President's Message

SLA Annual Conference, Washington, D.C. 

This year, the annual conference was held in Washington, D.C. and celebrated the 100th anniversary of SLA. The conference was extremely successful, even given the current economic situation, with more than 5,800 participants attending – the largest number of attendees in six years. 

The conference had a strong focus on networking and career development, in addition to the continuing growth of interest in areas such as sustainability and environmentally sound practices, and the rise in social media and social networking. It was also clear that a number of special librarians had lost the positions in the last year, and were seeing the conference as an important opportunity to network and to continue to develop their skills and knowledge. 

2010 Board Candidates 

The conference also provided the opportunity to hear from and meet the nominees for President and Board positions for 2010. Candidates made thoughtful presentations and responded to questions on various panels. Be sure to review their names and profiles on the SLA website before elections in the fall, at: http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/index.cfm. 

Canadian Reception 

One of the most significant highlights for Canadian attendees of the conference was the annual Canadian Reception, hosted this year by the Western Canada Chapter, and sponsored by CEDROM-SNi. We had almost 150 attendees, and a lovely setting for networking and meeting new and old friends in the courtyard of the historic Morrison Clark Hotel.

 Alignment Project and SLA Name Change 

SLA continues to release information on the outcomes of the Alignment Project. Gloria Zamora, President of SLA, is encouraging members to become “part of the tribe” of information professionals leading change in our profession. Gloria wants us to spread the word about the ways the association and our profession needs to present itself, to reinvigorate our identity and values, ensuring our continuing success in the years to come. 

One of the most important outcomes from this project is the decision to rename the association. Evidence from the research and interviews conducted with special librarians and business and corporate decision makers has determined that the name “Special Library Association” is not meaningful to our employers. SLA will begin work on alternatives in the coming months, so look forward to your opportunity to provide input and feedback to the association on this important matter. 

SLA is also looking for Alignment Ambassadors to help promote the recommendations and spread the word about the alignment Project. Please contact me if you are interested in becoming an alignment ambassador. 

More information on the Alignment Project is available on the SLA website at: http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/alignment/index.cfm 

Upcoming Meetings

The next meeting of the Western Canada Chapter Board will be held on September 9th, and may be attended by WCC members. Please check the website for details on the time and location. 

Please also feel free to contact your regional director if you have an interest in volunteering or with suggestions for events in your area. 

Have a great summer!