SLA '09 Recap

Some random thoughts, experiences, and pictures of SLA 2009.


SLA Leadership Development Institute

• Pain-free public speaking: SEE - Stories, Examples, Enthusiasm
• Align in 09: Two-year alignment project that looked into more effective ways to communicate to the non-library world about information professionals. A portal will be set up to discuss project findings and share information. Methods used in this alignment project included surveys, focus groups, and dial sessions. It was found that the name "Special Libraries Association" is not meaningful based on research and a discussion was started about a name change for the association.
  
• Top 10 picks for your SLA leadership toolkit:
  

1. Board of Directors
2. SLA Membership Directory
3. Leadership Center
4. Leadership Discussion Lists
5. Chapter Idea Wiki & Division Idea Wiki
6. Leadership Connections
7. Leadership Resources & Tools
8. Innovation Laboratory
9. SLA Resources
10. Click University

SLA Opening General Session

• Keynote Speaker: Colin Powell mentioned that instead of navigating through the SLA website to get to Click University, he just searched for it using Google. Maybe it's time for some web usability testing?
  
• Congrats to Pam Rollo, SLA@Pratt Advisor, for being selected as a SLA Fellow.
• Congrats to Michelle Dollinger, SLA-NY President, for being selected as a SLA Rising Star.
  

Thinking on Your Feet: Dynamic Communication

• Expanding your comfort zone
• Speaking your audience's language
• Benefits and features of a product or service
• What's the worse possible thing that can happen?
  
• "Plans are useless but planning is essential" - Eisenhower
  

Writing a Resume that Gets Results

• Your resume is not an autobiography
• Resume = marketing tool
• Networthing
• Summary/Qualifications section
• Skills - Transferable skills and technical/career-specific skills

Interviewing Tips & Techniques

• Essential HR Handbook: 100 Best Interview Questions
• Five biggest interviewing mistakes: Acting nonchalant, talking too much, exaggerating, not listening, and being unprepared

SLA Unconference Session #3

• Interesting discussion on participatory librarianship. See discussion notes
  
• Story telling vs. story listening

Developing a Job Search Strategy

• Keep learning/keep current -- core competencies of information professionals
• Building and developing networks
• Mentors
• Business cards. Suggestions: VistaPrint and Moo
  
• Having a Google presence
  

Critical Thinking

• Decision making and strategic planning
  
• Presentation (PDF)
  

National Library of Medicine (NLM) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tour

• NLM's Plan for 2006-2016
  
• HITECH Act and measuring meaningful use
• MedlinePlus is going to be redesigned sometime next year. Check out the search cloud
  
• Tutorial: Understanding Medical Words
• National Training Center and Clearinghouse
• Outreach Evaluation Resource Center
• NIH Library's physical space was redesigned based on staff suggestions instead of using a consulting firm

SLA@Pratt Career Fair Photos and Presentations

Over 120 people attended Friday's first annual SLA@Pratt Career Fair at Pratt SILS.

See more photos and some presentations on the SLA@Pratt site.

Share your experiences and continue the discussions with your colleagues at SLA@Pratt Connect using your Google, AIM, Yahoo or OpenID account.

You can also find SLA@Pratt on Facebook and Twitter.

A Few Days Left to Register for SLA@Pratt Career Fair

There's only a few days left to register for the SLA@Pratt Career Fair on Friday, April 24th from 4pm-7pm at Pratt SILS.

SLA@Pratt Career Fair on Friday, April 24th

SLA@Pratt will be hosting the first annual SLA Career Fair at Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science on Friday, April 24th from 4pm-7pm. Bring your resume and business card. Students and alumni from Pratt and other LIS programs will have the chance to network and ask questions of professionals from a variety of NY special libraries: law, corporate, academic, medical and museum, as well as representatives in information architecture and book vendors. RSVP for the SLA@Pratt Career Fair by Tuesday, April 21st.