From: Deb Hunt (dhunt@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Fri Feb 18 2005 - 10:06:46 PST
Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.0.20050218100442.02f93380@192.174.2.1> Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:06:46 -0800 From: Deb Hunt <dhunt@exploratorium.edu> Subject: Fwd: [sla-dlmd] The Future of SLA From the LMD Chair
>Good morning, SF Chapter members,
I received this message this morning from the LMD chair and am sharing my
response to it.
I hope you will read it in its entirety. It is long (not my response, but
the original email), but very worthwhile and timely.
I think we are a chapter of highly motivated, awesome professionals and I
am glad to be associate with all of you.
Deb
***
Dear Lois and sister/fellow LMDers,
>Thanks for expressing so eloquently these sentiments.
>I heartily second all that you have written.
>
>I have been in the library business since I got my MLS back in 1976 and
>have enjoyed the challenge of running ever faster to stay ahead of the wave
>of new challenges that face us each day in our jobs. I have also been
>saddened by colleagues who wish for the good old days, which as Lois noted,
>were not so good. Now we can take our skills to new heights, make a
>difference in our jobs and careers, AND get the professional stature we
>deserve and desire.
>
>I hope that we will all see that what OUR association is doing is for our
>own good. I am so impressed with our leaders, both volunteer and paid
>staff. They have all of our interests at heart.
>
>Let's pull together rather than apart and be open to new ideas. Soon we
>will wonder how we ever did things the old way and why it took us so long
>to run right into the 21st century.
>
>Lois, again, my thanks for your sharing this with all of us. I will also be
>copying this to my chapter's discussion list so everyone can share this
>message.
>
>Best,
>Deb Hunt
>President, San Francisco Bay Region Chapter
>
>At 11:24 AM 2/18/2005 -0500, Lois Weinstein wrote:
>
> > Who and what is SLA?
> >
> > Once upon a time there was an organization of librarians who
> > worked in corporate, government, academic, non-profit and other "special"
> > libraries.
> >That was long ago, long before the World Wide Web, Yahoo, Google and
> >others like them, "faster than the speed of light" information resources
> >that work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for FREE!! With the expansion of
> >these "free" resources, librarians who toiled selflessly, efficiently and
> >expertly for many years began to be released from their "servitude". SLA
> >used to be an organization that provided these librarians with continuing
> >education (CE), colleagues to share with, and opportunities for learning
> >new skills that went far beyond the CE courses. The "new" information
> >resources did not need a professional community or an organization of
> >like-minded beings since they were not human, but robots, and as Asimov
> >explained to us many years ago, they are not the same as humans.
> >
> > Where does that leave SLA?
> >
> > Oh, there are still some librarians working in corporate,
> > government, academic, non-profit and other "special" libraries, but their
> > number grow smaller each year as the heads of these organizations realize
> > that robots do not need salaries, benefits, sick leave or
> > vacations. However, the skills, knowledge and competencies that
> > librarians have excelled in are needed now more than ever because the
> > robots (Yahoo, Google etc.) can make some distinctions between the right
> > answer and stuff that is similar, but not anywhere near what the
> > requester needs. In addition, librarians are doing more teaching, end
> > user analysis, competitive intelligence, web design, system design, and
> > other higher level analyses, then ever before. These folk are not even
> > called librarians any more, they have new titles that organizations
> > consider more "valuable". These people are SLA and, if they do not know
> > about SLA, they need to because it is an organization that serves their
> > needs for continuing education, networking and a place to develop and
> > hone new skills and competencies.
> >
> > Why now?
> >
> > It has come to my attention not once, but more then once that
> > some members (and I include myself in this group) have been more than
> > unhappy with some of the changes and some of the reasons for the
> > changes. I have also learned that some members have not been as pleasant
> > about these changes as maybe we ought to have been. Let us all take a
> > pledge right this minute to cease and desist from all negative thoughts
> > and behaviors. I believe that we have a new Executive Director who
> > really likes us, the organization and wants us all to succeed. Let's help
> > her, our elected Board and our staff and give them our whole hearted
> > support. Does this mean that we should lie down and let a steam roller
> > run over us, heaven forbid!! But, if something doesn't appeal to us, let
> > us count to 10 and then communicate it professionally.
> >
> > At the Leadership Summit meeting in Tampa, I listened to Janice
> > LaChance's "State of the Union" speech which included remarks about a
> > small minority of angry members. I wrote to her with my ideas and she
> > has written back to me. The following is part of her letter:
> >
> >
> > "On the one hand, I am actually relieved to hear that some of our
> > volunteer leaders in Tampa walked away wondering where my comments
> > originated. That means they have been spared some of the hurtful,
> > personal attacks that I have witnessed being levied against their
> > colleagues and the SLA staff, and I am very glad for that. If you recall,
> > I did state in my remarks that this was not the kind of behavior
> > exhibited by the vast majority of our members. Yet in many ways this is
> > what frustrates me the most -- that such a small number of unprofessional
> > members can have a truly detrimental effect on SLA.
> >
> > Lois, the kind of behavior I described in Tampa has tangible
> > results -- it is the reason good, long-term staff are leaving the
> > association and I have been told this is the reason a number of people
> > decline to run for the SLA Board.
> >
> > As an executive, I believe it is my responsibility and obligation
> > to do more than just brag about our many accomplishments, but identify
> > what I believe are true threats to the Association. Please believe me
> > when I say that I am not doing this to divide, I simply want the best for
> > SLA and I have witnessed too many instances where this behavior
> > constitutes a fundamental roadblock to SLA's ongoing success. From where
> > I sit, it is akin to a cancer that is slowing eating away at the very
> > things we need to grow and succeed -- dedicated volunteer leaders like
> > you and motivated staff.
> > True culture change cannot occur with just a few people tilting
> > at windmills, it has to be rooted in the entire organization deciding for
> > itself what its values are and holding each other to those standards of
> > behavior. That is why I need your help and the assistance of everyone who
> > was in Tampa.
> >
> > Also, please don't interpret this as my being unhappy or
> > dissatisfied as SLA's Executive Director. On the contrary, I love this
> > job and I am gratified on a daily basis by the rank-and-file members who
> > reach out to me and tell me the many ways SLA helps them succeed in their
> > job and their careers. I am in my dream job and I love every single day
> > at SLA. I am thrilled to be working for and with such smart people who
> > impact the global economy and our society in so many significant ways. I
> > could not ask for a better position.
> >
> > This love of the job is exactly why I am so passionate about
> > ending the negative culture that dominates so many discussions and saps
> > our volunteers and staff. I feel I owe it to SLA for the terrific
> > opportunities it has given me."
> >
> > Where does that leave current SLA members?
> >
> > Many of our members, like myself, have been in this organization
> > for more years than we like to count. Many of us wanted SLA to stay the
> > way it always was. But!! If it does, it will cease to exist because the
> > world has moved on and the "robots" are everywhere. I agree with Janice,
> > all the members of SLA need to breathe new life into this organization.
> > Here is how I think that all the members, but especially LMD members, can
> > help in this process.
> > 1. Volunteer to help your chapter or division. If called
> > upon, say yes. If no one calls you, speak up, e-mail or call and offer
> > your help.
> > 2. Let go of the "old" and let in the "new". You may not
> > like some (or maybe all) of the changes, but give them a chance. Try to
> > remember what it was like when you were in a new job and you made a
> > mistake or two. Did someone give you another chance? Remember how great
> > that felt and how you grew and did better and better. Let's let that
> > happen to SLA.
> > 3. If you are angry or mad about the changes, express them
> > in a way that you would like it expressed to you if someone was mad or
> > angry with you.
> >Long ago I learned an important lesson, when someone yells at me or speaks
> >harshly to me I do not hear their ideas, only the tone that they are using.
> >Let our tone be one of peace, willingness to help and professional courtesy.
> > 4. Reach out to colleagues in your organizations and let
> > them know what SLA can do for them. Who knows? They might join and make
> > SLA a better place to be!!
> >
> >Thank you for reading this message, I would really appreciate it if you
> >would pass it on to chapter and division newsletter editors and if they
> >would print it - let's get the word out. SLA is a renewed and vital
> >organization with a historic and productive past, an uncompromisingly
> >strong present and an unimaginably bright future!
> >
> >Lois, Chair LMD
> >
> >Lois Weinstein, MLS
> >President
> >L. Weinstein Consulting LLC
> >117 Louisiana Avenue
> >Bay Shore, NY 11706
> >Phone: 631-839-7007
> >Fax: 631-969-7818
> >E-mail: loisweinstein@hotmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> >---
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Deborah Hunt
Senior Information Specialist
Exploratorium http://www.exploratorium.edu
mailto: dhunt@exploratorium.edu
415-353-0485
(fax) 415-561-0370
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead
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