NC/SLA Communicates!


 

Contents:

NCSLA Now on Facebook

Networking Dinners Round-Up

Improv Class

NCSLA Awards Banquet

Career Enrichment Program

 

Dear NC/SLA Member,

As we find Spring upon us, we are gearing up for a productive year of activities and networking with NC/SLA year. We are just a few days away from the Improv Class workshop at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro on April 3rd. Also, the NCSLA Awards Banquet is just around the corner. We hope to see you at one of these exciting events!
Happy Spring!

NCSLA Now on Facebook

If you are a fan of Facebook, why not consider becoming a member of the new North Carolina Chapter – Special Libraries Association Group on Facebook? Seven NCSLA’ers have already joined the group so why not join us? Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

 

Networking Dinners Round-Up

In February, four “neighborhoods” gathered for networking events. Unfortunately, the Raleigh event was postponed due to too much flu! Charlotte members are considering a networking event later in the year. Here are summaries of the four who met in February.

 

Chapel Hill: On Thursday, February 21, April Errickson and Debbie Balsamo hosted the Chapel Hill Networking Dinner at the Mediterranean Deli on Franklin Street. The event was attended by 19 people and included many students, including some first semester students and the current President of the UNC's Student SLA Chapter. There was lively discussion as the students shared their plans for the future and heard veteran SLA'ers talk about their experiences.

 

Durham: On the evening of Tuesday, February 19, Rebecca B. Vargha hosted the Durham Networking Dinner at City Beverage in Durham.  There were 17 people present including members, student members, guests and faculty from both UNC-Chapel Hill & North Carolina Central University.  The conversation topics ranged from career plans to an overview of current SLA initiatives such the Alignment Project and the Centennial Celebration. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect and meet new colleagues in an informal setting.


RTP:
Diana Chilke, Jen Stringer, and Erin Knight hosted the RTP Networking Breakfast at the Radisson Research Triangle Park on Tuesday, February 26th. Fourteen members and guests gathered to enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast and the opportunity to chat and catch up with friends and colleagues.

 

Triad: Nine Triad area members gathered for a potluck dinner at the home of Mary Schwartz on Friday, February 22nd. Librarians came from Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Students came from UNC-CH and UNC-G. All enjoyed good food, wine, and conversation around the dining table.

 

 

Improv Class

Improv actor and trainer Greg Hohn will conduct a 3-hour leadership development course. Through active participation, we will learn how to think fast on our feet, influence upward, and improve communication skills.

Date? Thursday, April 3rd Time? Class is from 9:30-12:30, Lunch and class debriefing from 12:30-1:30. Location? Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, NC. Cost? $69.

Applied Improv is a curriculum designed for soft skills and leadership development. It is improv in business, improv for business; an approach that puts the principles and techniques of improvisational theater to work in non-theatrical venues such as corporations, academic institutions, organizations, and professional groups. Through participating in improv exercises and games, participants develop vital professional skills. It is a part of the growing international wave of nontraditional, arts-based educational programs being used to help people become better at—and happier with—what they do.

Authentic and Dynamic Communication. How do you bring out the most vivid and honest parts of who you are? This program focuses on self awareness, conveying the importance of your message, and techniques for developing and maintaining self confidence. In addition, participants get better at paying attention and listening to others.

Thinking on Your Feet. The essence of improvising is thinking on your feet, reacting in the moment. Participants become more present and responsive by learning techniques for focusing on the moment and recognizing and preventing the barriers that keep them out of the moment.

Testimonials from clients such as Manpower, UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business, Southern Company, and the EPA are at http://appliedimprovisation.org/buzz.html

Registration fee is payable by check on April 3rd. Class is limited to 24 participants so REGISTER now!

Driving directions

NCSLA Awards Banquet

Please join us for the NCSLA Awards Banquet on April 22nd. This annual event is a cause for celebrating past achievement and looking forward to a bright future. Held at the picturesque Castle McCulloch in Jamestown near Greensboro, we’ll enjoy a buffet dinner, dynamic speaker, and presentation of awards. Our keynote speaker is Guy St. Clair, President of SMR and a past-president of SLA, who will discuss our historical roots and the nexus of knowledge services as we approach our 2nd century. The following awards will go to deserving chapter members:

 

Horizon Award – presented to a Chapter member who shows promise of becoming an outstanding member of the profession. Given to a colleague who has been a Chapter member for four or fewer years and who, through work and professional  activities, has shown promise of becoming an outstanding member of the profession.

 

Meritorious Achievement Award – presented to a Chapter colleague who has made outstanding or notable contributions to the Chapter and to the profession. Recognizes a Chapter member in good standing for at least the past four years who has made

outstanding or notable contributions to the Chapter and to the profession.

 

Information Management Award – presented to an organization, served by a North Carolina special library, for its outstanding or notable support of library and information science. Recognizes an organization, served by a NC special library, for its outstanding or notable support of library and information science. Creative and innovative support of the library, its mission, and its staff will be the criteria for final selection.

 

Please consider nominating one or more of your NC/SLA colleagues for one of our Chapter awards for 2008. Nominations are easy -- just email a short description of why you think someone should be considered for this recognition to Deborah Balsamo at balsamo.deborah@epa.gov. All nominations are due by COB Thursday, April 3; and awards will be presented at our upcoming Spring banquet in April.  The award categories are listed below, and more details can be found on the Chapter Web site at: http://units.sla.org/chapter/cnc/awards.cfm

Buffet Menu - Mini tomato and mozzarella bruschettas, mixed greens salad with goat cheese, pine nuts & dried cranberries, parmesan crusted baked chicken, sirloin kabobs with peppers and onions, roasted assorted vegetables, asparagus, mashed potatoes with gravy, rolls, beverages, mini dessert assortment, and cash bar for red and white wine

Thanks to our generous sponsors Ebsco, Inconitel, and Infocrofters! Be sure to say hello and pick up some information about their services!

REGISTRATION: SLA members $30, guests and non-members $35, retirees $25, and students $20. Is this your first time attending an NCSLA event? Please enjoy a first-timers’ discounted price of $20. The registration deadline is Monday, April 14th so sign up today!  

Career Enrichment Program

The State Library is pleased to announce that applications for Cycle 3 of the 2007-08 Career Enrichment Program are now being accepted. The program, supported by federal Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA) grant funds and endorsed by the LSTA Advisory Committee, provides funds for professional and paraprofessional library staff to attend pre-selected conferences. The conferences are grouped into three cycles (based on how they fall in the calendar year) with separate application deadlines for each cycle.

Cycle 3 includes the following conferences:

  • Special Libraries Association Annual Conference (SLA), Seattle, WA, 06/15-06/18/08
  • American Library Association Annual Conference (ALA), Anaheim, CA, 06/26-07/2/08
  • American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), Portland, OR, 07/12-07/16/08

 

Grant requests must be at least $300 and may not exceed $1,000, and a 10% match is required. First-time attendees will receive priority for funding. The total amount available for award in 2007-08 is $75,000.

Additional information and the online application form for Cycle 3 are available at http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/lsta/ceprogram07.htm.

Cycle 3 Timeline: The application deadline is April 2, 2008. All applicants will be notified whether or not they received a grant by April 21, 2008.

Questions? Please contact Jeffrey Hamilton at 919-807-7417 or jeffrey.hamilton@ncmail.net

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Best regards,

 

Sheila Devaney, Jamal Cromity, Barb LeBlanc, & Phillip Senn (your Communications Team)

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