The first Chat of the spring semester was held at the iSchool of UMD on Thursday, February 10, from 5:30-6:30pm. The topic was on reference or access to information. Invited Chatters were Greg Horvitz, Information Research Specialist at Northrup Grumman Corporation, Rene Stein, Librarian at the National Cyptologic Museum and Lea Wade, Program Manager and Head Librarian at the Department of Homeland Security.
We were delighted to have with us about 20 students from Professor Mary Edsall Choquette's class on Access to Information, for the first hour of their regular Thursday class. I want to thank Stephen Powers, head of the student group at the iSchool and his committee as well as Trudi Hahn, SLA faculty advisor, for facilitating their attendance.
After a brief opening statement by each of the Chatters, the floor was open to questions and for the next hour or so topics on different career paths, security clearance, virtual vs physical libraries, benefits of joining SLA, the need for a second degree and many other questions were answered by the three Chatters. The 6:30 hour came and went and it was only at 7pm that I finally intervened to end the Chat.
The March Chat at UMD has not finalized yet but the Chat on April 4 will tackle "Special Collections in University Libraries" and will welcome Professor Trudi Hahn and her class for their first hour.
We are scheduling the first Chat at CUA this term for March 24. The topic will be Law Libraries.
Judy Tapiero
Chair, Student Liaison Committee
