On September 11the SLA-SCC and Boeing hosted a virtual seminar with research analyst Ross Housewright presenting, "Themes of Change in Corporate Libraries: Considerations for Academic Librarians". In his work at Ithaka, Ross explores ways to promote innovative uses of technology in scholarly communities -- he sees academic libraries as one place with growth potential. In the presentation, Ross discussed how corporate libraries have evolved to remain relevant in the internet age, and how academic librarians can learn from that experience. Ross said that corporate libraries now have a history of experiencing change and responding to a volatile environment where academic libraries have held tight to their traditional roles. Ross suggested that academic libraries could take advantage of some of the lessons learned by corporate librarians in weathering the challenges of implementing change efforts -- where there might be opportunities for academic libraries to make a greater contribution to the end users and the institutions they are supporting.
After about 35 minutes of presentation Ross facilitated a thoughtful discussion where several corporate and academic librarians chimed in. One theme raised in the discussion was how in academic libraries the staff is very resistant to change -- fifteen years ago this was also true for corporate libraries and now adapting to change has become the norm. Several suggestions were made about how to overcome this barrier by creating an environment where staff may be made more open to change by 1) presenting a data-driven impetus for change, to demonstrate the need for change and 2) helping staff understand that the change process will be sensitive to their individual needs, and that efforts will be undertaken to help them to adapt to change. Additionally, we also talked a bit at the end about the importance of focusing on things which the library can do by virtue of its local presence, that cannot be replaced by Google or other network-level players – these sorts of local roles represent an ongoing competitive advantage for the individual library.
Teresa Bailey
SLA-SCC President-elect
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
From the Archives ... June 1974
With SLA celebrating its centennial in 2009, the Southern California Chapter will periodically feature historical material from its 70+ years worth of archives.
SLA, Southern California Chapter, San Fernando Valley Luncheon Meeting, June 26, 1974 -- Lockheed DIALOG On-line Retrieval System Demonstration. Operating the CRT terminal and printer is Susanne Reed, Chief Literature Searcher, and explaining the operation is Stan Elman, Chief Librarian, both of Lockheed-California C., Burbank. Looking on in background, in dark suit, is Dr. Horace Jacobs, Mgr., Technical Information Center, Lockheed-California Co., and in foreground, with back to camera, is Herb Sclar, UPDATA Publications, Inc., Santa Monica -- Southern California representative for Lockheed's DIALOG system. And on the far right, in the print dress, is Shirley Tanaka.
SLA, Southern California Chapter, San Fernando Valley Luncheon Meeting, June 26, 1974 -- Lockheed DIALOG On-line Retrieval System Demonstration. Operating the CRT terminal and printer is Susanne Reed, Chief Literature Searcher, and explaining the operation is Stan Elman, Chief Librarian, both of Lockheed-California C., Burbank. Looking on in background, in dark suit, is Dr. Horace Jacobs, Mgr., Technical Information Center, Lockheed-California Co., and in foreground, with back to camera, is Herb Sclar, UPDATA Publications, Inc., Santa Monica -- Southern California representative for Lockheed's DIALOG system. And on the far right, in the print dress, is Shirley Tanaka.
President's Letter, September 2008
Inspiration from Change
Over the next few weeks I will meet all of the new students who are entering UCLA’s MLIS, PhD, and Moving Image Archival Studies (MIAS) Programs. I will be introduced to these students in lab orientations and technology workshops which I organize, and these students will have come from a variety of backgrounds with diverse life experiences – some will have arrived fresh from their undergraduate studies, and others will have chosen to pursue graduate study because they seek a career change. What binds all of these students together is their desire to move forward, and to change their lives. I am always inspired by these students as they eagerly look towards the future regardless of the economic or the political climate. They come to our program embracing, however nervously, the choices they have made. Their enthusiasm makes this sometimes jaded, middle-aged librarian look at his own future with fresh eyes.
Every fall, as the new students arrive, I am reminded of a dear friend who passed away in the summer of 2007, and who also was an inspiration to me. Jamie MacInnis and I worked together at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner’s Editorial Library for a number of years under Ann Sausedo whose own death in 2007 was a time of reflection for me. Jamie came to the Her-Ex from a harried family life and had attempted many times to complete her studies at Santa Monica College (SMC). In 1989 when I left the Her-Ex to enter UCLA Graduate School of Library & Information Science, Jamie’s high level of work made her an indispensable asset to the library, but the newspaper was to fold within two months. Jamie remained behind with a small staff as they prepared the library’s files for donation to the L.A. Public Library. Once her work was finished at the Her-Ex, Jamie focused on completing her Associate’s Degree at Santa Monica College. As her studies at SMC ended, she entered Cal State Fullerton, where she graduated with a B.A. in Linguistics in 1994. I sat proudly in Titan Stadium with my very pregnant wife as Jamie received her degree. And a few years later, Jamie graduated with her Masters degree in Library Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Jamie went on to be a librarian with the University of Missouri, Rolla, and, in what would be her final professional position, she was the Library Director at the Art Institute of California’s San Francisco campus. When I received my MLS degree, Jamie had a high school diploma. Yet she embraced the change that was thrust upon her and went from an A.A. degree, to a B.A., to an MSLS degree, and, finally, to a library director position.
I am always inspired when I remember Jamie’s professional path, and as I see new students come to the LIS program at UCLA. Jamie taught me about perseverance, and the students continually teach me to look towards the future with eager eyes.
Here’s to the people who inspire you!
Sincerely,
David Cappoli
dcappoli@ucla.edu
Note: Jamie passed away in the summer of 2007 along with another colleague from our Herald-Examiner days, Library Director Ann Sausedo. Jamie lives on though as the Art Institute of California's San Francisco campus library is now named the Jamie A. MacInnis Memorial Library.
Over the next few weeks I will meet all of the new students who are entering UCLA’s MLIS, PhD, and Moving Image Archival Studies (MIAS) Programs. I will be introduced to these students in lab orientations and technology workshops which I organize, and these students will have come from a variety of backgrounds with diverse life experiences – some will have arrived fresh from their undergraduate studies, and others will have chosen to pursue graduate study because they seek a career change. What binds all of these students together is their desire to move forward, and to change their lives. I am always inspired by these students as they eagerly look towards the future regardless of the economic or the political climate. They come to our program embracing, however nervously, the choices they have made. Their enthusiasm makes this sometimes jaded, middle-aged librarian look at his own future with fresh eyes.
Every fall, as the new students arrive, I am reminded of a dear friend who passed away in the summer of 2007, and who also was an inspiration to me. Jamie MacInnis and I worked together at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner’s Editorial Library for a number of years under Ann Sausedo whose own death in 2007 was a time of reflection for me. Jamie came to the Her-Ex from a harried family life and had attempted many times to complete her studies at Santa Monica College (SMC). In 1989 when I left the Her-Ex to enter UCLA Graduate School of Library & Information Science, Jamie’s high level of work made her an indispensable asset to the library, but the newspaper was to fold within two months. Jamie remained behind with a small staff as they prepared the library’s files for donation to the L.A. Public Library. Once her work was finished at the Her-Ex, Jamie focused on completing her Associate’s Degree at Santa Monica College. As her studies at SMC ended, she entered Cal State Fullerton, where she graduated with a B.A. in Linguistics in 1994. I sat proudly in Titan Stadium with my very pregnant wife as Jamie received her degree. And a few years later, Jamie graduated with her Masters degree in Library Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Jamie went on to be a librarian with the University of Missouri, Rolla, and, in what would be her final professional position, she was the Library Director at the Art Institute of California’s San Francisco campus. When I received my MLS degree, Jamie had a high school diploma. Yet she embraced the change that was thrust upon her and went from an A.A. degree, to a B.A., to an MSLS degree, and, finally, to a library director position.
I am always inspired when I remember Jamie’s professional path, and as I see new students come to the LIS program at UCLA. Jamie taught me about perseverance, and the students continually teach me to look towards the future with eager eyes.
Here’s to the people who inspire you!
Sincerely,
David Cappoli
dcappoli@ucla.edu
Note: Jamie passed away in the summer of 2007 along with another colleague from our Herald-Examiner days, Library Director Ann Sausedo. Jamie lives on though as the Art Institute of California's San Francisco campus library is now named the Jamie A. MacInnis Memorial Library.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Cast Your Vote in the Chapter Elections
On behalf of the Nominations Committee, I invite you to cast your ballot for the Southern California Chapter Executive Board.
Please visit
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=WMX_2fUj3wyw1NJDzw1semrQ_3d_3d
and cast your ballot for next year's officers.
The polls will be open until Tuesday, September 30.
The election results will be announced at the Chapter's Sternheim Scholarship Fundraiser on October 4th and on the Chapter website and blog.
If you have any problems with your ballot, please contact me or Sue Brewsaugh (sue.brewsaugh@boeing.com).
Please visit
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=WMX_2fUj3wyw1NJDzw1semrQ_3d_3d
and cast your ballot for next year's officers.
The polls will be open until Tuesday, September 30.
The election results will be announced at the Chapter's Sternheim Scholarship Fundraiser on October 4th and on the Chapter website and blog.
If you have any problems with your ballot, please contact me or Sue Brewsaugh (sue.brewsaugh@boeing.com).
Alison Becker
Member, Nominations Committee
abecker@support.ucla.edu
Member, Nominations Committee
abecker@support.ucla.edu
Fall 2008 Chapter Events
For more information on these upcoming chapter events, go to: http://www.sla-scc.org
Sep. 11 - Virtual Seminar - "Themes of Change in Corporate Libraries: Considerations for Academic Librarians". Research Analyst Ross Housewright discusses how corporate libraries have evolved to remain relevant in the internet age, and how academic librarians can learn from that experience.
Oct. 4 - An Afternoon at the San Antonio Winery with Special Guest, SLA President-Elect Gloria Zamora. Proceeds to benefit the chapter's Karen Sternheim Memorial Scholarship.
Oct. 15 - The Power of Vision - Blue Pen Companies and Red Pen Companies: A presentation by Bill Bellows, of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, on new ways of thinking, learning, and working together. Also a tour of the Leadership & Learning Center, which houses a historical collection of engines and models, including a Space Shuttle Main Engine.
Nov. 12 - Tour the world-famous Jet Propulsion Lab, followed by lunch and a short program on storytelling in special libraries. Tour includes Space Flight Ops and Spacecraft Assembly facilities.
Sep. 11 - Virtual Seminar - "Themes of Change in Corporate Libraries: Considerations for Academic Librarians". Research Analyst Ross Housewright discusses how corporate libraries have evolved to remain relevant in the internet age, and how academic librarians can learn from that experience.
Oct. 4 - An Afternoon at the San Antonio Winery with Special Guest, SLA President-Elect Gloria Zamora. Proceeds to benefit the chapter's Karen Sternheim Memorial Scholarship.
Oct. 15 - The Power of Vision - Blue Pen Companies and Red Pen Companies: A presentation by Bill Bellows, of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, on new ways of thinking, learning, and working together. Also a tour of the Leadership & Learning Center, which houses a historical collection of engines and models, including a Space Shuttle Main Engine.
Nov. 12 - Tour the world-famous Jet Propulsion Lab, followed by lunch and a short program on storytelling in special libraries. Tour includes Space Flight Ops and Spacecraft Assembly facilities.
Doris Helfer featured in Information Outlook
SLA Southern California member Doris Helfer is featured in the August 2008 edition of Information Outlook. In "Academia to Think Tank ... and Back Again," Doris recounts her professional career working with Joe Ann Clifton, Joe Becker, both past presidents of SLA, and Vivian Arterbery. Doris also talks of her work with SLA and her involvement with mentoring, which led to her receiving the 2004 Rose L. Vormelker Award.
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