slany chapternews newsletter spring 2006

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ChapterNews 1 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006 A Letter from Your Outgoing President By Gwen Loeffler L ast spring, as I was preparing for my term as President of the New York Chapter of SLA, I received some valuable advice from Pam Rollo. She suggested that I draw up a document listing my goals for the Chapter for the coming year. This document would help keep me focused on my main objectives, and would provide me with something I could use at the end of my term to measure my success. So I drew up a document which identified my three primary goals for the year: Continue to reenergize the Chapter Develop and communicate a marketing message Refine and improve fundraising efforts & budgeting practices I’m happy to report that some of these goals have been achieved and some are still in progress. I’d like to extend my thanks to all of the 25 volunteer members of the New York Chapter Board & Advisory Council who joined with me to accomplish these goals. Kevin Manion, our President-Elect, and Tesse Santoro & Peggy Decker, our Program Planning Co-Chairs, have done an incredible job this year organizing a wide variety of programs and events, including our tremendously popular Holi- day Party at Au Bar. Kae Wells, our Arrangements Chair, greeted all of our guests at events with a bright smile and made sure that everyone had colorful, legible nametags, making it easier for members to network. Kathleen Pritz, our Membership Chair, welcomed new members, answered questions from existing members, and invited lapsed members to return to the Chapter. Cathy Ciaccio & Marlene Augustin-Lambert, our Director & Chair of Professional Develop- ment, arranged a number of presentations, including a live, lunchtime seminar led by a practicing special librarian. Louise Klusek, Chair of our Business & Finance Group, has organized an event for this spring. Maggie Smith, our Downtown Networking Chair, coordinated two popular luncheons for our members. And we started a series of quarterly Midtown Happy Hours that were purely social events. Miguel Figueroa, our Library School Liaison, worked with local library schools sharing information about the Chapter and our special offerings for students. Mary Muenkel, the Chapter’s Director of Communications, has started work soliciting feedback from our members and crafting a coherent & consistent mar- keting message for the Chapter. Chuck Lowry, our ChapterNews Editor, and Chapter News Volume 78, #1 Spring 2006 IN THIS ISSUE A Letter from Your President: ........1 On the Frontlines ...........................3 Columbia Launches New Masters Degree Program in Fall ..............4 Chapter Announcements ...........7-8 Midtown Executive & Chemist Club Membership Announcement .....8 Rachel Watstein Receives 2006 SLA NY Chapter Student Scholarship ...................9 New graduates, New Jobs: SLA@Pratt Hosts Panel Discussion .....................11 New Members to SLA New York Chapter ............13 ADVERTISERS Dialog .............................................4 Donna Conti Career Resources ...14 EBSCO...........................................5 EOS International ...........................8 Factiva ...........................................6 Global Securities Information, Inc.10 Heller Information Services............5 InfoCurrent .....................................9 Prenax..........................................11 Pro Libra ......................................13 Wontawk ......................................12 (Letter continues on page 2) The New York Chapter

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Page 1: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

ChapterNews 1 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

A Letter from Your Outgoing PresidentBy Gwen Loeffler

Last spring, as I was preparing for my term as President of the New YorkChapter of SLA, I received some valuable advice from Pam Rollo. Shesuggested that I draw up a document listing my goals for the Chapter forthe coming year. This document would help keep me focused on my

main objectives, and would provide me with something I could use at the end ofmy term to measure my success. So I drew up a document which identified mythree primary goals for the year:

▲ Continue to reenergize the Chapter

▲ Develop and communicate a marketing message

▲ Refine and improve fundraising efforts & budgeting practices

I’m happy to report that some of these goals have been achieved and some arestill in progress. I’d like to extend my thanks to all of the 25 volunteer membersof the New York Chapter Board & Advisory Council who joined with me toaccomplish these goals.

Kevin Manion, our President-Elect, and Tesse Santoro & Peggy Decker, ourProgram Planning Co-Chairs, have done an incredible job this year organizing awide variety of programs and events, including our tremendously popular Holi-day Party at Au Bar. Kae Wells, our Arrangements Chair, greeted all of ourguests at events with a bright smile and made sure that everyone had colorful,legible nametags, making it easier for members to network. Kathleen Pritz, ourMembership Chair, welcomed new members, answered questions from existingmembers, and invited lapsed members to return to the Chapter. Cathy Ciaccio& Marlene Augustin-Lambert, our Director & Chair of Professional Develop-ment, arranged a number of presentations, including a live, lunchtime seminarled by a practicing special librarian. Louise Klusek, Chair of our Business &Finance Group, has organized an event for this spring. Maggie Smith, ourDowntown Networking Chair, coordinated two popular luncheons for ourmembers. And we started a series of quarterly Midtown Happy Hours that werepurely social events. Miguel Figueroa, our Library School Liaison, worked withlocal library schools sharing information about the Chapter and our specialofferings for students.

Mary Muenkel, the Chapter’s Director of Communications, has started worksoliciting feedback from our members and crafting a coherent & consistent mar-keting message for the Chapter. Chuck Lowry, our ChapterNews Editor, and

ChapterNewsVolume 78, #1 Spring 2006

IN THIS ISSUE

A Letter from Your President: ........1

On the Frontlines ...........................3

Columbia Launches New Masters

Degree Program in Fall ..............4

Chapter Announcements ...........7-8

Midtown Executive & Chemist Club

Membership Announcement .....8

Rachel Watstein Receives

2006 SLA NY Chapter

Student Scholarship...................9

New graduates, New Jobs:

SLA@Pratt Hosts

Panel Discussion .....................11

New Members to

SLA New York Chapter............13

ADVERTISERS

Dialog.............................................4

Donna Conti Career Resources...14

EBSCO...........................................5

EOS International...........................8

Factiva ...........................................6

Global Securities Information, Inc.10

Heller Information Services............5

InfoCurrent.....................................9

Prenax..........................................11

Pro Libra ......................................13

Wontawk......................................12 (Letter continues on page 2)

The New York Chapter

Page 2: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

ChapterNews 2 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

ChapterNewsNew York ChapterSpecial Libraries AssociationSpring Vol. 78, No. 1

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

ChapterNews, the bulletin of the New York Chapter of theSpecial Libraries Association, is published four times a year.Visit our web site: www.sla-ny.org

Deadlines for submitting materials:Winter issue: December 15Spring issue: March 15Summer issue: May 14

Submit all material to: Charles LowryChapterNews EditorE-mail: [email protected]

Submissions: Articles on topics of general interest to infor-mation professionals and the New York Chapter are welcome.Authors can send submissions via e-mail as text file or MSWord for Windows attachments, or with article in the body ofthe e-mail. Please use single-line spacing, Courier font, withminimal use of boldface and italics. Include a byline with yourfull name and place of work.

ADVERTISING inquiries should be addressed to: Nancy Bowles235 East 22nd Street, Apt 9LNew York, NY 10010Telephone: (212) 679-7088 or E-mail: [email protected]

DESIGN & LAYOUT:Gatta Design & Company, Inc. For inquiries call (212) 229-0071 or www.gattago.com

Special Libraries Association assumes no responsibility for thestatements and opinions advanced by contributors to the Associa-tion’s publications. Editorial views do not necessarily represent theofficial position of Special Libraries Association. Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product bySpecial Libraries Association.

ChapterNews STAFFDirector of Communications Mary MuenkelChapterNews Editor Charles LowryAdvertising Manager Nancy BowlesWebmaster Michael Rivas

Nancy Bowles, our ChapterNews Advertising Chair, madesure that members stayed informed through the mediumof our quarterly newsletter. Toby Lyles, our DiscussionList Manager, alerted members of all of our programs,events and initiatives. Steven Knittweis, our JoblineCoordinator, posted current job opportunities to theChapter’s web site, while Dana Gordon, our InternshipChair, made sure student members were aware of intern-ship opportunities. And Michael Rivas, our Webmaster,continued to improve the web site, making it more visu-ally interesting and more intuitively organized.

Tom Pellizzi, the Chapter’s Past President and nominee forDirector of Finance & Fund Raising, has drafted a propos-al for a fund raising strategy that could be implementedby all Chapters within SLA. Our Treasurer, Rick Mattis,has served as the conscience of the Chapter this year,making sure that we remain fiscally responsible and keepour costs to a minimum while we bring our members thekinds of programs, events and initiatives you want. MikeGruenberg, our current Director of Finance & Fundrais-ing, worked with Rick to establish the Chapter’s budgetfor the coming year. And Jeffrey Dreiblatt, our Secretary,made sure that concise notes were taken at all of ourmeeting so we had a record of decisions and discussions.

Other Advisory Council members made enormous con-tributions. Rita Ormsby, our Global Outreach Commit-tee Chair, continued to raise funds to support our col-leagues in other parts of the world. Leigh Hallingby, ourAwards Chair, encouraged nominations from the Chap-ter for SLA-level and Chapter-level awards. Ellen Miller,

(Letter continued from page 1)

SLA-NY SNAP-SHOT

Help This Man! Our own ChapterNews editor Chuck Lowryat a recent Library Conference wants you send him some prose!(See announcement on page 7.) Nice tie though.

(Letter continues on page 3)

Page 3: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

our Archives Chair, completed the processing of theChapter’s archives. Agnes Mattis, our Past Past Presidentand Governance Chair, was a constant source of informa-tion and advice on procedures and processes. And SarahWarner, our Nominating Committee Chair, along withher committee, assembled an outstanding slate of candi-dates to lead the Chapter into the future.

In addition, we thank our member companies who pro-vided us with meeting space this year: Credit Suisse,Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Skadden Arps, Open SocietyInstitute/Soros Foundations, McGraw-Hill, Time, Inc. andYoung & Rubicam Brands. And none of our programs andevents would be possible without the continuing supportof our generous sponsors: Elsevier, Factiva, ThomsonDialog, Lexis-Nexis, The Wall Street Journal Online, 10K Wizard, CSA Illumina, Copyright Clearance Centerand InfoCurrent.

Perhaps the thing I am most proud of is the fact that wetried new and different things this year. Different pro-gram and event formats, different topics, different typesof speakers. And as a result, we met a lot of differentmembers at these events. This year, rather than measurethe success of our events based on the total number ofmembers who attended, I’d prefer to measure their suc-cess based on the number of different members whoattended. I hope we offered a wider range of programsand events this year so that more of our 1000+ memberscould find something of interest to them.

I owe so much to all of the Board & Advisory Councilmembers who worked so hard this year. But perhaps Iowe the most to Kevin Manion for his constant supportand encouragement. I know the Chapter will be in confi-dent, capable hands when Kevin assumes the Presidencyin June 2006.

Farewell, Gwen

Gwen Loeffler is Senior Research Specialist at the globaladvertising and marketing network Young & Rubicam Brands.She can be reached at [email protected] or 212-210-3986.

On the Frontlines… By Kevin Manion Director — Information Services Consumer Reports Incoming Chapter President

From research to analysis to leadership

In discussions with a number of colleagues in recentmonths, I have come to the conclusion that many ofus have been going through some soul searching lately.

An evolution that began in special libraries decades ago,moving us from research and aggregation to the productionof a more analytical product, has accelerated in the lastyears and has prompted us to continue to look at ourselves,our place in our organizations and the work we do.

One could say we are going through “growing pains” butthat would imply that we expect to be all “grown up” oneday. If there is one thing we can all speak to in this pro-fession, is that change is an almost daily part of our worklives. What is before us is the continuation of a shift thathas brought us from aggregation to synthesis, to present-ing findings directly to clients or a larger audience andnow to analysis. Today, our clients are for more likely tosay “yeah but tell me what it means” or “tell me what Ineed to know for this meeting” than “can you get mesome articles on…”

It makes perfect sense, to me anyway, that our expandingresearch role should mirror what is for many of us agrowing role as leaders in our organizations. Much hasbeen written about leadership and about being leaders inour profession in past years. But I truly believe that wehave only begun to scratch the surface — there is somuch as yet undiscovered that we can bring to our orga-nizations. Leaders exist throughout company hierarchiesand there are many different paths that identify profes-sionals as leaders.

Leadership takes courage and dedication and we areuniquely positioned to foster and lead cultures of infor-mation and knowledge in the workplace. We believe insharing information, understanding our business and ourclients and doing our best to ensure that decisions arebased on solid research and analysis. I am heartened tosee many recent graduates stepping up to take a leader-ship role in their organizations but also within our pro-fessional association. Those of us already in leadershippositions should ensure that we do what we can toencourage them and help them grow into the futureleaders and advocates of our profession.

ChapterNews 3 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

(Letter continued from page 2)

Page 4: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

ChapterNews 4 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

Columbia UniversityLaunches New Master’sDegree Program in Information and ArchiveManagement in Fall By George Calderaro

I n fall 2006, Columbia University’s School of ContinuingEducation will launch a new Master of Science inInformation and Archive Management. The Informa-

tion and Archive Management program is designed toteach the systematic and technical skills necessary to ful-fill the responsibilities demanded by business, govern-ment, and nonprofit organizations in what is now appro-priately termed the “international information economy.”

Today, organizations face the enormous challenge ofhow to make more effective use of the information theycreate, gather, organize, and maintain. Information pro-fessionals are key decision makers who work with theprincipal business, program, and policy professionals inorganizations as well as with IT experts.

Many individuals performing these functions today findthat while their responsibilities are great, they do nothave the systematic, formal training and up-to-date tech-nological skills they need. Columbia’s Master of Sciencein Information and Archive Management trains studentsin the practical, real-world demands of solving complexproblems in organizing information.

To advance the core mission of any organization, infor-mation professionals must have an increasingly complexunderstanding of the information over which they pre-side. They must be able to create and manage an infor-mation archive, analyze a data set and the needs of itsusers, and evaluate database design. They need to have apractical understanding of the laws governing the use ofinformation, and they must consider thoughtfully thesocial and policy questions that involve the lawful han-dling and use of information. They need to master thewide range of government and business informationresources produced by city, state, and national govern-ments, as well as by international governmental organi-zations and by commercial vendors. They must be ableto work with an organization’s IT department to designand implement systems to house and retrieve informa-tion, and they must be able to work with commercial

(Article continues on page 5)

Page 5: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

vendors to design information products that serve anorganization’s specific needs. The curriculum includescore courses in topics ranging from informationtechnology and archives management to governmentinformation resources and legal issues for informationprofessionals. Elective courses include database design,managing non-print materials, and oral history archives.

The program is designed for mid-career professionalswho already work in information environments and wantto systemize and enhance their knowledge and skills.The program is also appropriate for recent college grad-uates or individuals changing careers who want tobecome information professionals in business, govern-ment, and nonprofit organizations.

For information on Columbia’s Master of Science on Informationand Archive Management, visit our web site: www.ce.columbia.edu/infoarchive, call 212 854-9699, or email [email protected].

ChapterNews 5 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

Global Library & Records Staffing Specialists

Over 25 years of staffing experience

Providing temporary, permanent and consulting services

Heller Information ServicesCharles Heller, Founder

Gail Heller, President

Corporate Office

2 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036Tel: 212-819-1919 Fax: 212-819-9196

www.hellerinformation.come-mail: [email protected]

(Article continued from page 5)

Page 6: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

ChapterNews 6 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

Page 7: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

ChapterNews 7 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

CHAPTER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Law Librarian News

Ruth Carter Armstrong, known throughout the world of law librarianship as the Director of InformationResources at Goodwin Procter in Boston, has acceptedthe position as Global Director of Library Services atWhite & Case, on Sixth Avenue in New York. Threenotes from your editor: (i) he knows Ruth personally andholds her in high regard; (ii) his pleasure in seeing Ruthcome to New York is amplified by the fact that, althoughGoodwin Procter and White & Case are both very finelaw firms, his two favorite baseball teams are the Yankeesand whoever is playing the Red Sox, and (iii) he encour-ages members to send career changes, updates and pro-motions. <[email protected]>

Did You Know? Membership Accounting

If you are a member of SLA and live in the New Yorkarea but have not designated the NY Chapter as yourlocal chapter, please do so! Local chapters receive a per-centage of your national dues money to support our localprograms only if you designate a local chapter. Designat-ing the NY Chapter as your chapter will both let us com-municate with you about regional matters of interest butwill also provide valuable financial support, at no addi-tional cost to you, for our local efforts!

Remember the New York Chapterweb site address!

www.sla-ny.orgCheck it out!

An Invitation To Readers

The editor of the newsletter reminds all members of theNew York Chapter of SLA that the pages of ChapterNewsare open to all. The editor would be very pleased to dis-cuss and accept submissions in any of the following areas:

▲ Comings, goings, new jobs, new titles, retirements.

▲ Articles about day-to-day life in member libraries.

▲ Articles about SLA programs or social events youmight have attended.

▲ Reflections on the profession: salaries, responsibilities,education, career path.

▲ Announcements of scholarships, awards, honors,whether those announcements are invitations to pro-pose candidates or are announcements of winners.

▲ Library initiatives: acquisitions, marketing/awarenesscampaigns, organizational changes, etc.

The ChapterNews is a wonderful way to maximize thevalue of the SLA experience, and a wonderful way toshare your experiences and successes with your fellowlibrarians.The editor of ChapterNews, Chuck Lowry, can be reached at [email protected] or 212.592.4932.

See a Listing of New Members to SLA New York Chapter fromSeptember 2005 to February 2006on pages 13 through 14.

CHAPTER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Page 8: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

Dear SLA NY Chapter Members –

GREAT NEWS!

The New York Chapter hasrenewed its corporate membershipin the Midtown Executive &Chemists Club for 2006/07.

NOW IS THE TIME TO SIGN UP OR RENEW YOURINDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP.

THE CLUB, conveniently located at 40 West 45th Street(between 5th & 6th Avenues) is minutes from Grand Cen-tral and the Theatre District.

PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE:

▲ Dining Room, Club Room & Bar and Prefix Theatre Menu ▲ Catering and Conference Facilities for business meetings, social

occasions, and special events ▲ Hotel accommodations at low rates at the club and reciprocal

accommodations in New York as well as hotels in other cities▲ Domestic and International Reciprocal Clubs:

Including Downtown Manhattan, Boston, Washington, D.C.,Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston and London

▲ Free use of Computers and Club Room

WHY IS SLA NEW YORK CHAPTER CONTINUING THE CLUB MEMBERSHIP?

The appeal of joining a club grew from the need for acentral meeting place for informal and formal meetingsof Chapter working groups. Membership in this club notonly gives us a place where we can meet and network,but it also provides benefits that can be useful to mem-bers individually in their professional lives.

We trust our SLA NY Members will enjoy these lovelyfacilities as well as the many other benefits of member-ship in The Midtown Executive & Chemists’ Club. We look forward to seeing you there!Sincerely,Sarah WarnerSLA New York Midtown Executive & Chemists’ Club Liaison

SIGN UP OR RENEW NOW!!! IT’S SO EASY

A one-year individual membership (April 2006–March2007) is only $35.00* for SLA NY CHAPTER MEMBERS

Send your business card with your address, telephonenumber(s) and email address along with a check for$35.00 made out to “SLA New York Chapter,” to Sarah Warner at:

Wontawk25 West 43rd Street, Suite 812 New York, N.Y 10036Email: [email protected] Telephone 212/869/3348

The information you provide on your business card is essential. It will be used to process your membership application. Shortlythereafter, you will receive your membership packet and member-ship card in the mail from our contact at the Club, Ms. PhiraBarakhovsky at 212/ 626-9300, [email protected] should continue to use original card. Your cancelledcheck is your renewal receipt. If you have any questions aboutmembership in The Midtown Executive & Chemists’ Club, please call Sarah Warner and/or visit the Club’s web site atwww.clubquarters.com. The password is CQBAM.

ChapterNews 8 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

CHAPTER ANNOUNCEMENTSSPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Page 9: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

Rachel Watstein Receives2006 SLA NY Chapter Student ScholarshipBy Miguel A. Figueroa

I t was with great pleasure this year that the New YorkChapter of SLA awarded it’s annual student scholarshipto Rachel Watstein from the Palmer School of Library

and Information Science at Long Island University.

Rachel built over twenty years experience in the corpo-rate world, including extensive experience in researchand competitive intelligence; business and strategic plans;negotiating and contracting for licenses; project manage-ment; and more, before turning to librarianship.

Rachel enrolled at the Palmer School of Information andLibrary Science in July of 2005. Of her time in libraryschool, Rachel says, “I have always been involved in gath-ering and disbursing knowledge and informationthroughout my career, but have never had the formaltraining in such things knowledge organization and man-agement, information retrieval systems or competitiveintelligence. My education at Palmer has helped meunderstand how to connect these important issues to thecorporate environment.”

Being very proactive, Rachel takes every opportunity tooffer her services to those she encounters. In her firstsemesters at Palmer, she approached Alice Flynn, Man-hattan campus program director, with marketing ideasthat might help the program grow and become moreprominent. Impressed by the plans, Flynn offered Wat-stein a graduate assistantship at the Manhattan campus.“I hired her because even in casual correspondence priorto her full-time enrollment, she impressed me with herobservations, her creative thinking, her helpfulness, andher wit. She has developed a wealth of online resourcesfor our students such as a national hyperlinked libraryassociation list, a hyperlinked listing of librarian job websites and a listing of specialized librarian scholarships.She has one helpful, creative suggestion after another,always presented in such a cheerful and selfless way.”

Outside of her graduate assistantship, she has also provena unique contributor to the profession. “At Palmer, I initi-ated a weekly compilation email that goes out to all of ourstudents, faculty and alumni. This weekly email containslinked stories which appeared during the previous weekin the news, listservs, newsletters, blogs, etc. on issuesrelating to libraries, technology, searching, the internet andeducation as well as anything else I feel would enlightenmy audience.” This resource is an impressive mix — wide

ranging in its scope but still true to its audience — anoften featuring over 20 selections it is no small feat as apro-bono service. Delivered to the faculty and staff atPalmer, the response has motivated Watstein to continuethe service and its reputation has earned interest frommany librarians and professional networks outsidePalmer, including the New York Library Association.

Since joining SLA, she has been a frequent attendee atSLA virtual learning seminars and chapter meetings.Manhattan campus director Flynn recalls, “Rachel sharedwith me the lecture notes from the SLA virtual Seminarsin competitive intelligence and I have shown these tomany of Palmer’s current and prospective students whoare interested in going into the field of corporate librari-anship. With this in mind, Palmer will be offering acourse in competitive intelligence in the Fall of 2006.”Says Watstein, “I have gotten so much out of my atten-dance at SLA meetings as well as other association meet-ings and I believe the type of education and connectionto people in the field that one gets by being a member ofan association should be a vital part of every libraryschool student's education.”

Rachel had originally intended to use the Chapter Schol-arship to help her attend the SLA Annual Conference inBaltimore. Having recently been selected as the recipientof the Business and Finance Division’s Student StipendAward to attend the annual conference, she will insteaduse the Chapter Scholarship to help defray the cost oftuition and free her to continue her efforts to reach outto the profession and engage with SLA.

ChapterNews 9 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

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Page 10: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

ChapterNews 10 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

Page 11: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

New Graduates, New Jobs:SLA@Pratt Hosts a PanelDiscussion

The Topic

Tula Giannini, the Dean of Library and Information Science (SILS) at Pratt Institute, approached our studentgroup about hosting an event during a two week SILSFestival. We decided to have a panel discussion withrecent Pratt SILS graduates about finding a job.

The Twist

Okay, maybe the topic sounds same old, same old, butour panel had a twist: we focused on emerging opportu-nities in the library and information science profession.All of the panelists were either in newly created posi-tions, or in positions not previously held by someonewith a Master’s in Library and Information Science. Thepanelists are all success stories, and they all happen to bemembers of SLA. Coincidence? I think not.

The Participants

The moderator of the panel discussion was MiguelFigueroa, Associate Director of Publishing at Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. and the New York SLA Chap-ter Library School Liaison. The panelists were:

▲ Jennifer Brown, Program Coordinator for Marketingand Assessment at Columbia University

▲ Jeffrey Dreiblatt, Search Manager, Knowledge Tech-nology Team at PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP

▲ Heather Edwards, Taxonomy Research Analyst atInform Technologies

▲ Michael Hassett, Archivist at Polshek PartnershipArchitects

▲ Ellen Nasto, Associate Librarian at The Andrew W.Mellon Foundation

Jennifer Brown, Jeffrey Dreiblatt, Heather Edwards, andEllen Nasto are all in positions that did not even exist asrecently as two years ago. Michael Hassett is the firstarchivist at Polshek Partnership Architects to have theMLS degree. Only one of the panel participants has atitle that includes the word librarian, yet most of thementered the library and information science programexpecting to work in...um...well...a library. Miguel pre-pared stimulating questions and the panelists’ answersand ensuing discussion was informative. Here are a fewof the lessons I took from the discussion:

The Job Hunt Starts Now

Start looking at jobs as soon as you enter school, even ifyou don’t want a job right now. Do internships or volun-teer work to get experience. Tailor both your cover letterand your resume for each job. The job hunt doesn’t endwhen you get that job! Continuously update yourresume, and never stop looking at job postings. Even ifyou don’t want a new job, watch job postings to stay cur-rent with the skills the industry requires.

Keep Your Options Open

Cast a wide net and consider positions that you may nothave originally considered. Subscribe to listservs. Con-stantly surf organization’s web sites. Each of the panelistsdiscovered their current job from a different source, souse your search skills to explore all possible employmentopportunities. Above all, be persistent.

ChapterNews 11 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

(Article continues on page 11)

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Page 12: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

Network, Network, Network

Miguel posed the question, “Who are the most impor-tant people a library school student in New York shouldknow? We want names!” Miguel’s question and the pan-elists’ answers emphasized the importance of networkingand making connections not only with potential employ-ers, but with fellow students and professors as well. Goto those SLA–NY events!

The Future is Bright

I think job opportunities for recent graduates are one ofthe leading indicators of the future of our profession.The panelists that participated in New Graduates, NewJobs show the spectrum of job opportunities for libraryand information science professionals is expanding. Theyresponded to market needs by being flexible during thejob search process. Their enthusiasm and positive out-look for the library and information science profession iscontagious. They promote the value of our professionjust by being themselves. If these recent graduates repre-sent the future of SLA, then the future is bright.

Editor’s Note: Kevin Manion, President-Elect of the SLA New York Chapter, attended the event and com-mented that he continues to be amazed at the diversity ofpeople in our profession. “It is fascinating to hear aboutthe different types of work we all do under the umbrellaof the information profession. I think there is realstrength in that diversity. A panel discussion like this ofrecent graduates would make a very interesting Chapterprogram. We'll plan something for the fall. I thoroughlyenjoyed the discussion and was impressed by the workbeing done by Lisa and the Pratt Student Group. I amheartened to know that new graduates such as these arejoining the profession.”

ChapterNews 12 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

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Page 13: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

New Members to SLA New York ChapterSeptember 2005 to February 2006

ARobert E. Aiosa, Scripps Productions NY, OperationsMagdalena Alagna, StudentRebecca F. Austin, Student

BVytas Bandziukas, King & Spalding LLP, LibraryLloyd Baskin, Goldberg Lindsay & Co. Christine Bassett, StudentSayan Bhattacharjee, Netscribes Inc., Sales & Business DevelopmentDaniel R. Blackaby, Microsoft Seth J. Bookey, StudentChristina Braun, StudentJulita Braxton, Student

CJohn L. Calhoun, StudentJennifer Chang, StudentElaine Charpentier, StudentAneliia I. Chatterjee, StudentNicole Cho, StudentHilary Clark, StudentVida E. Cohen, Prenax Corrinne Collett, StudentDavid, S. Conners, StudentJanet, S. Conton, Student

DGina Derke, StudentTim DeSoto, Dow Jones & Company/Wall Street Journal OnlineLeslie DiRusso, Ahimsa Inc.Angeline Djampou, UN-ICTR Legal LibraryDebora Duerksen, Student

FChristy Fisher, StudentKaren Flanagan, StudentConstance Fontana, StudentJane M. Frazer, StudentElizabeth, S. Frenchman, Davis Brody Bond

GBrian Gannon, StudentPatricia A. Glowinski, StudentAdam M. Goldstein, StudentLiorah A. Golomb, StudentAdam, S. Gordon, Windhover Information Thomas H. Grant, StudentJanet W. Greene, The General Society of Mechanics

HJaime L. Haire, StudentRoxanne Hamberry, Bryan Cave LLP Library & Research ServicesJanice E. Henderson, Lovells LibraryShawn D. Herman, Swets Information Services MarketingLenge Hong, StudentSue P. Hunter, LIM College LibraryBetty J. Hunter-Beatty, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler

IAnthony J. Iodice, StudentNina C. Ivey, Student

JSarah T. Jewell, New York Public Library

Science, Business and Industry LibraryBernadette L. Joe Ludwig, Institute For Cancer Research Karenann Jurecki, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer

KLorraine R. Klein, StudentMatthew Kochan, Student

LBonnie C. Lafazan, StudentJohn H. Larrier Elsevier, S&T Global ExhibitionsCarrie B. Levinson, StudentJoAnn K. Lewis, StudentEunice Liu, StudentVictoria A. Luther, Student

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Page 14: SLANY ChapterNews Newsletter Spring 2006

MMichael W. Mahoney, StudentSiobhan Mahoney, StudentRachel Mansfield, StudentStephanie Martino, StudentDan Mausner, Columbia University Kelly McCurry, StudentLuke Meagher, StudentMelanie J. Meyers-Cushman JBFCS Mary and Louis RobinsonLibraryHolly Miller, StudentAna Moriega, Laboratory Institute of Merchand

NRobert F. Nealon, Xavier Society for the Blind Elizabeth Nolasco, Student

OJeanette O’Keefe, Student

PChristine Persche, StudentEden Marie Picazo, StudentJonathan S. Pogoda, Student

RAmanda Raab, StudentBrian K. Reed, Booz Allen Hamilton IPCFlora A. Rodriguez, Student

STiffany Schureman, StudentGary L. Shaffer, StudentTracy Shields, The Medical Letter Paul D. Silverman, Broken Images Charles T. Skorupski, StudentSteve Swiller, Student

TJonathan D. Tanner, Cornell Medical Center Jennifer Thiele, StudentJulie C. Tozer, Student

UJill Uhrovic, Student

WJulie L. WeidemannJustyna Wozniak, Student

YPalmer S. Yale, StudentElizabeth Yates, Student

ChapterNews 14 Vol. 78, #1 Spring 2006

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