NJSLA Blog

Rodale: A Special Kind of Special Library

Christina Steffy, a student in Rutgers University's Master of Library and Information Science program, recently visited the library of Rodale Inc., a publisher of magazines, books and other content related to health, fitness and wellness. Rodale is located in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, about 69 miles from New Brunswick, New Jersey, and 64 miles from Philadelphia.

Christina has shared what she learned from her visit to Rodale's library:

As part of my career exploration while completing my MLIS at Rutgers, I’m conducting information interviews at a variety of libraries. For years my passion was academic libraries, but I recently discovered an equal, if not stronger, passion for special libraries and the publishing industry. I’m fortunate enough to live 40 minutes away from a rare special library gem that allowed me to combine these interests into one visit – Rodale Inc., which is part organic farm, part publishing company, and also has one library that serves its Emmaus, Pa., Manhattan, Chicago, and Los Angeles offices.

Being the less than shy soul that I am, I sent an email to Rodale one night explaining that I’m an MLIS student at Rutgers and I’m interested in corporate librarianship ...

Read the rest of the story at Christina's blog, Mission: MLIS.

Related articles

• Maria Rodale: Growing A Greener World: The Rodale Institute! (huffingtonpost.com)
• Library Jobs: Special Libraries & Subject Specialists (libraryjobpostings.org)

Volunteer a few hours of your time to help the next generation of special librarians!

We got the following request from Madelyne Burr, President of the Rutgers student chapter of SLA (RUSLA). They need 2-3 special librarians and if possible 1 law librarian too represent special libraries at their upcoming Career Fair to be held at Rutgers SCI on April 21st from 4:00 - 6:30 pm.

Please contact Madelyne directly at [email protected] if you are interested in participating.

Just a few hours of your time can help influence the next generation of special librarians!

Regards,
--Cheryl Erenberg
NJSLA Director of Communications

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:  <[email protected]>
Subject: Rutgers MLIS career fair
To: [email protected]

Greetings from Rutgers!

On April 21st there will be a  Career Fair held for MLIS students in the Rutgers' School of Communication and Information.  The fair is sponsored by 2 student groups (LISSA and RUSLA) and will involve a number of people. The idea is to have librarians from various sectors (academic, public, school, law, etc. etc.) available to speak one-on-one with students. There will also be a separate event which pairs NJLA librarians with students to review their resumes.

In addition, we would also like to have representatives from professional organizations (such as NJ SLA) available to speak with the students. I am on the planning committee for the event and as such, have been tasked with procuring librarians. I was wondering if anyone from NJ SLA would be interested in helping to staff the SLA table? The fair will run from apprx. 4:00-6:30pm and I believe it will probably be pretty well attended.

We would love to have at least 2 NJSLA representatives. It would also be great if we could get at least 1 law librarian.

Thank-you very much!!!
Madelyne Burr, President RUSLA
[email protected]

A Recap and Photos from Guy St. Clair's Lecture on SLA's History and Future

I've posted photos from Guy St. Clair's March 3 lecture, SLA at 100: From Putting Knowledge to Work to Building the Knowledge Culture. (The photos are also shown in a slideshow below.)

Guy, NJSLA's 2010 Alice Rankin DIstinguished Lecturer, had researched and written his book SLA at 100 for 10 years before SLA's centennial in 2009. He used SLA's history as a jumping-off point to speak about the future of the profession, the importance of knowledge management and knowledge services, and how information professionals can take leadership roles in their organizations.

The lecture prompted a lively debate about (among other topics) library school curricula and SLA's leadership in continuing education (via Click University's Webinars and online certificate programs). Guy and the attendees also discussed both challenges and opportunities as the roles of professionals in information technology and knowledge services (such as librarians) converge.

The event, held at the Rutgers Club in New Brunswick, was generously sponsored by EBSCO and Dow Jones. Among the photos are a few showing the glass bookends we gave Guy in appreciation of his visit. NJSLA Past President Barbara Burton in 2007 started the tradition of presenting these bookends to our Alice Rankin Distinguished Lecturers.

Eric Schwarz

NJSLA Past President

 

Building the Hyperlinked Library (Thursday, Nov. 19 at Rutgers, New Brunswick)

Building the Hyperlinked Library (Annual Beta Phi Mu Fall Lecture)

Beta Phi Mu, Omicron Chapter, 2009 Fall Lecture

Building the Hyperlinked Library
Presented by Michael Stephens, Ph.D.
November 19, 2009
Alexander Library, Pane Room, 1st Floor (directions: http://maps.rutgers.edu/building.aspx?ID=17)
7:00pm - Reception
7:30 - Lecture

This is a free event and all are welcome to attend! Plan to arrive early, we are expecting a large turnout.

Biosketch: Michael Stephens, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University in Illinois.  He spent over fifteen years working in public libraries while developing a passion for technology and the human connections it affords. His recent publications include two ALA Library Technology Reports on Web 2.0, the monthly column "The Transparent Library" with Michael Casey in Library Journal, and other articles about emerging trends and tech. Michael also maintains the popular blog Tame the Web.  He received an IMLS doctoral fellowship at the University of North Texas, was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker, and received the 2009 Association of Library & Information Science Educators Faculty Innovation Award as well as a 2009 University of North Texas Rising Star Alumni Award. He is the 2009 CAVAL Visiting Scholar, researching the effect of Learning 2.0 programs in Australian libraries. Michael speaks nationally and internationally on libraries, technology, and innovation. He is fascinated by library buildings and virtual spaces that center around users, content, digital creation and encouraging the heart.

This year's Beta Phi Mu, Omicron Chapter, lecture is co-sponsored by:
- Rutgers University Libraries
- Department of Library and Information Science, School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University
- School of Communication and Information Alumni Association
- New Jersey Center for the Book

Visit NJSLA's Google calendar.

Rutgers SC&I Rebranding on SLA Blog

I've posted to the SLA Blog on this year's rebranding to the School of Communication & Information, and its parallels to the current SLA Name Change discussion. Because this topic is of local interest, I'm promoting it here, too. Check it out!

The Info Profession: Changing and Realigning (Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. in New Brunswick)

Rutgers University Special Libraries Association Student Group (RUSLA) (in association with the New Jersey and Princeton-Trenton SLA Chapters) Presents:

The Info Profession:
Changing and Realigning

A Discussion with SLA President-Elect Anne Caputo

Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 2-4 p.m.

Rutgers University

Graduate Student Lounge (part of the Rutgers Student Center, behind Au Bon Pain)

126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (http://maps.rutgers.edu/building.aspx?id=278).

Free and open to the public. If you are from outside Rutgers and need a parking pass, please contact Eric Schwarz by Friday, Oct. 2.

Note: This is separate from Anne's presentation at IEEE later that evening. That session is a dinner session and the joint annual meeting of the New Jersey and Princeton-Trenton Chapters of SLA. Registration is required for that event. See http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/njsla/2009/08/joint-meeting-registration.html.

In special libraries and information centers, as well as traditional libraries, there is a lot of discussion about the future of the profession and how info pros can market and position themselves. The SLA has conducted research into all these issues, because “special libraries” as a term no longer represents the breadth and depth of skills info pros bring to market. Anne asks students to consider these questions as they prepare to go out into the field:

• What's in a name?  What do you think you should call yourself as a professional?  What should SLA call itself?
• What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now - in an ideal world and assuming you can achieve your dreams?
• What is the most valuable thing you wish you could learn in your graduate program?  Is it happening or likely to happen?
• Do you see value in professional associations like SLA?  Are we meeting your needs - why or why not?
• How do you define your value to potential employers?  How do you measure that value?
• Do you have an elevator speech?

Anne Caputo is Executive Director of Dow Jones' Learning & Information Professional Programs, where she is responsible for the planning and development of learning initiatives for Dow Jones Content Technology Solutions group.  She is also responsible for strategic planning, marketing and the creation of alliances with and for information professionals.  Additionally, Anne is a faculty member at the I-schools at the University of Maryland and the University of Tennessee. Within SLA, Anne has served in leadership roles at the chapter and board levels. In 2004 she was named a recipient of SLA's Rose L. Vormelker Award for mentoring students and practicing professionals and was named a Fellow of SLA at the 2008 Annual Conference. She will serve as association president in 2010.

For more information, please contact Madelyne Burr (madelyne AT eden.rutgers.edu).

Want to learn more about SLA? Check out http://rusla.rutgers.edu or www.sla.org.

Refreshments sponsored by GSA (Graduate Student Association), LISSA (Library and Information Science Student Association) and RUSLA.

NJ/ASIS&T to Honor Rutgers' Belkin as 'Distinguished Lecturer' (Friday, Sept. 25 in New Brunswick)

The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society for Information Science & Technology (NJ/ASIS&T) is pleased to honor Dr. Nicholas J. Belkin with its Distinguished Lectureship Award. 

Dr. Belkin, at Rutgers University’s School of Communication and Information, is scheduled to speak on Friday, September 25 at 2 PM. His lecture, entitled “Personalizing Support for Interaction with Information," will be held at the Lecture Hall, Scholarly Communication Center, located on the fourth floor of the Alexander Library at Rutgers in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The award ceremony and lecture will be preceded by a reception and light refreshments at 1 PM in the Scholarly Communication Center. 

The event is free and all are welcome to join us in honoring Dr. Belkin for his outstanding commitment to teaching and invaluable contributions to Information Science. 

In addition to teaching at Rutgers' School of Communication and Information, Dr. Belkin is the author of numerous articles on topics such as information retrieval, human information behavior, and human-computer interaction. He has presented at nearly 200 conferences throughout the United States, Great Britain and Europe.

Dr. Belkin is also past President of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, which bestowed him with its prestigious Award of Merit in 2003, its Award for Excellence in Research in Information Science in 1997, and its Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award in 1990.

Dr. Belkin also serves on the Editorial Board for Information Processing and Management and Information Retrieval.  He has been a member of the American Society for Information Science since 1970. 

The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society for Information Science & Technology established the Distinguished Lectureship Award in 1985 to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of information science. 

Contact: Judy Jeng, Ph.D., Program Chair / Chair-Elect New Jersey Chapter, American Society for Information Science & Technology.

NJSLA Dine-Around and Student Mixer: Wednesday, Sept. 30 in New Brunswick (Rescheduled from an earlier date)

You're invited to NJSLA's next DIne-Around event, to be held Wednesday, Sept. 30 in New Brunswick! (The Dine-Around had originally been scheduled for a previous date, but there was a conflict with another local SLA event.)

Who: NJSLA members, Rutgers MLIS students, librarians, info pros and any other nice people who want to join. You must be 21 with ID, since the Dine-Around will be held at a bar.

What: NJSLA Dine-Around in a casual pub atmosphere.

Where: Olive Branch Bar & Restaurant, 37 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone 732-729-0203. www.olivebranchonline.com. Directions: http://tinyurl.com/pceho7. The restaurant is located just behind the Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue.
 
When: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, starting around 6:30 to 7 p.m., until 9 p.m.

Why: Fun, mingling and networking. Learn about NJSLA's upcoming programs in a relaxed atmosphere with no set program or speaker. No fee to attend; just pay your own check and tip.

How: RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/n735gd by Monday, Sept. 28. Come as you are, and remember to bring ID!

POSTPONED - Dine-Around in New Brunswick

UPDATE: Dine-Around now set for Sept. 30! See http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/njsla/2009/09/sept-30-dinearound.html.

ORIGINAL POST:

Because of conflicts with a Princeton-Trenton SLA event, we're indefinitely postponing the scheduled Sept. 15 Dine-Around in New Brunswick. We're trying to find a date that doesn't conflict with other SLA or campus events, so stay tuned!

All those who have signed up have been notified of the postponement.

I apologize for the change in plans.

Eric Schwarz
NJSLA President

POSTPONED - NJSLA Dine-Around and Student Mixer: Tuesday, Sept. 15 in New Brunswick

UPDATE: Dine-Around now set for Sept. 30! See http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/njsla/2009/09/sept-30-dinearound.html.

ORIGINAL POST:

NOTE - As of Aug. 31, this event has been indefinitely postponed because of a conflict. For more information please see the NJSLA Bulletin blog.

You're invited to NJSLA's next DIne-Around event, to be held

Tuesday, Sept. 15

in New Brunswick!

Who: NJSLA members, Rutgers MLIS students, librarians, info pros and any other nice people who want to join. You must be 21 with ID, since the Dine-Around will be held at a bar.

What: NJSLA Dine-Around in a casual pub atmosphere.

Where: Olive Branch Bar & Restaurant, 37 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone 732-729-0203. www.olivebranchonline.com. Directions: http://tinyurl.com/pceho7. The restaurant is located just behind the Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue.

 

When: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, starting around 6:30 to 7 p.m., until 9 p.m.

Why: Fun, mingling and networking. Learn about NJSLA's upcoming programs in a relaxed atmosphere with no set program or speaker. No fee to attend; just pay your own check and tip.

How: RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/n735gd. Come as you are, and remember to bring ID!