NJSLA Blog

NJSLA Welcomes 2010 Officers

The New Jersey Chapter of SLA congratulates and welcomes our new officers for 2010 (biographies below):

President-Elect 2010 (President 2011, Past President 2012): Sherry Markowitz
Secretary (2010-11): Suzanne Lipman
Director of Communications (2010-11): Cheryl Erenberg
Treasurer (2010-11): Sonal Shukla (serving a second two-year term)

There were no eligible write-in candidates. (Chapter practices require nomination by at least 10 members for each write-in nomination.)

The chapter had 275 members eligible to vote, and 68 participated (turnout of 24.7 percent). Ballots were open from Oct. 31 through Nov. 20.

The officers will be welcomed at our chapter's Annual Meeting and Holiday Party on Dec. 15 in New Brunswick (sponsored by PRO LiBRA).

Sherry Markowitz (President-Elect) is an alert editor in the Market Insights group of AT&T.  Sherry has been at AT&T for over 35 years. She received her M.L.S from Rutgers in 1987 and started her library career then. Prior to that, she was a manager in other parts of AT&T. Sherry has been a member of SLA since 1989. Positions held with the NJSLA chapter include Public Relations Committee, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Suzanne Lipman (Secretary) is currently employed as an information specialist at Medco in northern New Jersey where she performs literature searches, fields reference questions, and coordinates document delivery. Suzanne has taught online as an adjunct instructor for library and information science graduate students at Syracuse University. She received her Bachelor's degree in English from Rutgers University and her Master's degree in Library and Information Science from Drexel University where she was inducted into the Beta Phi Mu honor society.

Cheryl Erenberg (Director of Communications) graduated from Rutgers University in 1999 with a Masters of Library Science. In the past ten years, she has worked in a variety of special library settings including corporate, association, and hospital information centers. Her knack for technology, web development,  and content management are complemented by her experience in client-facing reference, research, and training activities. Her dedication to delivering client-focused products and services earn ed her the 2006 B.E.S.T. Award from Atlantic Health for excellence in customer service. Cheryl has been a member of the New Jersey Chapter of SLA since 1999 and has served as Bulletin Editor (2003–2004) and Business Manager (2001-2003).  She also was the recipient of the New Jersey Chapter's President’s Award in 2004. Cheryl is active in several other library associations and has co-authored two posters on medical librarianship.

Sonal Shukla (Treasurer) has held positions in the field of library and information science for more than 15 years. Currently, she is the Director of the Information Resource Center at Embryon Inc. (an Advanced Health Media Company). In her role as the Director, she is in charge of developing, maintaining, and promoting the Virtual Information Resource Center, a web-based biomedical library. She also assists in strategic planning and marketing the Information Resource Center’s capabilities to the employees. Sonal has held positions in nonprofit as well as corporate settings, providing with her diverse experience in the field of library and information science. Prior to her job at Embryon, Sonal worked at i3 Research (a United Health Group Company) as Manager of Library and Information Services.  Earlier in her career, Sonal worked in the medical libraries at various hospitals and medical centers.

Sonal has worked as NJSLA Treasurer from 2007-2009 and as a Membership Secretary of Health Sciences Libraries of NJ from 1995-1997. Sonal received her MLS from Rutgers University and Bachelor’s Degree from University of Mumbai. She has completed 18 credits in Graduate Program of Biomedical Informatics at UMDNJ. Sonal also has a Diploma in Advertising and Marketing.  Her hobbies include reading and Hindustani classical music.

Kristin Gahona Is the 2009 NJSLA Spaulding Scholarship Recipient

NJSLA is pleased to announce that Pratt Institute student Kristin Gahona is the recipient of the 2009 Spaulding Scholarship.

Gahona is a 2009 magna cum laude graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in American Studies and History/Political Science.  While at Rutgers she worked on the papers of late New Jersey Senator Harrison Williams.  After obtaining her Masters Degree from Pratt, Gahona hopes to pursue a career in archives and museum studies.

The NJSLA Frank H. Spaulding Student Scholarship is named in honor of Frank H. Spaulding, former president of both the New Jersey chapter and the Special Libraries Association. The scholarship is open to students who are currently enrolled in a Masters level program in Library Science at an ALA accredited library school and are New Jersey residents.

Gahona will officially receive the award at the NJSLA Annual Business Meeting and Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 15 at the Rutgers Club in New Brunswick.  Please attend the event and offer your heartiest congratulations to her.  The full text of her essay on the topic “How will you position yourself for career growth and how will SLA membership help you achieve it?” is posted on our Web site.

SLA Makes It Easier to Volunteer

SLA President-elect Anne Caputo has launched a 2010 Call for Volunteers, that makes it very easy to see and apply for volunteer opportunities using a Web-based form. They new volunteer form (linked from Anne's letter to members) will help you find opportunities you may not know existed, apply in one place without worrying about whom to contact, and focus your thoughts on why and how you'd like to get involved. (Don't worry: It's a short form, not a job application.)

For example, SLA currently is looking for volunteers to serve on the following association-wide groups:

Committees:

• Bylaws
• Cataloging
• Association Governance
• Diversity Leadership Development Program
• Research and Development
• Technical Standards

Advisory Councils:

• Emergency Preparedness and Recovery
• First Five Years
• Information Ethics
• Information Outlook
• Professional Development
• Public Policy
• Public Relations
• Student and Academic Affairs
• Virtual Worlds

(I had heard of most of them, but not all of them!)

Also, volunteers for opportunities other than committees and councils will be forwarded to the appropriate division, chapter, caucus or nominating committee without any vetting by Anne or the advisory group members.

If you're interested in volunteering with the New Jersey Chapter, you could fill out the online form, or just ask me or 2010 President Sandra Baker. We'd be happy to welcome you. Two opportunities that come to mind are: Membership (welcoming new members and pointing people in the right direction when they have questions about their membership) and Program Planning for our chapter's 75-year anniversary.

Eric Schwarz
NJSLA President

Clarification on SLA Name Change Proposal and Acronyms

From SLA President Gloria Zamora:

The Board has received a lot of feedback from leadership and alignment ambassadors, and we have heard the membership on the issue of the acronym.

We have decided that we will use the full name, Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals, at every opportunity to introduce the association.  There is discussion on alternative abbreviations whose URLs were purchased just for this kind of situation.  HQ Staff and the Board of Directors have not used the acronym since the end of the first week of discussion and I believe we will seek alternatives to use should the name pass. The vote is on the full name of the association and there is no acronym on the ballot.
 
Please inform your members and please remember to vote. [Editor's Note: Voting runs through Dec. 9.]
 
Thanks so much for this and all your work.
 
Sincerely,
Gloria
 

 

Recap and Resources from NJSLA's Discussion of the Proposed SLA Name Change

New Jersey SLA members had a chance to hear about SLA's Alignment Project, and the potential name change, via a teleconference and in-person meeting held Wednesday, Nov. 11. Members are voting on changing the name of the association, to the Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals, via electronic balloting to be held today (Nov. 16) through Dec. 9.

At the Nov. 11 meeting we had five people participating in person in Somerville and seven on the phone, including association President Gloria Zamora and Jill Strand, chair of the SLA Public Relations Advisory Council. As other chapters have done during the name change discussions, we surveyed the meeting participants about their job titles. Fewer than half of the participants had the name "library" or "librarian" in their job titles.

The fact that the name Special Libraries Association may exclude some members and vendors who otherwise would join, is one reason behind the name change proposal. Gloria and Jill reviewed the research and process behind the proposal, which is well documented on the SLA's Alignment Project wiki. A new site launched last week points to blog posts on the Alignment Project and the name change. These posts examine each of the words in the proposed name, what the association means to each person. Though not everyone agrees that Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals is the best potential name, or that SLA should change its name, there is a general consensus that the Alignment Project is a worthwhile examination of the association and the profession.

Others have said it more eloquently or with more detail, but here's my opinion: I'm voting yes on the new name, because it's more inclusive and aspirational, opening up a "bigger tent" for the association and challenging us to be strategic partners with our clients. Also, though the terms "libraries" and "librarians" are well-regarded, the term "special libraries" is not well understood outside or sometimes within the profession. This has been recognized for many years, even from the association's founding in 1909, so it's time to move forward with a name that better reflects the values and strengths of our members today. The name Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals is a positive step in that direction.

Eric Schwarz
NJSLA President

After the meeting, Jill sent this note with additional resources:

Thanks again for letting us join you tonight and for all your thoughtful comments and questions.  Below are some of the resources I mentioned that can help to either get you started or answer your questions.  If you have more, please feel free to reach out - there are plenty of us here to help: Eric as your Alignment Ambassador, myself, SLA Leadership or SLA PR Director Cara Schatz.

• SLA Blog post with first steps you can take to make the Alignment findings work for you.
• An overview of how the Alignment research was conducted and who was included.

Additional links with more detail on Alignment Project, research and more:

• SLA Alignment Portal: Excellent and easy summary of Alignment research.
• Aligning the Profession for the Future: Executive Summary with Links to Resources.
• SLA Steps for Alignment Process.
• Alignment Ambassador Q & A.

NJ SLA Holiday Party and Annual Business Meeting--December 15th

Tuesday, December 15th
The Rutgers Club
199 College Avenue
New Brunswick
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

The  NJ Chapter gratefully acknowledges the support of PRO LiBRA  for this event

Please join us for food, drink, and fun with your colleagues at this Rutgers' landmark. The Holiday Party will include the presentation of three awards: The President's Award, Member of the Year Award, and the Frank H. Spaulding Student Scholarship, and you will also be meeting the new Chapter Board.

 

We will continue the tradition of our White Elephant Gift Exchange

and

This year we will  be collecting donations for the Franklin Township  Food Bank in Somerset, NJ

To thank members for their participation throughout the year, registration is only $10 for members, students and retirees; or $15 for other guests.

Link to online registration

Download the flier

 

 

Reminder: Name Change Discussion by Teleconference and in Somerville (Wednesday, Nov. 11)

The New Jersey Chapter will discuss SLA's name change proposal at a meeting to be held Wednesday, Nov. 11, in person (in Somerville) and by teleconference. Ruth Wolfish, SLA's Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect and NJSLA President Emerita, will join us for the discussion.

Schedule:

• 6:30 p.m.: Greetings and light refreshments in Somerville.
• 7 p.m.: Teleconference.
• 8 p.m.: In-person discussion continues in Somerville.

The event is free, whether in person or by phone, but you must register online. (Once you complete the registration, you'll see the call-in phone numbers and an option to add the event to your Outlook calendar. If you have trouble registering or need the phone number or location again, please contact Eric Schwarz. 

New Jersey/New York members have two other chances to discuss the proposed name change. The other sessions will be held Thursday, Nov. 12, in New York City and Monday, Nov. 16, in Princeton. For more details please see the previous NJSLA Bulletin post.

As a reminder, members will vote on the proposed name Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals via electronic ballot from 16 November through 9 December. The result will be announced on 10 December. Complete information is online.

Free 'Career Transition' Special Interest Group Starting in New York City

METRO (Metropolitan New York Library Council) has formed a Special Interest Group devoted to Career Transition.

From Susan Gormley:

Please join fellow library and information colleagues in this newly formed SIG to manage your current and future career needs.  METRO’s SIGs are free to all!

Date:               Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Venue:            METRO’s office, 57 East 11th Street, 4th Floor
Time:               5:30 – 7:00 PM

METRO is responding to the needs of information professionals as they plan for current and future career needs.  This a great opportunity to network with colleagues from public libraries, academic and university libraries, archives, and special collections.

Please bring your ideas, suggestions and recommendations to this meeting as future programs will be generated by you and your ideas!

Proposed Agenda:

5:30 – 6:00 PM: Sign-in and Networking

6:00 – 7:00 PM: Topics for Future Programs

Topics to Consider:               

• Resume Writing and Interviewing Skills                              
• Cataloging Trends
• Competitive Intelligence
• Reference Services
• Social Networking

METRO's SIGs are free to all interested individuals.


Convener for the METRO Career Transition SIG is Susan Gormley, [email protected]. Please forward your RSVP to Susan.

ARMA event: 'Tales From the Trenches: Learning From Experience' (Wednesday, Nov. 18 in Princeton)

ARMA's Northern New Jersey and Central New Jersey-Princeton Chapters are sponsoring a Nov. 18 event, "Tales From the Trenches: Learning From Experience," from 5-8 p.m. at the Princeton Holiday Inn, 100
Independence Way, Princeton, NJ 08540. ARMA serves the Records and Information Management industry.

SLA members are welcome to register at the same $30 rate as ARMA members. More information and a registration form are online. The event also is listed on our chapter calendar.

For more information please contact:

Angela Dzikowski
VP Membership, ARMA Northern New Jersey Chapter
908-918-0077
http://www.armannj.org/

======================================

Tales From the Trenches: Learning From Experience

We have put together a panel of chapter members with extensive RIM experience. They will share lessons learned from their work as consultants and records and information management specialists in
corporate and government environments. In this panel discussion, you’ll hear about what didn’t work as well as what did. Topics addressed will include:

Executive buy-in and governance
Sustainable RIM
Critical factors in ERM Implementation (including e-mail)
Training Effectiveness
Operations

The panel will be open to questions. Click to submit your questions prior to this meeting ([email protected]).


 Panel:  Cindy Sheward, CRM
            Albin Wagner, CRM, CA
            Alison Zoubeck, CRM
            Dr. Marcia Zweerink, Ph.D


Panelist Bio:

Marcy Zweerink is a Senior Consultant with Cohasset Associates, specializing in helping organizations design and implement information and records management strategies and programs.  Prior to joining Cohasset, Marcy was responsible for enterprise records management programs and technologies at Merck and Co, Inc, reporting to the CIO.

Cynthia Sheward is a Certified Records Manager with over twenty years experience as Corporate Records Manager for a Fortune 500 property-casualty insurance company.  In 2008, she became a private consultant, working to assist corporations in creation and maintenance of effective RIM programs.

Alison Zoubek is the President and founder of AZoubek Consulting, LLC which specializes in records management services. She has over twenty years experience in developing comprehensive Records Management Programs and works with companies in various industries:  to ensure compliance with legal retention requirements; to increase protection of company information and reduce liability risk; and to reduce costs and time associated with records management practices.

Albin Wagner is Deputy Director of the New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Management, which provides archives records management services for the state and local governments of New Jersey. Wagner serves as the Chief of the Bureau of Records Management, part of the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State.

Survey About Information Outlook

Earlier this year, Gloria Zamora appointed eight SLA members to an advisory council charged with helping set the editorial content and direction of Information Outlook. Now, all SLA members are invited to answer a few questions to provide the advisory council and the editor with guidance on how to improve the magazine and increase its value to information professionals.

The survey is posted online through Friday, 20 November, and takes less than five minutes to complete.
 

Stuart Hales
Publications Editor
SLA
331 S. Patrick Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3501 USA
Tel. +1.703.647.4919
Fax +1.703.647.4901
[email protected]
www.sla.org