SLA Alignment Project

The SLA undertook a survey on its future to mark the 100th anniversary of the organization. The survey will help us to improve even more as we enter our second century. The survey sought to understand the impact technological changes have had on how librarians and information professionals work, on the profession, work contexts and on the SLA association itself.

SLA initiated a repositioning in order to allow the organization and its members to revisit the mission, vision and values of the SLA. The international communications firm of Fleishman-Hillard, the futurist Andy Hines and Outsell Inc. partnered with the SLA on this repositioning project.

The results showed that the label “Special Libraries” did not resonate with the inherent values of SLA members nor did it reflect their contributions to their respective workplaces. The Board of Directors voted for a name change for the association, one that would better highlight the concepts of value-added service and knowledge.

In each of the SLA chapters, a project ambassador was named to serve as a link between you and your association:

Julie Rodrigue is the Project ambassador for the SLA Eastern Chapter of Canada.

• SLA Name Change Info Center  New!
  SLA Proposed Name Change - What they're saying
•   Naming Research Results  New!
  Posted on SLA Blog on 19 October 2009
•   Proposed New Name for SLA  New!
  Email to SLA members received 14 October 2009.
•   Positioning Information Professionals for the Future
  Summary of the key research results.
• SLA Alignment Project
  Summary of the key research results.
• SLA Alignment Wiki
  A project wiki available to members to express their thoughts on the project.
• SLA Name Change
  A wiki page dedicated specifically to the Association name change.

This page will be updated throughout the course of the Alignment Project.