San Andreas Chapter

Evolution of Controlled Vocabularies

Christine Connors, principal of TriviumRLG consulting firm, traced the evolution of controlled vocabularies in a challenging presentation at San Jose State University on November 18.

She began by polling the audience to find who were currently engaged in vocabulary work (a few) and who were interested in new career opportunities (quite a few). The current activities involved in building increasingly complex and powerful data architectures, she maintained, present exciting opportunities for those with an interest in organizing knowledge. All levels of vocabulary-based tools for improving content are available on the Semantic Web.

She took us through the continuum of ways of controlling vocabulary from the loosest to the most powerful and complex. Tag clouds or folksonomies where textual keywords are identified represent the lowest level of control and precision. Lists introduce control by featuring a single term for a concept. A synonym ring, which may be explicit or behind the scenes, improves recall by allowing synonyms to enhance the search. In a taxonomy the concepts are related in broader term/narrower term hierarchies. A thesaurus incorporates scope notes, see also or associative relationships, synonym control, as well as hierarchies. Finally, the most complex of all controlled architectures, the ontology introduces an array of custom relationships and a richness of links, data, and networks.

While the number of datasets and ontologies available on the Open Web is vast, Christine introduced a few of the many comprehensive resources available today: OpenCyc, a very large ontology based on the Cyc Knowledge Base; DBPedia, a set based on data within Wikipedia, useful but with the usual cautions; and UMBEL, a self-described lightweight ontology that relates Web content to a standard set of subject concepts. A diagram where circles represented Open Web ontologies that have been shared in recent years effectively demonstrated the explosion of what is out on the Semantic Web.

As the evolution of ontological systems continues, Christine made the point that those interested in better content are making contributions from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds -- from linguists, to cognitive scientists, to developers, to legal specialists.

Certainly the competencies of librarians in their abilities to organize, analyze, synthesize, and advocate for information sharing are playing a key role as the technology develops. She encouraged librarians interested in these growth areas to be flexible in their job search since the opportunities are found under a range of labels: data architect, information scientist, taxonomist, front-end engineer, knowledge manager, and others. Librarian/ontologists can help shape the new direction of Web search and improved knowledge sharing for all.

-- Margot Diltz
margot DOT diltz AT cengage DOT com

Over 40 people attended this Chapter dinner program on November 18. If you'd like to comment on this event or Chapter programs generally, you'll find an evaluation form here.

Taxonomy & the Power of Controlled Vocabularies Will be the Topic on November 18

The University Room at San Jose State will be the venue for our next Chapter evening program. Our speaker, Christine Connors, will discuss "Evolution of Controlled Vocabularies: Better Content, New Career Opportunities."

New technologies and data modeling methods are providing exciting new means for managing data in our organizations. Companies large and small, arts and cultural heritage organizations, academic institutions and governments are all embarking on projects to improve the transmission, clarity and often transparency of the data they curate. What are these technologies? Where can these methods be learned? What new career opportunities are there for info pros? Join us as we explore the possibilities.

Christine Connors has extensive experience in taxonomy, ontology and metadata design and development. Prior to forming TriviumRLG, an information management consulting firm, Ms. Connors was the global director, semantic technology solutions for Dow Jones, responsible for partnering with business champions across Dow Jones to improve digital asset management and delivery. In that position, she managed a worldwide team responsible for the development of taxonomies, ontologies and metadata that are used to add value to Dow Jones news and financial information products. She also served as business champion for the Synaptica® software application.

The wonderful University Room is located in the Cafeteria Building which is in the middle of SJSU campus, roughly at 7th Street. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a light meal and social hour -- an opportunity to chat with SLA colleagues, and thank rep George Plosker and his employer IEEE for generous support of our Chapter programs this year. Ms. Connors will begin her presentation at 7 p.m.

The cost for this program is $25 for SLA members ($15 for our members who are retired or between jobs). The San Andreas Chapter welcomes those who are not SLA members to this event for $35 and SLIS students for $15.

The last day to register for this program is November 10 12. Please register online.

PARKING at SJSU. Visitor parking is available on the upper floors in the South Garage (entrance on 7th Street). Cost is $1 for 30 minutes; after 5:30 a flat rate ($5) is available.  There are two automated pay stations on each floor that accept coins, bills ($1, $5, $10), Visa or Master Cards. Estimate the time you'll need, purchase a ticket and place it on your dashboard. Click here for a map.

NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS. To simplify matters for your Chapter program and hospitality teams, we are asking all attendees to register online. The online form here gathers the usual information -- your name, contact information and payment category. After completing the form, you will need to send a check to the Registrar. She will send a confirmation email when she receives your check, which is due by noon on November 13 16. As usual, make the check payable to "San Andreas Chapter of SLA" and send it to:

SLA Reservations
c/o AIM Library & Information Staffing
P.O. Box 391210
Mountain View, CA  94039-1210

We're looking forward to seeing you in San Jose on November 18th! And thank you IEEE for being a sponsor of this event!

-- Patricia Parsons & Jean Bedord
Chapter Program Directors

Copyright is Topic of Professional Development Program in Menlo Park, September 22

Join your SLA colleagues for this half-day session that will answer all your questions about copyright. Ms. Dru Zuretti from the Copyright Clearance Center will be the speaker.

Session Topic:  Copyright or Copywrong?
Speaker:  Ms. Dru Zuretti, Copyright Education Manager, Copyright Clearance Center
When:  Tuesday, September 22, 8:00 a.m. - 12 Noon
Cost:  SLA Member - $85; Non-member or guest - $110; Retired or unemployed SLA member or SLIS student - $65
Where:  Exponent, 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park 94025
Deadline for submitting questions:  Thursday, Sept. 17
Deadline for registration:  Friday, Sept. 18

What issues will Ms. Zuretti address? That is up to YOU! Our focus is the corporate environment and possibly the academic community, based upon input from our Chapter members and potential attendees. Since a certain amount of anonymity might encourage more and better questions, attendees are invited to submit questions prior to the program. We will compile them, remove personal and company names, then forward the questions to our speaker, who will integrate them into her presentation. Of course she will take questions on the day as well, and has agreed to stay after the session for informal discussion.

Ms. Zuretti is Copyright Education Manager at Copyright Clearance Center (CCC). The CCC does not police copyright, but rather is an information and education resource, partnering with information professionals to find the way through the copyright mire. (A different organization polices copyright.)

Questions have started rolling in, but please send more! Send your questions as you think of them or hold onto them and send them all together, whatever your style. So if you are wondering if your interlibrary loan or document delivery behaviors are appropriate, then ASK!

Send the questions to lpharis@exponent.com, and include the word "COPYWRITE" in the subject line.

And don't forget to register! Print out this form, fill it out and mail it with your check to our Registrar, to arrive by Friday September 18. Make your check payable to “San Andreas Chapter of SLA.”'

Please join us in thanking Information Express, whose contribution has helped make this program possible.

Lee Pharis
Chair, Professional Development Committee
SLA San Andreas Chapter

 

"The Book is Digital" is the Topic of August 27th Program

The Computer History Museum will be our venue for a dinner and program on August 27. A panel of librarians and ebook publishers will discuss the potential and the reality of ebooks.

What flavor of ebook is in your future? Ebooks have been "promising" for over ten years, but how significant are they right now in libraries, particularly special libraries? Join us for an update and discussion, moderated by Jean Bedord, author of  "Ebooks Hit Critical Mass:  Where Do Libraries Fit with Oprah?" in the June issue of Searcher. Helen Josephine will lead off the discussion with an overview of her experience in creating the "bookless" Engineering Library at Stanford's Terman Engineering Center. Then we'll hear from leading ebook vendors on the trends they see, and the successes of their customers.

The evening will begin with a light meal and social hour, an opportunity to talk one-on-one with our panelists and SLA colleagues. This is also your chance to see a working model of the Babbage Engine, on loan to the Museum and displayed in the lobby. For those who are interested, we are making arrangements for a late afternoon tour at the museum; details will be announced shortly.

We are pleased to acknowledge our sponsors for this event:  Morgan & Claypool, Knovel, and CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group).

AGENDA:
  4:00 - 5:00   Tour
  5:30 - 6:30   Networking with colleagues and light meal
  6:30 - 8:00   Program: Panel discussion
  9:00             Museum closes

THE PANEL:   Helen Josephine, Mike Morgan, Denis Kilian, Leslie Lees, and Barbara Wasserman

COST:   $30 for SLA members; $37 for non-members  (Retired/unemployed rate same as members for this event.)  $5 for Tour Only.

DEADLINE for registration:   Friday, August 21

LOCATION:   Computer History Museum, 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd,  Mountain View

TRANSPORTATION:  

• Caltrain offers a shuttle service from the Mountain View Caltrain station. Further information can be found here:  http://www.caltrain.com/shuttles_sc.html
• VTA connections are possible from the San Antonio Caltrain station. The VTA trip planner is here:  http://www.vta.org/
• If driving, take 101 to the Shoreline exit, near the merge with highway 85. Parking is free at the Museum. Directions with driving time estimates are here:  http://www.computerhistory.org/directions/

Advance registration is required -- see further information on the downloadable registration form here.

-- Patricia Parsons & Jean Bedord
Program Directors, San Andreas Chapter

Kassel to Speak at Career Agility Session July 31

Career Agility: The Independent Information Professional
Speaker:  Amelia Kassel

Join your SLA colleagues for a breakfast program on Friday July 31, at Exponent in Menlo Park.

Ever considered becoming an information entrepreur? Want to learn what's involved in setting up your own business? Are you curious about the skill sets needed to become an independent information professional? Want to learn how you market your services, get engagements and get paid (it's not a paycheck!)?

Then sign up for our third session of Career Agility! This time we'll be talking about the steps to take if you want to establish youself as an independent researcher or consultant. Amelia Kassel, independent consultant, teacher and mentor extraordinaire will be our speaker.

Amelia Kassel is President of MarketingBase, specializing in industry, company and competitive and market intelligence research since 1982. Amelia holds a Master's Degree in Library Science from UCLA, and combines expertise in Internet research and fee-based databases with knowledge of business and marketing strategies. She has been a lecturer in the SLIS program at San Jose State, and taught at the University of California Berkeley Extension for 15 years.

Cindy Hill, our moderator, is the founder and president of Hill Information Consulting Group. She was previously Vice President, Information Management Service, with Outsell, Inc., a research and advisory firm focused on the publishing, information, and education industries. Prior to that, she had been the manager of Sun's Digital Libraries and Research Group.

Lee Pharis will be our host at Exponent on July 31. Exponent is located off Marsh Road on the Bay side of 101. A buffet continental breakfast will be served in our meeting room prior to the program. We are starting this one early and plan to end by 10 am, for a minimal impact on your work day.

Agenda:  
    7:45 - 8:15 a.m.  Registration & Continental Breakfast
    8:15 - 9:45 a.m.  Program
    9:45 - 10:00 a.m.  Q&A

Cost:   $12 for members; $16 for non-members and guests; $8 for student/unemployed members
Location:   Exponent  -- 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Parking:  Free parking is available at Exponent.
DEADLINE:  Make sure your registration form & check are received by Wednesday, July 29.

Download, print, fill out and send the form with your check to:
SLA Reservations, c/o AIM Library & Information Staffing, P.O. Box 391210, Mountain View, CA  94039-1210

Patricia Parsons
Jean Bedord
Program Directors, San Andreas SLA

Download RegForm July31

Solo Librarians Meeting on July 15th

The Solo Librarians of the San Andreas Chapter of SLA invite you to join them at their next meeting on Wednesday, July 15th. Anyone with an interest in libraries is welcome, including students and recent grads of the MLIS programs.

Carol Chatfield will be hosting the meeting at 6 P.M. on Wednesday, July 15th at The Career Development Center, 563 Salvatierra Walk, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  Carol has provided detailed information about the location and parking below.

Carol will give a tour of the Career Resource Library at the Career Development Center. We will also have a panel of librarians that attended SLA 2009 in Washington DC to share their impressions and experiences.

You are welcome to bring a snack or dinner to the meeting.  There is a kitchen with water, ice, and a soda machine ($1.25/bottle) next door to the conference room.

Those who are planning to attend need to contact Sonia Dorfman by July 10th at sdorfman@neuropace.com or (650) 237-2784.

Sonia Dorfman
Eric Kristofferson
San Andreas Solo Librarians

-------------------------------------------------

The Career Development Center at Stanford University is located in the Student Services Building at:
563 Salvatierra Walk
Stanford University
Stanford, CA  94305
http://www.mapquest.com/mq/5-IX2x
(Please note that our building is incorrectly labeled Student Services Center on this Mapquest map.)

Parking is available across the street (Campus Drive East) from the building.  The parking lot can be seen on the Mapquest map, just above and to the left of the words, "Gould Center."  Parking is free after 4:00 pm.  

TIP for Driving Directions:  The best online mapping service for finding our building is Mapquest.com.  And I really recommend BEFORE starting out that you run a "get directions" from your starting address to the Career Development Center’s address; the Stanford campus is large and can be confusing!

Registration for June 4 Career Agility Program

Join your San Andreas colleagues for a breakfast program on Thursday, June 4th at Exponent in Menlo Park.

Career Agility: Working with an Agency

Speakers:  Linda McKell and Sarah Vogel, moderator Cindy Hill

Explore alternatives to working in a salaried position for a company.  What are the opportunities, the pros and cons?  What is the current situation?  How do you get projects?  And how do you market yourself?

Our speakers on this panel provide perspectives from both the contractor and agency viewpoint.  After several layoffs at local pharmaceutical companies, Sarah Vogel, independent Information Research Consultant, became an independent contractor.  Linda McKell is the founder and owner of AIM Library & Information Management ("AIM").

Cindy Hill, our moderator, is the founder and president of Hill Information Consulting Group.  She was previously Vice President, Information Management Service, with Outsell, Inc., a research and advisory firm focused on the publishing, information, and education industries.  Prior to that, she had been the manager of Sun's Digital Libraries and Research Group.

Lee Pharis has graciously agreed to host us at Exponent in Menlo Park on June 4. Exponent is located off Marsh Road on the Bay side of 101. A buffet continental breakfast will be served in our meeting room prior to the program. We are starting this one early and plan to end by 10 am, for a minimal impact on your work day.

Agenda:  

    7:45 - 8:15 a.m.  Registration & Continental Breakfast

    8:15 - 9:45 a.m.  Program

    9:45 - 10:00 a.m.  Q&A

Cost:   $12 for members; $16 for non-members and guests; $8 for student/unemployed members

Location:   Exponent  -- 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Parking:  Free parking is available at Exponent.

DEADLINE:  Make sure your registration form (below) and check are received by Tuesday, June 2. 

Patricia Parsons

Jean Bedord

Program Directors, San Andreas SLA

Keep an eye on SLA and related events in the Bay Area -- check out the "San Andreas Events" Google calendar. Click on the link in the top right corner of the Chapter blog webpage:

http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/sanandreas/ or  http://www.san-andreas-sla.org

 ----------------

Send your check payable to "San Andreas Chapter of SLA" and the registration form below to:

SLA Reservations

c/o AIM Library & Information Staffing 

P.O. Box 391210

Mountain View, CA 94039-1210

 

Name: _____________________________________________

 

Telephone: _________________________________________

 

E-Mail: _____________________________________________

 

Employer/Affiliation: ___________________________________

 

SLA Member (@$12): ____   Non Member/Guest (@$16): ____

 

Student//Unemployed Member (@$8): _____

 

Check enclosed for:  ____________

 

Please make check payable to San Andreas Chapter of SLA

 

DEADLINE: Make sure your registration & check are received by Tuesday, June 2

 

June 11, 2009 Colloquia Session

The School of Library and Information Science at San José State University is pleased to invite you to attend our continuing Summer Colloquium Series featuring SLIS faculty and invited guests, as they address the challenges and promises of our rapidly changing profession.  Our June 2009 featured Master's of Archives and Records Administration (MARA) speaker is:

    

Gina Jones, MLS

Member, Web Archiving Team, Office of Strategic Information, Library of Congress

Title: Archiving the LIS Elections Websphere: An Historical Perspective

Thursday, 11 June 2009

Time: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (PST)

Location: Live from San Jose using Elluminate

URL:  https://nexus.sjsu.edu:443/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1241060362863

Password:  mara

 ELLUMINATE:  If you have not used Elluminate before, a student guide is available to help you prepare beforehand: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/software/elluminate/students/. 

More information about this presentation is posted on our Colloquia: Summer 2009 web page at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/colloquia/2009/colloquia09su.htm.

RSVP: Although virtual seating is unlimited, we’d appreciate an estimate of the number of participants.  Please respond to Pat Franks at pfranks@slis.sjsu.edu if you hope to join us.

 Presentations are free and open to the public.  We videotape each presentation for those who are unable to actually attend them live.  Links to an Internet webcast (streaming video), an RSS feed, and/or an iTunes Portal podcast (usually both audio and video versions) will be posted to the Colloquia: Summer 2009 calendar web page at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/colloquia/2009/colloquia09su.htm about a week after each event.  

June 17, 2009 Colloquia Session

The School of Library and Information Science at San José State University is pleased to invite you to attend our continuing Summer Colloquium Series featuring SLIS faculty and invited guests, as they address the challenges and promises of our rapidly changing profession. 

 Our 17^th June 2009 Master of Archives and Records Administration speaker is

 


Michael P. Martin, Records Management Specialist

Archival Services, Electronic Records Unit, New York State Archives

Title: There’s a Hole in the Bucket: One Institution’s Method of Preserving Electronic Records

Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Time: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (PST)
Location: Live from upstate New York using Elluminate*

URL:  https://nexus.sjsu.edu:443/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1242112633470

Password:  mara

 *If you have not used Elluminate before, a student guide is available to help you prepare beforehand: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/software/elluminate/students/.

More information about this presentation is posted on our Colloquia: Summer 2009 web page at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/colloquia/2009/colloquia09su.htm.  Presentations are free and open to the public.

RSVP: Although virtual seating is unlimited, we’d appreciate an estimate of the number of participants.  Please respond to Pat Franks at pfranks@slis.sjsu.edu if you hope to join us.

We videotape each presentation for those who are unable to actually attend them live.  Links to an Internet webcast (streaming video), an RSS feed, and/or an iTunes Portal podcast (usually both audio and video versions) will be posted to the Colloquia: Summer 2009 calendar web page at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/colloquia/2009/colloquia09su.htm about a week after each event.

 Feel free to distribute this announcement to interested people, and please excuse any cross-postings you may see. 

Career Agility Series Breakfast Program June 4

Plans for the next San Andreas Chapter breakfast program, our second event in the Career Agility series, are coming together. 

Please save the date, Thursday June 4th.  Join us for a continental breakfast and a presentation about tools and strategies for Career Agility. We'll be hearing about different employment options. Our speakers are Linda McKell, the founder and owner of Advanced Information Management, and Sarah Vogel, Information Research Consultant. Lee Pharis will be hosting us at Exponent in Menlo Park. As with the previous Career Agility programs, we expect to start this one early and end by 10 am, for a minimal impact on your work day.

Details will be available soon.