http://www.sla.org/chapter/cky
Volume 27, Number 1
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| kysla@lsv.uky.edu http://www.sla.org/chapter/cky |
Spring/Summer 2002 Volume 27, Number 1 |
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Officers and Committee Chairs President President-Elect Past-President and Archivist Treasurer Secretary and SLA/KY List Owner Director and Bulletin Editor Director Membership Chair Public Relations/Diversity Leadership Development Committee Webmaster and Bulletin Co-Editor KY Chapter Student Group Liaison KY Chapter Student Group President |
Table of Contents
President's Message
--Wenda Webster Fischer
I’m really looking forward to passing along the leadership reins of the SLA/KY Chapter to Larry Besant and the newly elected and returning members of the board of directors. The chapter bulletin is totally electronic. The chapter web site is newly designed, looks great, and contains current, useful information. The treasury is healthier than it has been in several years. We have numerous volunteers that are ready and willing to help the chapter in various ways.
But most importantly, we are having discussions about new and different ways to do things. We are not rubber stamping every decision, and we are not always doing things "the way we’ve always done them." And I think that is very healthy for the chapter.
So as a parting message, I’d like to encourage us to continue to question, to bring forth new ideas, and to look at processes and procedures for their value and meaning. It won’t make things easy for Larry and the Board, but I truly believe that it will make our chapter stronger and provide our members with value for their dues.
Wenda
2001-2002 Kentucky Chapter Awards
--Submitted by Catherine Lavallée-Welch
The KY Chapter took the opportunity of the May 13 social event to present its annual awards. Mykie Howard received the Outstanding Chapter Member Award Professional Award for her tireless and enthusiastic work in the Chapter, notably as the KY Chapter Student Group President. Also a member of the Cincinnati Chapter, Mykie has won scholarships from that chapter recognizing her leadership skills. She also recently received the 2002 LISSO (Library and Information Science Student Organization) Leadership Award at UK's School of Library & Information Science. Mykie received her MLS in December and is currently working at the Serials Department at UK's W. T. Young Library.
Reinette Jones, librarian at the Shaver Engineering Library of UK, was given the Professional Award. A long term Chapter member, Reinette possesses an impressive resume as a writer and presenter as well as a volunteer in various organizations. In 2001, she published a book on her research, "Library Service to African Americans in Kentucky: From the Reconstruction Era to the 1960s."
The Awards committee was chaired by Elizabeth Smigielski and included Mary Jo Staggs, Veronica Walker and Catherine Lavallée-Welch.
Kentucky Chapter Listserv
--Submitted by Mary Vass, Listowner
Our primary method of communication for the Kentucky chapter is our chapter listserv, which currently has 86 members. We're currently sending our Bulletin via email, with the exception of two copies. This has been a major savings to the Chapter in printing and mailing costs, and in time spent in preparing mailings. Members can share their own news via the list and keep up to date on chapter happenings quickly and easily by sending to the listserv.
I've been updating some addresses from the listserv list based on a sign up sheet from the most recent business meeting. Several people were subscribed under old addresses, so I've corrected those. If you've gotten a message recently that treats you like a new subscriber, I've deleted an old address and added a new one. If you're changing email systems, you can actually follow the procedure below and unsubscribe at your old address and then resubscribe at the new one. If you're not forwarding from your old address, changing your address becomes critical. If you're unable to do this for some reason, send an email to maryvass@uky.edu and I'll add or delete you.
Here's the procedure for both the regular list and the student list if you'd like to do it yourself.
The Kentucky Chapter of SLA maintains a listserv for its members. To subscribe, e-mail listserv@lsv.uky.edu with the following in the body of the message:
SUBSCRIBE KYSLA The Kentucky Chapter Student Group also has a listserv. To subscribe, e-mail listserv@lsv.uky.edu with the following in the body of the message:
SUBSCRIBE UKSLA All members are encouraged to join and participate in the lists.
Local Librarians Featured in Business Newspaper On April 26, 2002, Business First, a weekly business newspaper for the Greater Louisville area, presented an article, "Legal librarians' duties evolve as tech highway paves new roads in legal documentation, research" by Linda Romine. Several librarians were interviewed, including our very own Director-at-Large Constance Ard. The article can be viewed at: http://louisville.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2002/04/29/focus3.html. Check it out!!!
SLA Bylaws Revision: The Buck Stops Where?
"…It is curious that you should have brought up this subject [said the Oldest Member] for only a moment before you came in I was thinking…But perhaps I’d better tell you the whole story from the beginning." (From The Long Hole by P.G. Wodehouse)
Joe Miller, the Kentucky Chapter’s resident golf pro and P.G. Wodehouse fan, has decreed me to be the Chapter’s "Oldest Member." It is not clear whether Joe awarded this honorific to me in the Wodehouseian sense, of "the ancient sage who is not so much world-weary as he is singularly aware of what others cannot see--that golf equals life." Since I detest golf, it must simply have been that since I have been a member of SLA since l962, I just am "the oldest member."
Regarding the SLA Bylaws, I expect that, like me, you don’t really have the time or stomach for "the whole story from the beginning." Yet we are all concerned that somehow SLA has stepped off the one sure path to the right organizational future. We find ourselves peering uncertainly into a dark thicket of finding a new Executive Director, new bylaws, new organizational structure, new conference structure, new members, new partners, and new branding.
Trite to say, but we seem to be guilty victims of the very information overload syndrome we are in the profession of relieving. Every gob and gobbet of applicable information is available online and in print. There have been real-time chats and threaded discussions and listservs and chapter and division caucuses. The most pertinent item runs to 23 printed pages. That’s the side-by-side comparison of the current and proposed Bylaws with rationale notes. The SLA Bylaws "Guidelines" document is nine pages, and there are five strategic task forces reporting. My SLA "leadership" folder has 130 e-mails so far this year!
One thing is certain. The membership response (uproar?) at the Winter Meeting in Chicago in January HAS resulted in significant revisions to the proposed Bylaws revisions as originally proposed.
One thing is uncertain. Have YOU made the time to review the current version of the proposed Bylaws and expressed your views to the SLA President and Board and your Chapter and Division leadership? JUST DO IT!
A few of us will be attending the Annual Meeting in LA this June. We will have the chance to thoughtfully vote on some issues at the Membership business meeting. Those of us who go to LA can commit ourselves to attending the Board Meetings as well as the Chapter or Division business sessions. By our watchful membership presence we can share our concern for SLA’s future. And all of us will have the chance to vote on some of the issues AFTER they emerge from the June Board meetings as mail ballots.
In the meantime, RIGHT NOW, your influence on SLA’s future (as in destiny) is needed. Go to the SLA webpage at: http://www.sla.org/. Poke around, read up, express your views on the proposed Bylaws to the SLA President, and the Board, and the Chapter and Division leaders.
Several exciting events and changes have taken place over the last few months with the University of Kentucky SLA Student Chapter. The group has taken several tours of area-wide special libraries, hosted a President's Bash, attended the spring conference, and appointed new officers.
As of August 2002 the new officers of the UK student chapter will be Stephanie Ballard as President, and Leoma Dunn as Secretary/Treasurer. Both women are students in the SLIS program at UK. Stephanie is a SLA member of both the Kentucky and Cincinnati Chapter and can be contacted at steph_ballard@hotmail.com. She stated the following about her new role as President, "I was drawn to the student SLA because of Mykie [Howard]'s leadership and I hope to build on what she's already created. Although my title will be 'President,' I view my role as a team facilitator. There are already several able students who want to get involved, and I'm excited about working with them next year. Stay tuned for further developments!" Leoma works for Lexington Community College as a Technical Services Technician and can be reached at lrdunn01@uky.edu. She has also been active for several years in the student SLA group and its activities and is excited about her role. The current officers, Mykie Howard (President and UK graduate '01) and Kristiana Burk (Secretary/Treasurer- will graduate August '02) will step down in July.
The UK and KY SLA chapters welcome these new officers and look forward to the difference and participation that they will add to the chapter! The group would also like to thank and recognize the continued dedication and support that the UK SLA student chapter sponsor, Joe Miller, has provided and looks forward to continuing to work with him in this role.
On President's Day the student chapter hosted a President's Day Bash at the University of Kentucky William T. Young Library with SLA President Hope Tillman (via video-conferencing), SLA KY Chapter President Wenda Webster, and SLA Cincinnati Chapter President Nonnie Klein. The Presidents talked about their backgrounds and journeys in special librarianship, the things in their careers that were important to them, and addressed several issues like technology, education, and the importance of establishing and utilizing networking in the field to a group of UK SLIS students and other SLA members. Members of the audience also asked questions and then a "red-white-and blue" reception followed the event. The President's Day bash was a success and will hopefully continue as an annual event.
The first special library tour of the semester was lead by Susan Byars at the Lexington Kentucky Hospice Library and Information Center at its new facility. The primary purpose of this library is to provide materials and support to individuals and their families who are dealing with terminal illnesses. The collection primarily consists of audio books, print materials for adults and children, videos, and a large collection of pamphlets on a variety of medical, health-related, and coping issues. Susan also talked to the students about the role and challenges of "solo-librarianship" and her love for the field and the changes that have been made and benefits received from the library being an important part of Hospice's work.
Linda Minch conducted a tour of the Lexington Herald-Leader News Library and the Herald-Leader facilities. The tour began with a discussion about the background and operations of the newspaper environment. Then, a tour of the library and information center facilities was followed by a discussion about the role of information technology processes in the library with layout and archiving. Finally, a tour of the newspaper facilities was given in order for the students to get an "inside" look at the fast-paced world of news librarianship.
The third tour of the semester was at the Southland Christian Church's new library facilities. Cindy Cline, the volunteer librarian for the library, showed the group around the new facilities, the collection, and discussed details concerning the role of the library in the church, the type of collection provided, and issues involved with designing the new facilities and maintaining the library in a volunteer atmosphere.
The UK SLA student chapter would like to thank Susan, Linda, and Cindy for taking time out of their busy schedules to share their experience and knowledge gained over the years in special librarianship. Their thoughts, concerns, and involvement have made a big difference for the group.
As the spring semester comes to a close, the group would like to thank all of the SLA Kentucky members for their continued support and involvement with the chapter. The group looks forward to working with you more in the near future!
Where Do You Want to Meet in 2004?
The location of future Joint Spring Conferences was a hot topic at the April business meeting. The question was raised that perhaps the entire SLA membership was not being served if some members were not able to come to a state park meeting because of the distance and the time it would take away from work, and perhaps a good alternative would be to alternate between an urban area and a rural location. The state park meetings have a history dating back to 1994 when SLA Kentucky began meeting jointly with KLA Academic Section. That year, the Spring Meeting was scheduled for Rough River State Park but had to be moved to Louisville a few months before the meeting when it was discovered that Rough River was too small for both groups. The Spring Meeting has been held in state parks every year since 1995. It is scheduled for Cumberland Falls State Park in 2003.
You will soon be receiving a survey seeking your input into the location choice for the Spring 2004 meeting. Do you think that the meeting should always be held in state parks or would you like for the locations to alternate? Surveys will be sent by snail mail and email to ensure that everyone’s opinion is counted.
If you are not currently on the KYSLA list, subscribe now by sending an email to listserv@lsv.uky.edu Please respond as soon as you receive your survey. Your opinion is important!
SLA Kentucky Chapter Treasurer's Report (04/11/02-05/03/02) Board Meeting Minutes, Kentucky Chapter of Special Libraries Association, Louisville, Kentucky, February 15, 2002 Attending: Mykie Howard, Alice Marksberry, Elizabeth Smigielski., James Manasco, Larry Besant, Wenda Webster Fischer, Judy Wulff, Constance Ard, Jo Staggs-Neel, Mary Vass
INTRODUCTION/ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Wenda has shared the SLA Press Release about the resignation of executive director Robert Shaffer with the listserv.
2) James Manasco gave the group on update on the SLA Midwinter Meeting. A Task Force set up by the SLA Board to work on a major revision of the Bylaws made a report at the Winter meeting. This group was made up of Board members, not members of the Bylaws Committee. A vote of the membership on these changes will take place this summer. One of the major changes would be that the Board, not by the SLA membership, would pass any dues increase. Another provision is that the membership would vote for 4 directors a year and the Board would elect a president and other officers from among its membership. Other issues that arose at the meeting were the lack of communication with divisions and chapters.
3) There was discussion of the resignation of Roberta Shaffer from her position as executive director of SLA. She is scheduled to be the speaker at our joint spring meeting (with KLA Academic and Special sections) to be held in April. SLA would supply another speaker if we wish, but the Board voted to invite Ms. Shaffer if she is still willing to speak
MINUTES
4) Minutes for the August 3 2001 meeting were approved
TREASURER'S REPORT
5) Jo Staggs-Neel presented a treasurer's report. Showing a balance of $3966.99. The membership allotment from headquarters has not yet been received but should be coming relatively soon. The next major expected expense item will be the spring conference, although typically we break even more or less.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
6) Wenda reported for Gracie Hale that we currently have a membership of about 70. A table is planned for the spring conference: contact Gracie to sign up. The online directory is to be updated.
7) Elizabeth reported for Public Relations/Diversity - the Diversity Award. Expectations need to be more clearly defined particularly in terms of expected participation in chapter activities. Nominations for this award should go to Elizabeth as soon as possible.
8) Andrea Peak has resigned form the Printing House for the Blind and doesn't intend to continue her activity with SLA but has agreed to update the chapter web site through the end of the SLA year. After that, we'll need to recruit someone else to work on this. We'll miss Andrea's contributions to the chapter, but wish her well in her new endeavor.
9) James reported for the newsletter. He would like to relinquish this responsibility next year. For the next newsletter, he would like any and all submissions. New member profiles and library spotlights would be things that members could contribute.
OLD BUSINESS
10) Janet Stith has been the representative to KYVL for KLA Special Section. Larry will propose that representation to KYVL for special libraries will alternate with Kentucky Chapter of SLA.
11) Debbie Sharp is our representative for spring meeting planning, serving the term 2001-2003.
NEW BUSINESS
12) Joe Miller has proposed that we sponsor students for the spring conference. Dr. Sineath will provide up to $100 if the chapter matches. Constance moved and Larry seconded that the Student Group contribute $100, the Chapter $100 and with the matching funds from Library Science, a total of $300 would be available to award scholarships to students. The motion passed, and the student group will distribute these funds.
13) Judy Wulff reported for the Nominating Committee which has made its recommendations: James Manasco will be running for President Elect, Mykie Howard for Secretary and Stacey Greenwell and Elizabeth Smigielski for Directors at Large. Additional nominations can be submitted at the spring meeting if members so desire.
14) We briefly discussed a possible bylaws change so that nominations are in sync with newsletter production.
15) One goal next year will be to expand committee membership to get more chapter members involved in activities. Professional Development and Mentoring are two possible areas for greater involvement.
16) Elizabeth will be organizing a lunch for the Louisville cohort: she will contact members to finalize time and place.
17) James and Constance took on the task of organizing a fun meeting for membership. The Newport Aquarium was the preferred place, and James and Constance will contact the Cincinnati chapter about joining us in this activity. Next official business meeting at the Spring conference in April.
18) The meeting was adjourned with a general agreement that the restaurant choice was excellent.
About the Bulletin Publication Deadlines Send e-mail to James Manasco at manasco@pop.uky.edu, or mail your diskette to: Newsletters are posted one month after article submission date.
Editors Minutes of the Kentucky Chapter of Special Libraries Association Business Meeting
Lake Cumberland State Park, Jamestown, Kentucky, April 11, 2002 Attending: Sarah Mayfield, Janet Stith, Larry Besant, Theresa Wiley, Christie Robinson, Mykie Howard, Leoma Dunn, Valerie Perry, Veronica Walker, Jo Staggs-Neel, Alice Marksberry, Pat Wilson, James Manasco, Laura Whayne, Wenda Webster Fischer, Debbie Sharp, Joe Miller Stacey Greenwell, Mary Vass,
I. Introduction and welcome by President Wenda Webster Fischer
II. Announcements
A. Bylaws for the Special Libraries Association have been revised: a number of major changes have been proposed in the manner in which officers of the Association are selected as well as other changes. A vote on these revisions will take place this summer at the annual Business Meeting.
B. Scholarships are available for library school students who wish to attend the annual conference---University of Kentucky students have received these on a couple of occasions. Local chapters do interviews to help in awarding these scholarships. Joe Miller and Elizabeth Smigielski did interviews on behalf of the chapter this year, and Wenda extended her thanks since the deadline for doing these was very tight.
III. Minutes - Mary Vass, chapter secretary, distributed minutes for the December 12 business meeting. James Manasco moved that these be accepted, Laura Whayne seconded and the motion passed.
IV. Committee Reports
Nominating Committee - Judy Wulff reported: candidates James Manasco for President Elect, Mykie Howard for Secretary, and two candidates for Director at Large: Elizabeth Smigielski and Stacey Greenwell. Our current President Elect, Larry Besant, will be Chapter President for the 2002-2003 year. Joe Miller moved that the candidates for President Elect and Secretary be accepted by acclimation and Larry Besant seconded this motion. Motion passed. A paper ballot was distributed to select the Director at Large: Elizabeth Smigielski was elected the new Director at Large.
Archivist - Report from Alice Marksberry. Alice has sorted through the Chapter Archives and has organized and discarded some material. The process should be completed by June.
Bulletin - James Manasco reported. Currently most people are receiving via email. Only two are currently being printed and mailed via regular mail. An issue is due soon: James would like to have any material. Mary Vass will put in a notice on the listserv. James will be stepping down as Bulletin editor. Please contact him if you’re interested in assuming this role.
Webmaster - Wenda reported for Andrea Peak is relinquishing her responsibilities for the web page at the end of June. Larry stated the gratitude of the chapter for her service as our Webmaster. A new person is needed to take over this duty: volunteers can contact Larry.
Membership - no report.
Public Relations/Diversity Wenda reported for Elizabeth Smigielski. Materials representing the chapter were supplied to a University of Louisville Career Fair. No applications were received for the Diversity/Affirmative Action scholarship.
Student Group - Mykie Howard reported that she has been working with Leoma. The Student Group sponsored tours of the Lexington Herald Leader Library and the Southland Christian Church Library. Pat Wilson and Joe Miller both complimented Mykie on leadership with the Student Group, which has been very active
Site Selection Committee - Debbie Sharp reported. She is one of three representatives: the other two represent the Special and Academic Sections of the Kentucky Library Association. The 2003 meeting will be held at Cumberland Falls State Park.
We haven’t met in an urban area since 1994, but these remote locations make it more difficult to attract national level speakers. The Academic and Special Sections polled their membership at this meeting, and they seem committed to state parks. However, people who come to state park meetings are those who like that setting and such a vote is biased toward people who prefer the parks.
It was moved by Larry Besant and seconded by James Manasco that Debbie Sharp conduct a survey of Kentucky Chapter membership to determine preferences for conference locations. The motion passed. The Board will analyze the results and make a recommendation. If we do decide to split off from the other groups, it could be difficult to make a go of it financially due to our smaller membership. Many of our members also belong to KLA sections and deciding which conference to attend becomes difficult.
Treasurer - Jo Staggs Neel reported. Current balance is $4,072. The Membership stipend has not yet been received from SLA Headquarters.
V. OLD BUSINESS
The Chapter does not have a procedures manual, which Wenda thinks would be very helpful. Alice has located some things in the Archives that outline basic procedures. That could be a project for the coming year.
Larry Besant reported that the Virtual Library has changed their Bylaws: the Special Section of Kentucky Library Association and the Kentucky chapter of SLA will alternate as representatives on the Board. Janet has been the representative for Special Section and will be willing to continue for a one-year term as representative for the Kentucky Chapter. Joe Miller moved and Valerie Perry seconded. The motion passed.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
New member procedures need to be improved. It can take 3-4 months for the Membership Chair of our Chapter to be notified by Headquarters that we have a new member. When this happens, we do need to send out a letter of welcome or perhaps contact the person via phone or email.
Veronica Walker and Elizabeth Smigielski have served as the Awards Committee. Awards will be presented at the May meeting.
James recommended that everyone sign up for the May 13th Spring Fling co-sponsored with the Cincinnati chapter. This will be a social outing to the Newport Aquarium with dinner afterwards.
Pat Wilson has been approached by two members from the Tennessee chapter. SLA for 2004 will be in Nashville and the TN chapter may need some help with local arrangements responsibilities: staffing booths and so forth. Pat will coordinate with this group as the time draws closer.
VII ADJOURNMENT
The meeting concluded with a ceremonial passing of the KY chapter sign from Wenda to Larry who will assume the Presidency of the Chapter.
--Submitted by James Manasco (with help from Judy Wulff, etc.)
--Submitted by Oldest Member (a.k.a. Larry Besant)
University of Kentucky SLA Student Chapter Update
--Submitted by Kristiana Burk, UK Student Chapter Secretary/Treasurer
--Submitted by Debbie Sharp
--Submitted by Jo Staggs-Neel, Treasurer
Grand Total (Available for Expenditures) $4,217.84 Operating Budget (Ledger) - (Includes student sub-account of $232.00) $2,444.24 Savings Account Balance $1,773.60 Deposits Spring Fling Income $450.00 Expenses Newport Aquarium (Spring Fling)
$179.25 KLA for Spring Conference (from EBSCO) $125.00
--Submitted by Mary Vass, Secretary
Special Libraries Association assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors to the Association's publications. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official position of SLA. Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of any product by Special Libraries Association. (M094(e)-1/76; Agen-Doc B76-01). The chapter bulletin is published four times a year.
Deadline for submitting articles is one month prior to publication of the issue. Electronic format is preferred.
Shaver Engineering Library
351 Anderson Hall
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0456
James Manasco
Engineering Library
University of Kentucky Libraries
Lexington, KY
(859) 257-8358
manasco@pop.uky.edu
Andrea Peak
American Printing House for the Blind
Louisville, KY
(502) 895-2405 ext. 321
apeak@aph.org
(Draft - corrections/additions can be sent to maryvass@email.uky.edu
--Submitted by Mary Vass, Secretary
Spring/Summer 2002
Volume 27, Number 1
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