DSOL Conference Blog

Post-Conference Wrap-Up

It's been almost a week since the conference ended, and I've had time to reflect on the experiences, classes, sessions, and chaos (but in that good way!) of the week I spent in Baltimore.  I am absolutely, completely glad that I went, particularly since I am a solo who is not only new to librarianship (2 years experience with my MLS), but also a relatively new solo (1 year in the position).  The support, commiseration, advice, and new ideas of how to handle situations that can arise in the life of a solo were invaluable to me, since the simple possibility of bouncing ideas off of another librarian face-to-face is such a rare commodity in our particular placements.  I also realized again just how dedicated and hard-working solos must be, no matter what industry you're in, since juggling the tasks that we do is truly impressive and constantly a challenge.

To second Amanda's post below, please, if you can, volunteer to help the division and make sure that we can continue to provide each other with this support that will mean even more as our numbers increase and more librarians find themselves suddenly solos through downsizing.  We are all busy, we are all overwhelmed sometimes, but find your specialty (mine lies in the publishing, technology, and scientific fields), and offer to help out in any way you can.

- Trish

Last Call for Volunteers...

Another year, another (successful) conference.

The exhibits have been packed away and the presentations are slowly making their way to the websites of their sponsoring divisions. Program planning is largely complete for next year's Denver conference and "conference buddies" have exchanged hugs and vague promises to see each other next year. After a week of constant activity, fast and furious notetaking, and feet that cry out for a break, what's left to do?

Volunteer to help with next year's event, of course.

The call to help was a recurring theme at this year's conference; nary a presentation went by without a mention of the benefits, and joys, of playing a leadership role within SLA. But that's not why I'm posting.

After a year of frenzied phone calls, pleading emails and pulling my hair out, I'm pathetically grateful that the conference is over. I wore too many hats and tried to do too many things for too many people. Along the way, we lost volunteers -- a fundraiser here, a Chair-Elect there -- and felt like things were spiraling out of control more times than I can count. There are those who have taken potshots at my division for being "disorganized" -- and yet, disorganization wasn't the issue. Running a division, and putting on a full slate of programming under the guidance of two or three volunteers was the issue. We absolutely did the best that we could, given the circumstances. And I think we did a pretty dang good job.

My point -- and I do have one -- is that, despite the challenges inherent in holding a leadership role in a professional organization with committees staffed with volunteers, I've learned more in the last year than I even thought possible. I've planned events, created presentations, moderated a listserv, played at web design and coaxed volunteers. Okay, dragged them kicking and screaming. I spoke at six different events during this conference and attended more sessions than I even thought possible.

All of this from someone who, just a few years ago, had a paralyzing fear of public speaking. Who approached each conference with just a bit more than a bit of trepidation. Who knew a handful of people at every conference -- but nothing more than that.

Certainly, it's easy to have a reason why you cannot get involved. You already have countless demands on your time, after all, between work and family and church and life and sleeping. Within the Solo Division, a lack of time takes on a new meaning -- how many times have I heard "but I'm a SOLO. I don't have time to breathe, let alone..." What of those people who are members of -- and active volunteers for -- multiple divisions? Who are giving their spare time to the Engineering Division, for instance, and can't imagine that they could find the time to help SciTech or Solo, as well?

Each and every one of those reasons is valid. But, at the risk of sounding cliched, you have to look past the excuses and towards the benefits. Looking to move into a "techy" role at work? Perhaps you can enrich your skill set through a volunteer role. Nervous about your quarterly "State of the Library" presentation? Why not hone your public speaking skills in the supportive environment of SLA? For every reason not to get involved, there are two or three ways in which you could help your division, or chapter, while helping yourself. It's easy to stand on the sidelines and complain about the program offerings, or to criticize division (or chapter) leadership for making choices that you wouldn't have made. Get involved. Make changes. Have a voice. Lend a hand.

Why not give it a shot? Can't hurt.

Solos Silent Auction and Networking

Sadly enough, I only made it briefly to the first open house, since I'd been in sessions since 7:30 that morning and exhaustion caught up with me.  However, I found the energy to attend the second open house and bid on some items in the silent auction.  These seem like an excellent opportunity to get people talking as they are bidding on different items, and also provides an insight into the variety of fields covered by solo librarianship.  There were Hoover's books on companies and competitive intelligence, a Marshmallow Blaster for those looking for some fun, a business card holder, and various other things that crossed the line from strictly practical to fun in all fields.

It was a great opportunity to meet the core leadership of the Solo Division, as well as some other solos who have been attending their subject-specific sessions during the day, so it's an opportunity to focus on the solo aspect of your job, instead of what type of firm or library you work for.  Next year I'll have to manage my time better so I can always last from 8 am to 10 pm - a long day, but certainly worth it.

-Trish

Solo Division Annual Meeting

Yesterday was the Solo Division annual meeting and luncheon, a great time to meet the leadership of the Solos and hear about the current business items and concerns that are being dealt with on the division level, as well as a great crab cake for lunch.  It was a perfect time to volunteer to help out with any needs for the future, contribute ideas for 2007 in Denver, and get a glimpse of the silent auction items.

Amanda Dingus Kindall has worked incredibly hard this year, and it was great to hear about the work she's put in to keep the division running through tough times.  As a newcomer to the division, I was unaware of the difficulties that have been faced in the past year, and gratified that she has sacrificed so much personal time since I find the division to be extremely helpful.

Overall, the annual meeting left me hopeful for the future of the division and determined to help out in whatever ways I can to keep the Solos active and alive for future support in our unique positions that cross all categories.

-Trish

Sci-Tech Division Breakfast

At the first SLA conference I attended in 2003, I was a student and walked into the Sci-Tech Division's lunch for newcomers.  I was already a member of the Biomed Division, but after talking to the welcoming people at this luncheon, I joined the Sci-Tech Division.  I shortly found myself on the Awards Committee, where I have remained for three years through graduation from library school, two job changes, and six moves. 

Since this is the first SLA conference I've made it to in the intervening years, I was there yesterday at 7:15 am to meet the people I correspond with on the committee, and catch up on division news.  Again, I found this division to be particularly friendly and always willing to reach out to newcomers (now identified with a purple tag on their name badges).  I'm signed up for the Awards Committee for the near future, since there are no term limits, and I know that if I get to attend conferences in the future, I'll be making the effort to appear at their annual meetings.

Even as a solo, other divisions can certainly lend their support and expertise.

-Trish

Health Statistic Databases CE

I already typed this up once, but I believe TypePad ate my post along the way (and I was rushing since there was a line for Internet access), so I'll update this with the missing CE course.  This post chronologically belongs between patents and public record searching.

At 8 am on Sunday morning, I walked into the Data Detective: Health Statistics That Can't Be Googled course, taught by Hongjie Wang from the University of Connecticut Health Center, and had high expectations.  In my job at AJN, I often need to verify data that has been gleaned from government research data sets, particularly the CDC and the AHRQ, and finding the exact method the article's author used to pull the statistics can be a nightmare. 

I'm happy to report that this course was everything that it promised to be.  We covered many of the major databases and what their purposes were (CDC WONDER for birth/death data, HCUP and MEPS for health care expenditures, etc), and although a live link would have been very nice so we could run impromptu searches instead of canned Powerpoint slides, the point of each database and its capabilities was communicated very well.

Mr. Wang was also an excellent teacher, who has taught this course many times before and was very familiar with the content as well as engaging the audience in regular feedback throughout the course to maintain interest and make sure that he was answering specific problems/scenarios that arise in the course of our daily work.

Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of the CE courses at SLA, and I'm not saying it just to be polite.  Although this is my first conference as an information professional (I attended SLA in 2003 as a student), compared to other CE experiences I've had in various organizations, the best teaching and highest applicability to corporate librarianship is certainly in SLA, in my opinion.  Well worth the money.

-Trish

Public Record Searching CE

Regrettably, I never had access to the full version of Nexis when I was in graduate school, and still do not.  My expectations were public record searching on free sources, not Nexis solely.  As a result, I didn't get nearly as much out of this course as those who actively need to find public records on a regular basis and have Nexis, so my report will be a bit biased.  However, those who were very active in the field were favorably impressed by the course, judging by what I heard, so I think I just missed parts of this since it was over my head. 

Bobby Schrott, from Lexis-Nexis, taught the course, and his skills as an instructor were simply phenomenal.  He was informal and flexible, encouraging real-world examples and audience input the most out of all of the presentations, but covered quite a bit of ground on what to expect to find, what's impossible to find, and even how public records differ internationally.  If you do search public records on a regular basis, find Bobby and get him to teach you.  He'll do a great job.

While I wouldn't take this class again, it was interesting and another field that is very media-based. 

I must run now, since there is a long line for internet access, but will continue with updates as the conference progresses.  I'm off to the Competitive Intelligence Keynote Address!

-Trish

Diving into Patents CE

The afternoon session on Saturday was a primer on patents, an area of research that I've always had an interest in, but didn't really know where to start (besides Derwent and the USPTO) to find out related patents, pending patent applications, and other necessary pieces including the classifications (a world unto itself and possibly more complicated than LC).  The first piece was taught by Michael White from Queen's University, covering the definitions and structure of patents, history, patent classifications, and how exactly this research can be used.  I really enjoyed his talk, but unfortunately the pace was a bit slow and we ran out of time, missing some of the important bits at the end of the Powerpoint presentation (we had the handouts so I knew where he was heading). Overall, it was very informative, and gave me a good background in the purpose and specifications for filing patents (novelty, usefulness, etc).

After the break, Marilynn Dunker from Proctor & Gamble took over, and demonstrated patent searching, patent classification usage, and the limits to what can be interpreted (aka DON'T--patents are legal documents and we are (usually) not attorneys) and presented in acceptable formats and research syntheses to the requestor.  The presentation was quite informative, and I have a more solid backing in the event that I need to do research in this area, but I'm pretty sure that I could never choose this as a profession.  It's very detail-oriented and classification-oriented, and I prefer bigger picture research.  For those who like cataloging, however, check out patent research.  It can have an incredible amount to offer outside traditional libraries.

And best of all, I met two other classmates, and we all met up afterwards for dinner at the Rusty Scupper Restaurant.  I highly recommend that as well; excellent seafood at fairly reasonable prices and a great view of the harbor!

-Trish

Introduction and Legal Research CE

As a new contributor to this blog, I'd like to include a brief introduction.  My name is Patricia Losi (Trish), and I am a solo librarian/information specialist at the American Journal of Nursing.  I also work within the larger company of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins to serve many different types of information needs, and occasionally get requests from our parent company of Wolters Kluwer.  I'm based in New York City, and arrived in Baltimore on Friday.

Starting off with a bang, I had signed up for four CE courses, two on Saturday and two on Sunday.  Saturday morning I attended Basic Legal Research for the Non-Law Librarian, taught by Robyn Rebollo and Abigail Ross, both law librarians for firms in Washington, DC.  It was the best choice I made, as both instructors were excellent--extremely knowlegeable and even managing to make the range of legal research available quite interesting by tying it together in a logical and useful framework.  If you get the chance to attend a class given by either of these two, I would highly recommend it.

They broke the course down into the three different branches, legislative, executive, and judicial research, and I learned quite a bit about the fine differences in each branch.  For example, what is the Code of Federal Regulations (official regulations enforced by executive agencies (FDA, etc) and the Federal Register (proposed regulations, although the final, accepted version that will appear in the CFR also will appear earlier in the Federal Register), and the little ins and outs that make all the difference when searching for the most up-to-date information.

Overall, this class was completely worth it, and the next time I have to perform some legal research, I will be far more confident that I know where, why, and how to find it in the least amount of time.

Plus, there was a Legal Jeopardy round near the end of the course with candy for each correct answer, so the chance to earn a little positive reinforcement with a sugar rush by recalling what we'd just learned never hurts :).

-Trish

Conference Brochure Available!

The Handy-Dandy, one-page Solo Division Conference Guide is now available and can be downloaded via the SLA-DSOL COP at http://cop.sla.org/COP/Solo%20Librarians%20Division/.

The guide is broken down by day and lists each Solo-sponsored event, to include times, location and speakers! The brochure will also be available during tonight's Open House.

Can't wait to see you all there!