SLA: St. Louis SLATE Newsletter

Message from the President

Hi St. Louis Metro Area Chapter members,

Our wonderful newsletter editor gently-and-kindly (yes, really) reminded me that it was time for another “Message from the President”, for the newsletter.  But didn’t we just do that?  Time is certainly flying by, isn’t it?   I glanced back at our first newsletter of this year, and I was grumbling about the snowy/icy/cold winter.  Your president loves this warmer weather! 

Several of us attended the program on Social Media last week – it was quite informative.  As an added “bonus”, Steven explained QR codes.  I know I’ve been seeing and reading a lot about them, and they will be all over the place at annual conference this year.  Side note – I was at Best Buy this weekend, and the clerk helping me started to tell me what one was, and I whipped out my smart phone, scanned the QR code, and very smugly told him, “oh yes, I know all about those.”   I don’t get many of those moments, so thank you, Steven! 

We have several chapter members going to annual conference this year;  I want to say “See you there!”, but it’s a busy, bustling place, with such a wide variety of sessions, vendor booths, and networking opportunities, that it’s possible to not run into each other.  

It looks like Chris Pryor, our President-Elect / Programming chair, has more great programs coming up this year; watch your email and our web page for that information.  DO join us, and get involved – you’ll be glad you did.

Renee Gorrell
President

2011 Programming Update

In March, the Professional Development Chair, Patrick Hendershot, organized an online webinar by eBrary on ebooks and ebook subscription services.  The programming committee continued with a popular program in April on Dr. Genie McKee’s (Maryville University) UK sabbatical.  In May, the IT Chair, Steven Pryor rolled out the St. Louis Chapter’s new social media initiative with a program on Social Media and its role in libraries as well as a demonstration of how to use these tools. 

The programming committee is staying busy and we have some great programs coming up over the next few months.  First on June 24th, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, we will meet up for a post-conference happy hour at Pasta House which is generously sponsored by Tim Bushery of Ameriprise Financial Services and Greg Yuska of Eaton Vance Investment Managers. Tim and Greg will be providing happy hour drinks and appetizers for our group.  In July, as the St. Louis County Library Reference Manager I will be presenting on eBook reader devices, library ebook lending trends, and Overdrive, so watch for more details to come on this program.  And don’t miss out on the St. Louis SLA Trivia Night on August 20th at the Crestwood Community Center.  It’s not too early to start putting your team together!  Finally, September will be our Chapter’s 70th anniversary celebration and SLA President-Elect Brent Mai will be joining us for the party. 

So stay tuned on the list-serv, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and the Chapter’s website for more details about these great events and I hope to see you there!

Christina Pryor
President-Elect and Programming Chair

Larry Walton: SLA member for 42 years...and counting!

Recently, Larry Walton retired from his job at Covidien. Hard to imagine. Larry is just one of those people who is always busy! Larry has been a member of our chapter for 42 years, served as chapter president not once but twice, served as an officer of several divisions, and has served on several SLA (HQ) committees. Larry and his wife, Mary Anne (also a librarian and chapter past president), are still very active in SLA. In fact, if you're in Philadelphia for the annual conference, you may see them there!

Bryan Young, our chapter archivist, sat down with Larry and Mary Anne to talk about their careers, their experiences being involved in SLA, and what's next for the Waltons. The interview produced so much good material that Bryan suggested you read it all--and you'll be glad you did!

Download WaltonArticle2011Jun06

Bryan digitized the recording of his conversation with the Waltons and will place it (with notes) in our St. Louis Chapter Archives.

Larry and Mary Anne at the Schlafly Tap Room, celebrating his retirement with co-workers and fellow SLA members. 

Helping Larry and Mary Anne celebrate! Above from L-R: Erin Lanham, Dennis Eliceiri, Betsy Williams, Connie Wolf. Below from L-R: Leah Holler and Ellen Eliceiri.

 
 

An Exceptional Librarian: Jill Bright

Ed. Note: I received the following article from Jill Nissen, Library Director at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. She asked me to share this good news about our very own Jill Bright. Jill is our chapter treasurer (in her second term!), and it's obvious she gives 110% to everything she does. Congratulations, Jill!

 

I wanted to share with you the wonderful news that Jill Bright, an SLA member and my administrator for serials and interlibrary loan, has been awarded this year’s President’s Staff Excellence Award at St. Louis College of Pharmacy.  This award recognizes a staff member who “performs the duties and responsibilities of the assigned position in a sustained, outstanding manner and whose work consistently exceeds expectations or has made an exceptional contribution or provided exceptional service to the College.”

The award includes $1,000, a nice plaque, and a highly-coveted reserved parking space in our College garage for the next year.  Jill’s outstanding work here at the O.J. Cloughly Alumni Library deserves to be recognized.  While I was writing my nomination letter, I learned her library coworkers were working on one independently.  It’s a testimony to her hard work, and likeability, that we all shared the same great idea.  Someone who has Jill’s motivation, organization, and problem solving skills doesn’t come along very often.  So please congratulate her on being recognized for her contributions to St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Jill Nissen
Library Director
St. Louis College of Pharmacy

Who has time for SLA?

Considering all the people and obligations (including family, friends, and work) vying for your time, I bet you've asked yourself that same question.

This past weekend, I got a chance to catch up on the last couple of issues of Information Outlook. As I was reading, an unexpected answer to the question of "Who has time for SLA?" emerged.

SLA has time for you.

While you're busy meeting those deadlines and making time for friends and family, SLA is watching out for you and your professional interests. As an international advocacy organization, SLA is not only keeping up with the shifting information landscape, but anticipating the changes ahead so that its members will be ready for the future.

Of course I would like you to become more involved with SLA in any way that you can, but I understand the constraints on your time. So, if your busy schedule has prevented you from attending a recent local SLA event, or if you haven't had time to watch a free SLA webinar, read the latest Information Outlook, or take advantage of many other membership benefits, please know that SLA is still here for you and will continue to watch out for your best interests.

If you have any suggestions for how the St. Louis local chapter can better serve you, please email me at membership@stlsla.org.

Stephanie McReynolds
Membership Director

A Night in the Know--Upcoming Chapter Trivia Night Fundraiser

The chapter’s fundraising committee, along with additional volunteers, is working to put on the chapter’s second trivia night.  A Night in the Know Trivia Night is scheduled for Saturday, August 20th at the Crestwood Community Center, located at 9245 Whitecliff Park Lane.  The fun and challenging trivia will start promptly at 7:00 pm, but participants can get there as early as 6:15 pm to decorate their tables and socialize with their fellow teammates and competitors. Please note that the venue does not allow glitter, candles, or confetti. The fundraising committee will provide water, soda, and snacks. However, participants can bring in their own food and beverages, including alcohol. 

More details about the trivia night such as prices, prizes, etc. will be announced through the Chapter’s website, online discussion forum, and social media outlets in June so watch for more details.  Also, a trivia night takes a lot of support and volunteers to be successful and we are still looking for additional volunteers. Please contact Connie Dee or me to reserve your space today or to find out about volunteer opportunities! Thanks and we hope to see you there! 

Christina Pryor
President-Elect and Programming Chair

Follow St. Louis SLA using Social Media

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn--Oh My!

In May, the St. Louis Metropolitan Chapter of SLA announced a social media initiative to expand the chapter’s official communication to include Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn in addition to the sla_arch email listserv. These social media accounts will allow chapter members or any other interested parties to follow and interact with the chapter and other chapter members in whatever way is most convenient for them. According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, social media use among internet users 50 and older is nearing 50%, and as the users get younger the number approaches 90%. With these kinds of numbers, it is increasingly important to use these tools to promote chapter events and interaction.

Users can sign up for an account on one of these social networking sites, and search for the St. Louis SLA account on that network (listed below) to be connected to chapter events and announcements and be able to post comments and discussions for other users and members. Social networking sites are valuable professional tools to help keep track of industry news as well as to connect with other individuals and maintain name recognition and reputation in your professional and social circles.

To get started today, you can find us on the following social networks by these names; make sure to “Follow”, “Like”, or join us!

Twitter ( http://www.twitter.com )- @stlsla

Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com ) - St. Louis Metro Area Chapter of the Special Libraries Association

LinkedIn – ( http://www.linkedin.com ) - St. Louis Metro Area Chapter of SLA

Steven Pryor
Information Technology Committee Chair & Webmaster

Fun with SLA and SISLT

 
SLA librarians Leah Holler and Stephanie McReynolds joined MU SISLT library science students on May 21 for an End-of-Semester celebration BBQ at the home of SLA member Karen Robinson. With 26 present throughout the afternoon and evening, students specifically asked about special libraries, what they entail, what librarians do in special libraries, and more. Stephanie and Leah did a great job of fielding their questions, and hopefully there will be some new student members!

Pictured in the photo above, L to R: MU-SISLT students Laura Kirk, Matt Tuegel, SISLT graduate Donna Church & husband Bob, SLA member Stephanie McReynolds.

Karen Robinson