• About SLA
• About the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter
• Activities
• Meetings
• Bayline
• JobLine
• Directory
• Discussion List
• Getting Involved
• Membership Survey
• Consulting Services
• Leadership
• Board and Council
• Professional Achievement Award
• Chapter History
• Contact

About SLA

SLA (Special Libraries Association) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 12,000 members in 83 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic and government information specialists. SLA’s mission is to promote and strengthen its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives.

To join SLA, go to the association’s membership page.

About the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter

Mission: The San Francisco Bay Region Chapter of SLA will offer its members services and activities which anticipate and are responsive to member needs. The Chapter will take advantage of changing technologies to foster communication among the membership and educate members about opportunities for professional activity and participation.

Members of the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter of SLA work in diverse information environments ranging from business and technical organizations to research, government and academic institutions. We are found in public and private corporations, law firms, colleges and universities, banks and financial institutions, newspapers, hospitals, research facilities, public libraries, and engineering and architectural firms. Although many members work in corporate and special libraries, others are managers, researchers, analysts, technical services specialists, and consultants.

Our members share common goals: networking with our colleagues, keeping up with technological advances, staying current about the information professions, and participating in ongoing professional development. Membership in the SF Chapter provides us with opportunities to achieve those goals.

Activities

SF Chapter members are very active and very involved in networking.

• The Chapter sponsors dinner meetings that feature noteworthy speakers from the information professions and related fields. It organizes professional development workshops twice a year, and provides tours of libraries and other venues of interest. It may cosponsor events with other library or information organizations. The Calendar lists upcoming chapter events.
• Bayline is the Chapter’s newsletter. Published five times per year, it reports on chapter and member activities and news of interest to the profession. Bayline also publishes opinion pieces, features and news from other areas of related interest.
• The JobLine posting service lists professional and paraprofessional positions in California. This helpful career development aid for librarians in northern California is maintained jointly by the SF and San Andreas Chapters.
• The Chapter’s Membership Directory can be downloaded from the members-only section of SLA’s website.
• The Chapter’s Discussion List provides a forum for members to exchange information, solicit advice and express points of view.
• Members are encouraged to maximize the value of their membership by getting involved. Volunteering for committee work is a great way to network and develop skills in a non-threatening atmosphere.
• A membership needs survey is conducted periodically and input is used to update the chapter’s strategic plan.
• Members of the SF SLA Consulting Committee will provide up to 2 hours of free consultation to discuss and recommend solutions to organizations on establishing or managing library collections -- whether the collection is in digital or paper format.

Leadership

• Board and Council – The Executive Board (the Chapter’s elected officers) and the Advisory Council (committee chairs) provide leadership for the Chapter. Board members manage and conduct the Chapter’s business, set policies and approve expenditures. Council members carry out Chapter policies, direct and perform the activities of committees, and provide advice and feedback to the board. Meeting minutes are available.
• Award – Each year, the chapter recognizes a member’s contributions to the Chapter via the Chapter Award for Professional Achievement.

Chapter History

• Phyllis Waggoner and Richard Geiger win awards!
• Phyllis A. Waggoner Receives the President's Special Recognition Award

• Chapter Presidents, 1924-present

• 75th Anniversary Celebration, May 14, 1999

Contact

For information about the chapter, contact the President-Elect (Membership Chair). See the Executive Board Roster for the current President-Elect.

San Francisco Bay Region Chapter SLA
P.O. Box 26276
San Francisco CA 94126-6276