you can and Sylvia Piggott, principal of the Global Information Solutions Group will lead the truly shine. class, which is presented by the SLA Leadership and Management Division. Register for After we identify our strengths, how ticketed event #130. The price is $299 for SLA members; $399 for others. do we continue this process of inquiry? We begin by asking ourselves, “What SLA Career Connection: Be in Command of Your Profession will help participants discover will it take to make me happy? What is their personal map and professional profile—and provide tools to help them land the job the most effective and efficient way to they want. Executive Coach Barbara Flood will discuss how candidates can evaluate the get what I want?” We begin to identify market they want to enter and their place in it. The session is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. the dream that connects us from our to 1 p.m. Monday, June 4, in the Hyatt Regency. Free to conference registrants. present reality to a richly imagined future. We begin to form an intention. Pursuit of Passionate Purpose is the title of Theresa Szczurek’s Amazon.com bestseller. The common definition of intention is At the luncheon meeting, she will share practical pointers for living your career and life “a determination to act in a certain way; with more passion, more purpose, and more success. Copies of her book will be for sale a carefully calculated plan.” But Wayne and she will sign them after the luncheon. John Shea of Union Bank of California will Dyer, author of The Power of Intention; moderate the session, presented by the SLA Museums, Arts and Humanities Division. Learning to Co-create your World Your It is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, June 4. Register for ticketed event Way, says intention is more than that. #580. The price is $46. He says that there is an energy of intention that we can feel in the air and more SLA Career Connection: Your Resume is a 30-Second Commercial will provide six strategies importantly within ourselves. Accessing for writing a resume and preparing for a job interview. Its premise: The art of writing a this energy is the first step in ensuring resume that will be seen by decision makers is the fuel that will turbo charge your job the success of our intention. We gather search. Executive Coach Barbara Flood will lead the session, scheduled for 9 to 10:30 up our courage and willingness, and a.m. Tuesday, June 5. Free to conference registrants. with determination set out to accom- plish our task, to meet our goal. For more details on these and other SLA Annual Conference and Exposition events, We can begin to articulate our inten- see www.sla.org/content/Events/conference/ac2007/index.cfm. tion by approaching writing our resume as a form of dialogue. If we think of the

42 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 resume as a tool to invite a conversa- tion, a dialogue, about our intention as well as an opportunity to identify our Barbara Flood, Ph.D., is a professional business and execu- strengths, the resume can come alive. tive coach. She offers her expertise in providing opportunities for The construction of the resume can dialogue, creative thinking and the development of clear intention. put our best foot forward and make In addition to providing one-on-one career coaching sessions at clear how our talents and experience the 2007 SLA Conference and Exposition, she also is presenting can provide the necessary component two workshops on career management. For more information, see that will truly serve the mission of the the sidebar, “Boost Your Career at SLA 2007.” company.

Contributions A friend and colleague told me a great story about a trucking company she and clearly defined form of dialogue upon your strengths and talents. was working with. The company was where the coach and client begin to • Creating a powerful and dynamic involved in a process of narrowing its think together. In addition, coaching is intention. scope of business and defining more a great place to practice our interview • Inviting dialogue through your resume clearly what their niche would be in skills. and your approach to an interview their industry. As they embarked on We may have never approached our I love this quote from Lance Secretan, this journey each employee was asked job search as a series of opportunities who reminds us that “The best way to to consider what they felt was their for dialogue, but in fact our resume and predict the future is to create it.” We contribution to the company. They the interview that follows are forms of create it through how we think about were then asked to look at which of dialogue. We can use these moments our job search, prepare our resume, the company’s needs they met through to invite the reader or the interviewer and approach an interview SLA that contribution, their position. And to “think with us” as we uncover the finally which of their needs were met position where we can most success- References by working for that company. fully contribute to the well being of Beck, Martha, Finding Your Own Each employee was given a question- the organization and our own interests North Star: Claiming the Life You Were naire to fill out and the results were simultaneously. Meant to Live, 2001, Three Rivers shared. With one employee it became You might ask the interviewer, “What Press, New York clear that this position was not really are you looking for in an employee? meeting her needs nor was it the place What are you envisioning for this posi- Collins, Jim, Good to Great by, 2001, where her strengths and talents were tion? What would you like to know about HarperBusiness, New York most effectively used. She and the com- me so that I can share with you how I pany began to look at two questions: might meet the needs of your organiza- Dyer, Wayne W., The Power of Was she on “the right bus” but not in tion?” Intention: Learning to Co-create Your the “right seat on the bus”? Or was she Coming to an interview knowing that World Your Way, 2004 Hay House, simply not on the right bus? it is your opportunity for dialogue, for California The conclusion that both parties considering together how you, might came to with great care was that this serve the organization and how the Kula, Irwin, Yearnings: Embracing was not the right bus. The company organization might also benefit you sets the Sacred Messiness of Life, 2006, then actively worked to support her you on a ground of equal footing and Hyperion, New York finding the right company that could equal respect. You can now begin to most benefit from what she had to offer. think together to determine if you are Secretan, Lance, Inspirational Engaging in this process of thinking the right person for the position. Leadership: Destiny Calling and Cause, together and sharing a respectful con- Although a job search is a time when 1999 Macmillan Canada, Toronto cern for the needs of both the company we feel challenged or vulnerable, if you and the employee resulted in a resolu- become comfortable with the process tion that greatly benefited all. of inquiry and creating an intention, you In a situation like this, the employee will be successful in creating dialogue and the company’s managers can ben- and finding “the right seat on the bus.” efit from the expertise of a profes- In summary, to turbo charge your sional coach. The coach can help not job search you will need to fuel your only with defining one’s goals, but the engine by; process of coaching is also an active • Clarifying who you are and building

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 43 Your Career

44 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Who’s the Best Person to Show New Employees the Ropes? Information professionals—as employee guides—can make the difference between entering the workplace on the fast track or through back-alley detours.

By Annette Feldman

any years ago, I had tell part of the story, there are many to learn the ropes. I recently worked in a boss who was an things about joining an organization a library where my manager said they alcoholic. Not the and potential roadblocks on the way to expect a new hire will master her job in kind who overdoes it becoming a productive employee that six to eight months. at holiday parties, but never make it to the human resource Mthe kind who leaves the office several file. These include not only levels of tol- Find the Librarian days a week at noon for “lunch” and erance for personal problems, but also However, as an information consultant, returns an hour and a half later, quietly other aspects of interpersonal relation- clients are not so patient when being smashed and unable to function for the ships, who in the organization knows billed an hourly or daily rate, and con- rest of the afternoon. everything and who just thinks he does, sultants are expected to hit the ground This situation, of course, was not unofficial preferences for vendors and running. Once I’ve gotten my official outlined in my job description or at any suppliers, preferred methods of com- assignment, my strategy for getting point in the interview process. Nor was munication, and a million other small acclimated quickly generally includes it explained to me when I was hired or and not so small elements that every- finding and establishing relationships in any of the orientation meetings that one who works there “just knows.” with the people in the organization who I attended. It was assumed that after a The faster a new employee figures know everything about the place, often couple of weeks on the job, I would fig- these things out, the faster he or she the clerical staff, and listening to what ure out that this was acceptable as the can begin to bring value to the organi- they say. In a small organization, this status quo and that anything I needed zation. So, what is the quickest way to may be the best way to learn the lay of from my boss had better be taken care become an old hand? Start meeting the the land. In larger organizations, I want of in the morning. right people, right away. to find the librarian. That’s an extreme case, to be sure, In my work as a consultant, I have In 1988, Peter Drucker wrote in but it illustrates one kind of knowledge been the “new employee” dozens of Harvard Business Review that for orga- that newcomers to organizations lack— times over. I know that some organiza- nizations to make the best use of the knowledge of the corporate culture. tions are quite understanding of the fact knowledge that is contained within While an official job description may that it can take a while for employees them there needs to be an awareness

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 45 Your Career

of who depends on whom for what kind the shortest amount of time. Like the may help transfer explicit knowledge of organizational information. This has time-honored practice of apprentice- to a new employee, but the tacit never been truer than it is today, and ship, having a mentor gives you a knowledge can only be developed by if you are lucky enough to work as a chance to see your daily challenges experiencing the work first hand. librarian or other kind of information through the eyes of someone with more professional, here is a prime oppor- experience than you have. Mentors do What You Can Do tunity for your department to bring not replace learning your own lessons, OK, so what can the librarian do? Most added value to your stakeholders by but can speed them up and having a librarians are very good at acquiring taking what you know about knowledge solid resource like a mentor with you and organizing the external resources relationships and helping newcomers as you build your own communities of that their users request, and the good become productive sooner. practice is a great thing. ones are proactive in forwarding new resources to those whom they think might be interested. But there is Mentors do not replace learning your more you can do toward making new employees feel at home sooner. own lessons, but can speed them up and As an info pro, you can play a sig- having a solid resource like a mentor with nificant role in organizations because you know who knows what and can you as you build your own communities help people connect with each other. of practice is a great thing. Even where there is no formal mentor program, you can informally hook up new employees with others who tackle similar topics and have more experience with both the subject matter and There are many kinds of calculators Employers expect newcomers to the organizational culture. You are for figuring the cost of hiring a new have the skills to do the job for which uniquely situated in the organization employee, and most of them include they were hired. They expect lawyers to know where knowledge resides. some allowance for the learning curve to have attended law school, librar- You can either keep that information after the job has been filled and ians to hold an MLIS, and bus drivers to yourself, or put it to work for the before the new employee starts being to know how to drive a bus. However, organization. productive. In world of “how have you as is often cited in studies of practical Just as you would not subscribe to justified your library budget today?”, knowledge management in organiza- LexisNexis and not tell users how to here is an opportunity to include low- tions, it takes time for a person to get access it, you need to connect users ering the cost of that new employee’s to know the organization before she with internal resources, such as their learning curve among your demon- can fully exercise her expertise. In the co-workers, that you know can help strated contributions. language of knowledge management, them. Those of us who take advantage There is no question that some all of the manuals and knowledge arti- of communities of practice—whether things, such as whether it is better to facts handed out in training sessions within a workplace setting, SLA, or on schmooze with your boss or get right to the point, each person will have to figure out for himself. However, much about how information moves through As an info pro, you can play a significant an organization can be learned from people who have been around a while role in organizations because you know and since it is a librarian’s job to who knows what and can help people facilitate this movement, who better to have as a guide? connect with each other. Even where there Often, new hires are welcomed with is no formal mentor program, you can orientation meetings, on-or off-site training sessions and possibly being informally hook up new employees with assigned mentors to work with. While others who tackle similar topics and have there is much to be learned from all of these methods, having a good mentor more experience with both the subject is probably the best way to make good matter and the organizational culture. connections within the organization in

46 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 professional discussion lists—knows In world of “how have you justified the tremendous benefit of having a network of people who share the your library budget today?”, here is an same vocabulary and experiences. opportunity to include lowering the cost Librarians can facilitate communities of practice among employees by of that new employee’s learning curve introducing newcomers to others in among your demonstrated contributions. the firm who share their professional interests. Think of it as the equivalent of Amazon.com’s “people who bought this book also bought…” But in addi- new resource cover to cover. There is watchful eye of management. People tion to finding out what those other nothing like talking to an expert to find have good reasons for not wanting people read, you get an introduction out what you need to know, or where to contribute to company-sponsored to those people and all of the accu- to look to learn more. A few strategic knowledge sharing initiatives. They are mulated knowledge they have on your introductions will outdistance every too busy, or don’t trust their bosses shared topic of interest. user manual on the shelf for filling in or coworkers with their hard-earned You may already be making these the useful details of daily work in an knowledge. Maybe they fear for their kinds of connections between cur- organization and you know who the own jobs if others find out what they rent employees in your organiza- experts are. do and whom they know. Think about tion. Perhaps you have noticed, as I So how do librarians acquire all of this what happens when the boss tries to have, that most people would rather organizational knowledge? Organically join the discussion at the water cooler. talk about their work situation with a arising communities of practice are Surveys to collect data about employ- knowledgeable colleague than read a great, but tend to shrivel under the ees’ interests are often ignored; and

Helping New Hires go from 0 to 60 Here are five things you can do to help fast-track new employees:

Find them quickly. Do what you can to be in the HR loop are afraid to ask questions of librarians. Reduce their hesitancy to so you know when new hires are coming on board (the pick up the phone or send an e-mail by letting them get to know 1.people who set up their phones and computers will know you and your staff before they are in need. when they are starting—you should too). Introduce yourself in person, and let them know briefly what you can do for them. Be Sign them up for training. Make sure you offer frequent a friendly and informative resource before they get too swamped classes for whatever relevant online tools are needed, with work to be able to come looking for you. 4.and be proactive about asking the new hire when he or she wants to come. And, if your vendors provide their own train- Take them to lunch. But not at the top restaurant in ing, don’t just hand them off to the vendor’s trainer—stick around town. Invite them to join you in the company cafete- and see how the session goes. Their questions will help you know 2.ria, or wherever you are likely to run into a few people what their areas of interest are to help you match them up with they should meet. Make some quick introductions and mention others who work on similar or related topics. something that the new hire has in common with his or her colleagues—get some connections growing. If your company does Make some matches. As get to know the new hire, offer not have a lunchroom, consider setting up a monthly brown bag introductions to others who may be good contacts in the to facilitate sharing ideas outside of the regular workplace silos. If 5.company. Don’t hover or be overbearing, and know that your industry has continuing education requirements, this can be not every connection that looks good to you will click, but one or another forum for helping busy employees meet those goals. two solid matches can make a tremendous difference in getting a new hire to the point where they can stop being the new kid on Invite them in for a quick tour. Even if your library does not the block and start getting something done. have much in the way of a physical collection, it is defi- 3.nitely worth inviting new hires in to see your facility and meet anyone they are likely to speak to. Remember, some people

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 47 Your Career

even if they are completed, assign- ments change and the information Annette Feldman received her MLIS from Rutgers University and her becomes quickly outdated. MBA from Simmons College. Prior to her current position managing metadata for The Associated Press, she was an independent database consultant Employee Interests for a wide range of industries including manufacturing, publishing, and edu- But in organizations with libraries, peo- cation. Annette is also the membership chair for the New Jersey chapter of ple who use the collective resources SLA. She can be reached at [email protected]. do make known what they know, by the questions that they ask and by the resources that they use. If you are tracking reference requests, you have that are not being routed through great resource as well. already have a basis for knowing who is the reference desk. Applying some One last thing: Of course, you will need currently interested in what. analysis skills to the monthly usage to collaborate with human resources Most libraries use their reference and billing reports can yield information and employees’ supervisors in this pro- request database for budget allocation about who has been researching what cess, but it is important to understand and to track which departments use at their desktops. Talk to your library why this is a function best led by librar- their services. However, many don’t relations or customer service manager ians and not by either of these groups. Librarians who are actively seeking to facilitate the flow of information have both a company-wide view of organi- Human resources may have the broad zational goals and a familiarity with the content being used by employees. view of company history and stated goals, Human resources may have the broad but not likely a good understanding of the view of company history and stated goals, but not likely a good understand- content of each employee’s position. ing of the content of each employee’s position. Departmental supervisors will know the content, but may be isolated in their own information silos and not keep detailed enough records or check about getting the kinds of usage reports be able to make connections across the database to avoid having one librar- that will help you understand what your departmental or geographic boundar- ian redo a search that another has users are really using. ies. It may take some diplomacy to work already completed. By tracking the con- To broaden the reach of their match- out the details with these groups, but tent of requests, a picture of who knows making services, librarians involved if you can demonstrate the benefit of what, both in the library and among the in creating or selecting content for buying into this process, they will have users, can emerge. intranets should not overlook the ben- the opportunity to see the lower costs I can see you nervously eyeing the efit of offering online connections to and higher productivity associated with pile of materials on your desk already staff who agree to be consulted as each new hire. awaiting processing. Relax; this does experts on particular subjects. How Mary Ellen Bates asked the question not require an elaborate system to cata- successful this can be will depend on very succinctly at the SLA Conference log requests. It is a perfect application the size of the company, as well as the last June, “Will librarians become highly for tagging, where librarians can create personality and willingness of others paid ‘knowledge officers’ or merely filing an institutionally appropriate taxonomy to be contacted by your users. But it clerks?” If it is to be the former and not of tags to associate with each request. can radically increase the amount of the latter, it will be because we are able By adding an additional searchable contact and knowledge sharing among to take the skills and the information field to whatever kind of database you employees. There are even software that we have and put them to use in a already have for tracking requests, you programs that can scan public portions way that demonstrates our value to our can turn your request tracking system of networked hard drives and collect a organizations. We need to be on the into the basis of a de facto institutional database of whose computer contains lookout for opportunities to do so. SLA yellow pages. information about certain topics. While Librarians are also often responsible privacy issues are a concern, this may for tracking and billing back use of be of interest in some large organiza- external databases and other resources. tions. If you have employees who blog This can help them paint a picture of the or who might consider it if you showed kinds of information requests that users them how to get started, this can be a

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Earning the Right to an Opinion Requires Real-World Experience

Again, I find too often that they have an uninformed opinion and still feel When people ask what you think, be ready to tell them. But strongly that they are right. That’s make you know what you’re talking about. interesting and sad. Having actually visited dozens of schools, taught in By Stephen Abram a few programs, and met so many student SLA members, I can only say I am impressed. I trust my own “In my opinion…” It’s an e exciting time in our profes- experiences.) “My experience tells me that…” sional lives when we can more strongly So, if you’re a regular reader of this “My best advice is…” position ourselves for our expertise, column, coming into its sixth year, “My considered opinion is…” as opposed to just our collections and you’ll know that I am a big fan of expe- “If it was my choice, I would…” databases. Expertise isn’t just our rience-based learning. I also believe information skills. It’s also about the that experience trumps book learning Professionals start sentences like role we play in advising our enterprises every time. If we want to be perceived this. Professionals are respected for about content, technology, and the as thoughtful, authoritative, respected their opinions because they have the best choices for our environments and and trusted we need to have the bona education and experience to make good our users’ needs. fides. That means that we should have judgments. They are thoughtful, author- Are we ready? I don’t know. I have at least have played with many of the itative, respected, and trusted. All of had many conversations about this most interesting and leading edge new these qualities can be lost in an instant topic in the past few years and fol- technologies. We don’t need to adopt with our users if we play loose with our lowed many conversations on SLA them all into our regular work lives— opinions. Some information profession- discussion lists, conference panels, not at all. We don’t need to bet the als seem to still struggle with having the blogs, and so on. I worry when I see business on transient or in-develop- statements that some new technologies ment tech either. We just need to have have no place in special libraries. I’ve a better-informed opinion than our seen and heard folks make blanket users and clients. They have a right to Too often—actually the statements about this. I am not truly get the best opinion possible from their appalled until I ask them what their information professional. majority of the time—they experience with these technologies So, here are a few things that I is. Too often—actually the majority of think that we need to be experts in. have little to no actual experi- the time—they have little to no actual This is a great place to start to posi- experience with the technology they tion ourselves as experts. (We could ence with the technology they are criticizing. It’s just an opinion or even play with each and blog it or feeling. I try not to let my jaw drop. So, offer our insights and informed opin- are criticizing. It’s just an jaw firmly clamped, I ask why they feel ions in the company/library newslet- as they do. Often it’s driven by media ter or library intranet.) opinion or feeling. hype, experience in observing a few children, or some other information Content process that resembles hearsay more Our users are challenged by making than research. decisions about what content they confidence of our opinions. (On a slight tangent, I hear col- should choose. Many falsely think that As technology choices are an leagues often comment on the quality the Web might be enough. Arrghhh! increasing dimension of our users’ life of library schools and their graduates. We make great collection development decisions, and information becomes Again, I ask when they were last there, choices for our enterprises and, still, an even more essential part of our saw a class, or met a student. Too free Web search engine bullies have a enterprise’s DNA and decision-making often, their opinions are informed by major mindshare. We need to get more workflows, we, as our organizations’ their own experience decades ago, and comfortable in presenting best choices information experts, must step up to the they’ve rarely returned or even seen a in both print content and e-content, plate and offer a professional opinion. range of library education programs. including all media. We need to make

50 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 info tech

sure that we’re positioned as format to handle conversations with everyone maybe they could find a place in pub- and container agnostic and as the using easy aggregators for IM conver- lic libraries. I was distressed at the lack best place to ask for advice on pod- sations like Meebo, GAIM, and Trillian? of understanding here. Gaming is one casts, streaming media, blog searches, There’s a new presence in this space of the largest revenue generators in the YouTube, Technorati, Podscope, called Twitter. I am not impressed that publishing space. That alone makes it ODEO, iTunes, and more. This space it’s a great new tool, but I have played worthy of further investigation. Games is emerging as one of the most exciting with it. I can see enterprise use for have found great success in the train- places to play with content right now. keeping in touch in the short term during and development arena. ing corporate events, conferences, or If your library supports employees, Instant Messaging special work teams. You never know. there may be a role here for your skills One way that information and knowl- It’s easy to play with these tools by cor- in ensuring identification and access edge transfers very effectively is responding with fellow SLA members. to these collections. Games are a key through conversations. Telephone con- to the training and development of versations and our in-person reference Gaming our military; many of the major con- interviews and research conversations I am surprised at the vehemence of sumer titles were developed first for are excellent examples of how we opinions among adults, and fellow SLA military purposes. Many advertisers have great competencies here. In the members, about gaming. Even with are working on understanding how Treo/Blackberry world, text messaging the average gamer now about 32 years to add game play to their market- is becoming the equal of actual voice old, many folks still see this technology ing strategies. The point with gaming calls. In the PC/Mac world, instant as merely play. and special libraries is to understand messaging is the norm for those under It appears that the world can be them enough to advise and imagine a 30. IM clients like AOL, MSN, Yahoo!, divided into those who “get” gaming potential role. Imagination is the key. and ICQ are must-haves for people and those who despise it. On one SLA Closed minds aren’t. who give advice and service. discussion list recently, several posters Are we ready to use these and add expressed the opinion that games had Virtual Worlds voice, links, and video? Are we ready no role ever in special libraries, but Often confused with gaming environ-

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INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 51 info tech

ments are virtual world ecologies like Second Life and Active Worlds. Again, these are just in their earliest days. Stephen Abram, MLS, is vice president, innovation, for Eastern University in Pennsylvania SirsiDynix, chief strategist for the SirsiDynix Institute, and the has built its library services in Active president-elect of SLA. He is an SLA Fellow, the past presi- Worlds. It’s an amazing environment dent of the Ontario Library Association, and the past president that shows how far the envelope can of the Canadian Library Association. In June 2003, he was be pushed. awarded SLA’s John Cotton Dana Award. This column contains Second Life has a few special librar- his personal perspectives and does not necessarily represent ians and special academic libraries the opinions or positions of SirsiDynix. His blog is Stephen’s (like law and medicine) being built. All Lighthouse, http://stephensligthouse.sirsidynix.com. You may told, we don’t know what fruit these contact him at [email protected]. virtual worlds will bear but they surely offer great promise. I still remember the early days of online and Web searching. I also remember a few ket leaders now, with Bebo and Orkut creation of footnotes and bibliographies library pundits of the time offering their doing well outside of North America. easier. It’s also interesting to watch the opinion that these were fads and could I was surprised to find that I thought building up of the Google offerings to never survive or compete with real I knew how these worked but that compete with MS Office. Google Docs when I signed up and committed, the and Spreadsheets, Google Calendar, experience was much different than I gMail, and the rest are viable options had believed it would be. I can’t really now. Services like Zoho allow you to We need to make sure that explain adequately how different the use Web-based e-mail, calendars, relationships are in these sites. They’re phone systems, CRM, file storage and we’re positioned as format and meaningful, fun, educational, and transfer, documents, spreadsheets, more. database and forms, design, project container agnostic and as the The continuing development of new management, presentations, meetings, circles of interested friends and groups accounting and billing, collaboration, best place to ask for advice on was a surprise. I don’t think you can and office sites. There are dozens understand it without getting in there of free tools that support the mobile podcasts, streaming media, and learning. Then your opinion will be workplace now. We need to be there to informed by experience. Recently Bill advise our users. blog searches, YouTube, Drew set up a new special social network about Library 2.0 in Ning, a free So, if you’re interested, the tech- Technorati, Podscope, ODEO, place where private social networks nologies mentioned above are eas- can be created and nurtured. This one ily learned, mostly free, and, with iTunes, and more. went from one to 1,000 members in an investment of 15 minutes a day, less than two months and is still grow- should buy you the authority to inform ing and developing! I’ve seen other your users. You have an excellent Ning networks on School Library 2.0, foundation for personal positioning. It librarians or real online dial-up servic- Academic library 2.0, and Classroom can be grown and developed. es. Yes, some of the original brands of 2.0. I was amazed, as an associa- We earn the right to have an opinion those days (hello AltaVista) are not with tion junkie, how quickly folks could by being the expert. When we have the us anymore. The trend did develop coalesce, share, and collaborate. experience and informed perspective, though. I’d hate to see us make the we earn that right and increase our same mistake again. Workflow Tools value to the enterprises where we are Our users are looking for the tools employed. We have a duty to ensure Social Networking that let them be more effective in a our users are informed. We also have It seems a few folks read about social mobile, nomadic workplace. Are we a duty to make sure that our opinions networking sites and hear that these ready to advise? Are we offering the are informed too. are just for kids (or students). They tools that help research workflows? An informed opinion will take you far. couldn’t be more wrong. That’s a per- New tools like Zotero, an Internet SLA sonal and professional opinion formed scrap-booking software, are great by experience in these networks. options to complement our traditional Facebook and MySpace are the mar- offerings of citation tools to make the

52 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 2007 Information Outlook Editorial Calendar

You’re the expert, share what you know. We’re always looking for new authors for Information Outlook. That’s one way we get new ideas, learn new ways of doing things. The editorial calendar below shows major topics we want to cover for each issue in 2006. Please note: The editorial calendar is only a starting point. We need more articles on more topics than we’ve listed below.

If you want to write on a topic that isn’t on the calendar, or on a topic that isn’t listed for a particular issue, we want to hear from you. For example, articles on topics like marketing, searching, and technology will be welcome throughout the year. We want to hear all of your ideas for articles. Also, our descriptions of the topics may not ﬁ t your approach. If you have a different idea for a topic, let us know. Issue Cover Article Copy Due Management — Possible topics: Planning, July May 18, 2007 budgeting, supervising a staff, purchasing

August Conference Papers Showcase June 22, 2007

September Copyright — Possible topics: Global July 20, 2007 considerations, permissions, new laws and regulations

Web 2.0 — Possible topics: Next generation Aug. 24, 2007 October Web sites, social networking, XML, RSS, podcasting

November Knowledge Management — Possible topics: Sept. 21, 2007 KM systems, indexing information, low- budget KM

December Special Issue: Leadership Oct. 19, 2007

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 53

edcalendar.indd 1 4/11/2007 2:42:54 PM Info Rights

Assume That Online Works Are Copyrighted: They May Have More Protection than You Think

Digital Uses Even innocently forwarding an e-mail to someone may be Digital works may be used, violating the writer’s copyright. accessed, copied, and distributed in manners not available for non- digital works. Below is a discussion of copyright issues relating to some of these unique uses. Digital Copyright Issues sites are protected by copyright Scanning. Scanning or digitizing Digital or electronic content is sub- as a single work. Also, the works a work such as an article or image ject to the same protections under within a Web site may be individu- is a reproduction of that work and most copyright laws as non-digital, ally protected by copyright. requires permission prior to doing traditional, or analogue works. Most so from the copyright owner. online content or content found on DMCA-Type Laws Web Site Content. Prior to using the Internet is copyright-protected Specific digital legislation, like the any content you find on a Web site, and permission is required to use U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright you should obtain permission from it. If there is a statement on that Act, have anti-circumvention and the copyright owner of that content. copyright management information Also, posting copyright-protected provisions to aid copyright owners content on a Web site requires per- in protecting their digital content. mission from the copyright holder. The anti-circumvention provisions E-Mail. Since e-mail belongs to A link to another page within guard against unauthorized circum- the author of the e-mail, you should vention of technological measures obtain permission prior to forward- your own Web site is permissi- controlling access to or restricting ing an e-mail not written by you. use of a copyright-protected work. Linking. A link is a place on a ble. A link to another Web site Technological measures may be a Web site on which a user may click password or encryption, and break- and is then directed to another may require permission from ing into the password or encryption spot on the same site or to a dif- is illegal. ferent site. A link to another page the owner of that Web site. These laws also protect against within your own Web site is permis- the removal or alteration of copy- sible. A link to another Web site right management information. may require permission from the Such information may be the title owner of that Web site. U.S. law is of a work, its author or copyright not clear on this issue. To play it owner, and other identifying infor- safe, many site owners only link to work to the effect that it is not pro- mation. the home page of another Web site tected by copyright, then you may freely use it. But be careful to read and follow the terms and conditions Lesley Ellen Harris is a copyright lawyer/consultant who works in the permission. on legal, business, and strategic issues in the publishing, content, entertainment, Internet, and information industries. She is the editor Protected Digital Works of the print newsletter, The Copyright and New Media Law Newsletter, Any content in a non-digital form now in its 11th year. If you would like a sample copy of this newsletter, that is protected by copyright is e-mail [email protected]. She is a professor at SLA’s Click protected in a digital form. For University, where she teaches a number of online courses on copyright, example, print books are protected licensing, and managing copyright and digital content for SLA mem- by copyright as electronic books. bers. You may now register for the winter/spring 2007 courses at: Also, analogue musical recordings www.clickuniversity.com, search for Harris Online Schedule. and digital musical recordings are equally protected by copyright. Web

54 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Info Rights

computer network, are protected by prior to caching his works. copyright. Reproducing or forward- If you would like to read more Reproducing or forwarding of ing of any comments from any list- about digital copyright issues, see: serv, bulletin board, or newsgroup Copyright Issues in Digital Media any comments from any list- require the permission of the copy- (published August 2004) at: www. right holder of that message. cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=5738& serv, bulletin board, or news- Browsing. Browsing (also called sequence=0. SLA surfing) refers to making a copy of group require the permission a Web page by browser software. Some argue that there is implied of the copyright holder of permission to use this copy (by virtue of the copyright owner post- that message. ing the material on the Web site); others argue that browsing may fall under fair use or fair dealing. Caching. Caching refers to saving a Web site or a page of a site into browser software, to facilitate faster and not to any internal pages, or access to that particular Web site they obtain permission to link to an or page in the future. Caching may internal page. be done by an individual or auto- Listservs, Bulletin Boards and matically by the browser software. Newsgroups. Any sort of discussions, Again, caching involves copying whether via messages that appear of a work and arguments may be in your e-mail inbox or ones that made as to whether permission is you must access from a Web site or required from the copyright holder

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INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 55 Info business

Becoming the “Go-To” Person in Your Organization Raises Positive Perceptions of Your Department

who are known to get things done. These are frequently people who Want to be the true information hub? It’s all about who you understand the problems and can help know, what you know, what you do, and how you can help. to develop a solution. In many organizations, departmental By Debbie Schachter structures can lead to silos, which in turn reduce the communication paths between functions. As individuals in I recently noticed an interesting tion center as the information hub for different departments or within dif- article on the importance of the go-to the organization. Part of creating the ferent functions are separated either people in organizations, specifically in true hub, however, is developing the physically or simply through their daily a business context. natural tendency for the emergence of work routines, they have a reduced “Go-To People: What Every organizational go-to people in the infor- knowledge of what is happening within Organization Should Have,” by Jeffrey mation center. other departments or in other func- Gandz (Ivey Business Journal March/ Every organization has these so tional areas. April 2007, www.iveybusinessjournal. called go-to people. Surprisingly, they The information center usually (but com/article.asp?intArticle_ID=675) are not necessarily the people who not always) spans the functional and reminded me of how we special librar- hold the highest positions or are in the departmental structures of organiza- ians like to be perceived as the key go- most powerful departments. They are tions, and thus naturally becomes a the individuals who, through their own repository for knowledge about activi- professional roles combined with their ties taking place in the organization. personality and communication abili- The library staff usually knows who ties, know what’s going on and share is doing what, based on information Being in the know and being that information with those who need requests and involvement in projects, it. These individuals have access to and has contact with individuals from known as someone who under- information and organizational knowl- most departments or functions. Library edge, understand the implications of staff may have direct contact with indi- stands and can get things that information, provide opportunities viduals of all levels in the organization. for sharing that information, and ulti- In addition, as part of its mandate to done is your most essential mately improve decision making and collect and disseminate information efficiencies in the organization. in response to requests, the informa- function as library manager. The concept of go-to people is simi- tion center has the opportunity to lar to the learning organization model understand the connections between in which different information nodes different and unrelated requests, and are centered around key individuals. can put individuals together when the Through their informal and formal net- need becomes apparent. The go-to works, these individuals increase the person in the library is in the position to people in our organizations through communication effectiveness of the to have a big picture understanding of the nature of our information services. organization as a whole. many project and organizational issues But what does being a go-to person and concerns and can provide a valu- mean in the special library context In the Know able repository for problem solving and and how important is it to cultivate this We can all think of individuals who internal networking. perception? are clearly the go-to people within our As you are aware, this is an example As service oriented individuals, info organization. These people include of how the library or information cen- pros want to see themselves as provid- the folks who always know the current ter captures both the explicit and the ing professional, objective, and quality gossip (the office grapevine which is implicit knowledge of an organization, information to develop knowledge and another informal network), the people and helps to improve the return on this enhance decision making. In fact, we who provide cross-departmental ser- knowledge. Strengthening the library’s are committed to ensuring the impor- vices, individuals who have a particular role in the organization is possible by tance of the special library or informa- political astuteness, and the people making these essential knowledge

56 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 Info business

management activities apparent to all, especially the executive and those who fund the library. Debbie Schachter has a master’s degree in library science and a mas- If you are a go-to person in your ter’s degree in business administration. She is the associate executive direc- organization, you’ll know what it feels tor of the Jewish Family Service Agency in Vancouver, British Columbia, like to have people from different where she is responsible for financial management, human resources, departments and roles come to you for database and IT systems, and grant application management. Schachter has your expertise and general knowledge more than 15 years’ experience in management and supervision, technology about the organization. People who planning and support, in a variety of nonprofit and for-profit settings. She have worked in an organization for sev- can be reached at [email protected]. eral years are naturally drawn upon to provide access to the corporate memory or to help provide linkages to others in the know. Sometimes it is library staff’s technical expertise that draws help someone to set up their e-mail part of interdepartmental relations. individuals to us. Usually your reputa- auto-response (because they can’t By leveraging your skills and those tion begins to be built through provid- understand IT’s directions), doesn’t of your staff, you can often relieve ing quality service for what is required. mean you should take on that role another department of unwanted work As colleagues learn about your skills for everyone in the organization. That while increasing your service offering and are assisted by your work, expec- could lead to interdepartmental con- within the organization. Promoting your tations expand into demands for more flicts when other functions feel you expertise and service increases the than what your original role required. awareness of the library as the go-to Your ability to help clientele to place, as well. improve their decision making and Sometimes the result of having a direct them outside of the original go-to person in the library means that request for information or assistance The information center library services evolve increased posi- increases the demand for your service. tive perception of library services. As At the same time, you should be build- usually spans the functional the library manager, understanding ing your social networks to increase the value of individual staff’s talents access to information that is more and departmental structures of and developing them appropriately informally shared within the organiza- can be challenging, particularly when tion. Becoming an integral part of the organizations, and thus naturally individuals are moving away from the communication networks in the organi- traditional roles in the library. Doing zation is an asset—and must be devel- becomes a repository for knowl- so, however, may be one of the most oped through proactive networking. effective ways to develop the informa- Being in the know and being known edge about activities taking tion center’s image as a true organiza- as someone who understands and can tional information hub. SLA get things done is your most essential place in the organization. function as library manager. For the information center, having a recognized go-to person is extremely valuable as it increases the department’s profile within the organization, and increases the perceived value for are trying to usurp their role. As go- the work and the staff. On the flip side, to person, you can assist people by however, being a go-to person can directing them appropriately and by cause a seemingly insatiable demand helping to solve the systemic problems from a broader client base within the that lead to this type of request. Being organization. Being seen as the key seen to be doing too much busy work information and service hub is essen- or the work of another department can tial. But that can mean increased work also rebound on you if your boss feels that is not directly related to what you you’re spending too much time doing should be doing or is not effective use non-library-related functions. or your or your staff’s time. Balancing what you should be doing For example, just because you can with what you can do is an important

INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 57 Coming events / ad index

Other Events 23-26 Canadian Library Association 61st June 3-6 May Annual Conference and Trade Show St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada SLA Annual Conference For more information on these SLA 1-3 www.cla.ca/conference/2007/index.html Denver, Colorado online seminars—and to register—go Internet World www.sla.org to www.sla.org/clickulive. Ithaca Business Media 23-27 London, U.K. International Exhibition and www.internetworld.co.uk Conferences of Archives May Documentation Sciences Foundation 1-3 and Archiblios Foundation 9 Perfect Information Conference Bogotá, Colombia 21-27 Twelve Tips for the One-Person Library Bath, U.K. www.documentalistas.org/eventos/excol07/ American Library Association 23 www.perfectinfo.com/learningevents.htm index1.php Annual Conference What’s on the Horizon: A Look at Washington, D.C. Where Our Profession Is Heading 6-11 May 28-June 1 www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/ 4th International Evidence Canadian Health Libraries annual/2007a/home.htm August Based Library and Information Association Conference Practice Conference Ottawa, Ontario, Canada July 14 Chapel Hill-Durham, North Carolina www.chla-absc.ca/2007/index_e.htm 14-17 Moving to Knowledge Services: www.eblip4.unc.edu American Association of Law Managing the Change and Identifying May 28-June 2 Libraries Annual Meeting Advocates and Champions 4-11 Libraries in the Digital Age New Orleans, Louisiana 22 4th International Evidence Dubrovnik and Mljet, Croatia www.aallnet.org/events/07_schedule.pdf Financial Management of Based Library and Information www.ffos.hr/lida Information Projects Practice Conference August School of LIS at UNC-Chapel Hill JUNE 13-16 September and UNC Institute on Aging Sixth International Conference Chapel Hill-Durham, North Carolina 12-13 on Conceptions of Library and 12 www.eblip4.unc.edu Search Engine Strategies Information Science Swedish School Surveying as a Planning Tool, Part 1 Search Engine Watch of Library and Information Science 26 5-10 Toronto, Canada Borås, Sweden Surveying as a Planning Tool, Part 2 Patent Information Users www.searchenginestrategies.com/sew/ www.hb.se/colis Group Annual Conference toronto07/index.html October Costa Mesa, California 19-23 www.piug.org/2007/an07meet.php 12-16 73rd Annual World Library 9 9th International Conference on and Information Congress Web Searching: Advanced 8-12 Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS) International Federation of Library Techniques for Google and Beyond 16th International World Institute for Systems and Associations and Institutions 23 Wide Web Conference Technologies of Information, Durban, South Africa Project Profile: The Hub of Clear Banff, Alberta, Canada Control and Communication and www.ifla.org/IV/ifla73/index.htm Project Communication http://www2007.org/ Universidade da Madeira Funchal, Madeira, Portugal November 10-12 www.iceis.org Canadian Association for Information 7 Science 35th Annual Conference 14-15 Managing Digitization Projects: Montréal, Canada North American Symposium on Lessons Learned—Best www.cais-acsi.ca/2007call.htm Knowledge Organization Practices Developed, Part 1 International Society for Advertising Index 14 15-16 Knowledge Organization 10K Wizard...... 1 Managing Digitization Projects: Enterprise Search Summit 2007 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Lessons Learned—Best Information Today www.slais.ubc.ca/users/iskona/events.html ACM...... 49 Practices Developed, Part 2 New York City American Chemical Society . . . 17 www.enterprisesearchsummit.com 17-23 Annual Reviews...... 35 December Joint Conference on Digital Libraries Copyright Clearance Center. . . . C1 18-23 Association for Computing Cuadra Associates...... 51 5 Machinery and IEEE Medical Library Association Global Insight...... 2 90 Minutes to a Great Taxonomy, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Annual Meeting IEEE ...... C3 Part 1: Taxonomy Basics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania www.jcdl2007.org Nature Publishing...... 33 12 www.mlanet.org/am/index.html 90 Minutes to Beyond Taxonomy, 18-19 Springer...... 55 Part II: Taxonomy Advanced 19-23 13th Nordic Conference on Thomson Gale...... 25 IRMA International Conference Information and Documentation Thomson Scientific...... C4 Information Resources Management Swedish Association for Information Web Choir...... 39 Association Specialists Vancouver, Canada Stockholm, Sweden SLA Products and Services www.irma-international.org/conferenc- nordiod2007.sfis.nu/site/298/default.aspx es/2007/index.asp 19-21 2007 Annual Conference . . . . . 4 21-23 Joint Use Libraries, an Click U - Competitive 7th Annual Symposium on International Conference Intelligence...... 59 Intellectual Property Evidence Base Click U Live!...... 15 University of Maryland University Manchester, U.K. Information Outlook College www.ebase.uce.ac.uk/events/joint-use-confer- Editorial Calendar...... 53 Adelphi, Maryland ence.htm www.umuc.edu/mkting/cip/

58 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 59 INFO Management

If You Want Your Customers To Give Rave Reviews, Try The U.R.A.V.E. Approach to Evaluating Service

ority list now. A well-timed release may improve customer service. You may be providing excellent customer service, but you need to make sure your customers know it and value it. Available There are two aspects of availability: One is BY JOHN LATHAM accessibility. Are you providing your services and products in the most easily accessible format? The other is availability to whom? We I was delighted to read in the March We are all now familiar with YouTube, are information junkies, and often fall into the 2007 issue of the Harvard Business but what about U.R.A.V.E.? Set trap of trying to provide all information to all Review in a short article titled, “Beating the up your first five meetings to cover people. Jim Matarazzo and Toby Pearlstein, Market with Customer Satisfaction,” that these aspects of customer service: in their recent Library Journal article, say it is the stock prices of companies with high Understandable, Relevant, Available, a mistake to offer a little help to hundreds of customer satisfaction outperformed other Valuable, and Evaluated. employees in scores of departments as this companies in the S&P 500. only dilutes your support. I am always going on about the Understandable importance of customer service, so it is Take time to look at your products and Valuable encouraging that there is evidence that it services and assess whether they are Providing valuable products and services actually affects the stock price. Although delivered in a format that is understand- is so obvious that it hardly seems worth the article refers to the customer service able to your current users. Not only do mentioning, but it is critical that you keep between the company and its exter- your users change, but also their needs assessing value to your current users. Value, nal customers, it is just as relevant for and requirements. Everyone is so busy like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, information services because customer nowadays, it is vital that the recipient which brings us back to understanding. You service overall cannot be seen in isolation. immediately understands why the infor- may well provide some very valuable infor- A noticeable improvement in customer mation has been sent. This may just mation, but if the users do not recognize its service does not happen overnight, and require adding something to the subject importance, it loses its value. Information so the highest customer service ethic has line for clarification, or including it in a professionals should become catalysts for to become embedded in the company’s specific folder. Once a user thinks, “Why increasing the productivity and effective- culture and everyone’s mindset. on earth have I received this?” you will ness of their customers (Matarazzo and If, as we are constantly being told, the not rank highly in customer service. Pearlstein), but they may need some help world is moving from product emphasis in understanding how. to service emphasis, customer service Relevant will become more and more important. Focus on the main goals of the organiza- Evaluated Of course, we all think that our customer tion. Is the goal of your organization to This aspect of customer service is often service is second to none, but let’s take a sell as many cars as possible, or to sell the most tedious to do, but we have to reality check and assume that it can be the safest cars on the market? There is constantly have our services evaluated. This improved. The road to hell is paved with a whale of a difference. There is also may require you to carry out surveys or good intentions, so, if you are anything a time aspect to relevance in that the use focus groups to ensure their continued like me, you need to set yourself tasks, information may well be relevant for your value. The subject could be an article on its reminders, or whatever suits you best to user in the long run, but if her or his own, but don’t forget to include it as one of make sure that you take time to do this. time is focused on a specific topic, the your customer service meeting topics. One method I use is to set up meetings information may not be high on the pri- If U Rave, then Customer Service Rocks. with staff with a task reminder to myself to ensure that I am prepared for the meeting. As soon as you involve a third party you, are forced to act. I also suggest that you John R. Latham is the director of the break down the elements of customer ser- SLA Information Center. He can be reached vice and deal with each separately. If the at [email protected]. The Information Center is meeting is too general in scope, nothing sponsored by Factiva, from Dow Jones. will be achieved.

60 INFORMATION OUTLOOK V11 N05 MAY 2007 101-Q Info Outlook Value 2/15/06 10:06 AM Page 1

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