Conveying Your Value is the theme for the 2009 San Diego Chapter Fall Seminar. Seminar planners Mary Wickline and Nancy Stimson of UCSD Libraries look forward to welcoming you to this esteemed professional development event on Friday October 9 at Amylin Pharmaceuticals in University City. Registration will open soon, so watch this space and your e-mail for details.
In the meantime we want to recognize a Fall Seminar sponsor and share with you their big news.
10-K Wizard is now Morningstar Document Research. The new Document Research platform goes beyond the US annual filings (10-K form) to enable streamlined global company research. Its new name is intended to reflect the breadth of the offering.
While the name has
changed, Morningstar Document Research continues to provide the full-text
search capabilities, real-time alerts, and robust data extraction tools that
are a vital resource for clients who conduct in-depth research. We are also
planning to take advantage of additional features and functionality that we’ll be
able to offer as part of a larger, global organization.
Daniel Fitz-Enz received his MLS from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa School of Library and Information Science in 2000. After earning his MLS, he worked for a granted-funded distance education program at the university for 9 months. Then he moved back to California and started looking for another job. In early 2002, he was hired by CSA/CIG (Cambridge Information Group). After 5 years, CIG bought Proquest and the two companies merged under the name Proquest. He worked for them for 2 more years until he was laid off in late 2008.
In May 2009, Daniel started a new job with Electronic Online Systems (EOS) International, for whom he works as a trainer supporting customers in North America and the Caribbean region. He trains customers on the various ILS modules that EOS sells, and he provides internal and external coordination to ensure that customers’ training needs are fully met.
Here Daniel shares some of his insights relating to how to land that next job, even in tough times. He can be reached at dfitzenz@eosintl.com.
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Talking with Daniel Fitz-Enz about how to maximize your chances of getting a new job
1. What was the number one factor in your landing your new job with EOS?
That’s hard to say. I think there isn't one thing that gets me a job. I think it’s a combination of many things. Some things I can control (e.g., my resume, interviewing skills, interview clothes, networking) and some I can't (interviewers’ expectations, availability of jobs in the market, timing). I try to do the best I can regarding things I can control. I try not to worry too much about things I can't control.
For EOS, I read their job ad and adapted my resume to highlight the qualifications they were looking for. For the interview, I practiced by asking myself questions and giving answers.
2. How did you keep up your morale while you were recently looking for work?
I have a very practical answer to this question. After Proquest told me they were laying me off, the very first thing I did was to look at my family’s financial situation to see if we would have enough money for up to 9 months, in case it took me that long to find a job. After that, I knew we would be financially OK.
With the money question answered, I tried to make job hunting as systematic as possible. Super Job Search, a book I read during that time said to treat the job search process as another job. Searching for a new job was my new job; I was a job researcher. When I found ads for jobs I wanted to apply for, I studied the ads and crafted my resumes and cover letters to cover all the details in the ads.
Also, I didn't spend all day and night looking for jobs. I gave myself assignments each day: look at job ads, write a cover letter, investigate a company, send out emails, or some combination of those. I always felt good when I had a goal rather than aimlessly looking for jobs. Additionally, after several hours surfing the Internet, investigating a company, writing a cover letter, or something else, I stopped for the day.
I looked at several dozen job ads, submitted several application packets and had two phone interviews before learning about the EOS position that I applied for and got.
3. What job-hunting tips do you have for info pros looking for work in today's difficult economy?
4. What interviewing tips you can offer?
5. How has participating in SLA benefited your career?
Networking with professional colleagues is very important and the chapter makes that easy. Networking is easier when chatting with people before or after an SLA-SD event. Also, I’ve benefited from opportunities the chapter has made available to strengthen and develop my skills. I’ve done a few presentations on library technology for chapter meetings. Currently, I’m serving as the chapter’s listserv manager and the chapter's vendor coordinator for the 2009 Fall Seminar. But, in the first couple of years as an SLA-SD member, I didn't do anything beyond showing up to listen to the lectures and to meet people.
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Interview conducted and written by Daria DeCooman
During the 2009 SLA Conference, SLA-SD President Elect Bobbi Weaver received the inaugural Business & Finance Division’s Leadership & Service Award. This new award was created to recognize members who demonstrate exemplary leadership and service to community or nonprofit organizations. In the interview presented here, Bobbi fills us in on her experiences as a volunteer and offers insights into the benefits that volunteering brings.
Photo: Bobbi Weaver receives the Business & Finance Division’s 2009 Leadership & Service Award from (on the left) Margaret Nelson with EvaluatePharma USA (the sponsor of the award) and (on the right) Terri Brooks, the Business and Finance Division's chair.
How did you get started as a volunteer? What was your inspiration?
Since I was a child, I’ve been doing volunteer work. I was a Brownie and Girl Scout, and we often were recruited to do various community activities. When I was in college, I was an officer in the Canterbury Club, an Episcopalian-affiliated student fellowship group, through which I did outreach to an area nursing home.
More recently, I became involved in volunteering to enhance my foreign language skills. In July 2004, I did a volunteer vacation at the Fundacción de Proteción Animal (FPA) in Loja, Ecuador where I organized the group’s small library and did a guest lecture on animal law for the law students at a local university.
In later years, I began relearning French. To help my French skills, I developed an HTML file for La Société Québécoise pour la Défense des Animaux with links to Quebec municipal laws related to companion animals. I later became involved in literacy issues in Haiti, and periodically sent French books to a private school there.
How did you get involved with Haiti Reads, the group cited in the SLA Business & Finance Division's announcement regarding its awarding you the award?
A few months ago, a shipment of French books to the school in Haiti was returned to me. Rather than attempting to resend the package, I searched the Internet for organizations within the US that assist people in Haiti.
During my research, I found Haiti Reads. I contacted the president of the organization, Jeanette Attiso, and asked if she could use the French books. She said yes. As we conversed by email, I told her I was a librarian and she indicated that Haiti Reads was planning a small library to serve a community in Port-au-Prince. She later asked if I would be interested in serving on the board of Haiti Reads, and in advising them on the organization of the new library. I agreed, and have been assisting with issues of fundraising, collection development, preservation, cataloging and classification.
What results have you seen from your personal volunteer efforts, as well as efforts of nonprofits for which you've served as a volunteer?
In Ecuador, FPA was able to provide materials to a variety of patrons (e.g., members of the general community, university students, veterinary students, farmers), and thus able to help educate people on the humane treatment of animals. For the group, in addition to print materials, I compiled a list of Spanish-language links for information on animal welfare and environmental protection. Unfortunately, FPA later closed due to financial constraints, but the library’s collection was donated to a local university library.
For Haiti Reads, I’m glad to have been able to provide the direction to launch the new library project. Though the new library is still in development, the building has been rented and is scheduled for renovations next month. This library will provide books and literacy training to children in one of the poorest areas of Haiti’s capital city.
What does volunteering bring you?
Volunteering makes me thankful for what I do have, rather than envious of what I don’t. I am also personally motivated by my faith.
Volunteering also enhances professional skills that I may not use in my regular job. For example, my job primarily involves reference, but in my volunteer work I’ve used other librarianship skills. I’ve also been able to keep up-to-date on resources outside the traditional legal resources that I use day-to-day.
What advice do you have for other info pros looking to get going with volunteering?
Many local organizations could benefit by having volunteers with librarianship skills. Additionally, because of our proximity to Mexico, librarians might want to consider opportunities across the border. In addition to educational institutions such as schools, organizations dealing with animal protection, environmental protection and human rights can use information professionals to help with community outreach.
A great place to find volunteer opportunities is the website Idealist.org. This site offers a database of volunteer opportunities throughout the world. Also, for job-seekers, Idealist.org includes job listings for nonprofit organizations in the US and worldwide.
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Interview conducted and written by Daria DeCooman
A few more photos of the SLA West Coast Chapters Reception:
SLA-SD Chapter member Kathy Cook and her husband Steve greeting attendees at the welcome table.
The poster thanking our sponsors.
The views of the White House and the Washington Monument from the windows of the First Amendment Lounge at the National Press Club.
Here are some photos from the SLA Annual Conference held in Washington DC June 13-17. You can click on the photos to see the full size image.
SLA CEO Janice Lachance at podium and President Gloria Zamora at left at the opening of the INFO-EXPO exhibit hall.
Full-size cardboard figures of President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Clinton were very popular. President Obama is either very tall or SLA-SD Past President Kathy Quinn is very short . . . hmmm . . .
The Hoover robot was quite a hit, greeting the attendees as we entered the ballroom for the opening session and keynote speech by Gen. Colin Powell. The robot was programmed to "talk" and even interact and respond. Quite fun!
SLA-SD Chapter President Cindy Shamel at the AIIP (Association for Independent Information Professionals) booth in the exhibit hall.
SLA-SD Chapter member Kathy Cook, Past President Kathy Quinn, and President Cindy Shamel enjoying the celebration of SLA's Centennial.
The Business & Finance Division has just announced that San Diego Chapter President Elect Bobbi Weaver will receive the prestigious Leadership & Service Award for 2009. The award recognizes members who demonstrate exemplary leadership and service to a community or non-profit organization.
Bobbi works at the California Western School of Law Library, and she was chosen based upon her work with Haiti Reads. This organization collects books and other items to distribute to children in Haiti. Haiti Reads is in the process of establishing a community library for the residents in the Delmas 24 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Bobbi has been active in the planning for this library. In addition she has raised funds, donated books, and set up a Wishlist on Powell's.
Bobbi believes that "as librarians, we have an obligation to promote literacy, especially among communities where access to resources is extremely limited." Bobbi says she dedicates several hours a week to this objective and "is honored to be able to use my skills and SLA connections to help Haiti Reads."
In supporting Bobbi's nomination, representatives of Haiti Reads said, "“There are those who say they will help a cause, and then there are those who actually do. Since making acquaintance with Bobbi Weaver, Haiti Reads has flourished. Without Bobbi’s knowledge, donations of books and encouragements, the dream of establishing a library in Haiti would still be a dream. But because of Bobbi, it is now a tangible reality.”
At the SLA Awards Reception in Washington DC next month Bobbi will receive the award from the B&F Division, including a check for $500 which she will pass on to Haiti Reads.
Congratulations, Bobbi!
Members of the San Diego Chapter of SLA are active volunteers in the community and the world. Chapter Archivist Daria DeCooman has donated her time and talent to the La Roca shelter in Tijuana, and several members recently volunteered at the San Diego Children's Book Festival.
In 1998, Cindy established Shamel Information Services. Her firm, of which she is the president, offers research solutions, competitive intelligence, and information consulting services. Prior to starting her own business, Cindy worked as an academic librarian for 6 years. She earned her MLS from Indiana University. Recently, she kindly answered a few questions relating to her business success.
Five Questions with Cindy Shamel
1. What is the number one key to your success in serving your clients?
I deliver actionable information on time and within budget. My highest priority is on preparing research reports addressing clients’ business needs. I want clients to feel that the information I provide prepares them to make better business decisions than they could without that information.
2. How do you measure your value?
In two ways. First and foremost is the feedback I get from clients. Some of that feedback is posted on my website, but there's nothing I'd rather hear than "Excellent. This is great stuff. Just what we needed." I also measure my value based upon the demand for my services. New business is always great, but when I get repeat clients, I know they have found value in my work.
3. How do you communicate your value to your clients?
Well, sometimes I refer them to my website. However, for the most part I try to put myself in each client’s place, to some degree. If I can understand the challenges a client is trying to address, the problem this client is trying to solve, or the decision this client is trying to make, I can tailor project results to feed right into that process. When clients say "You get our difficult questions," then I know they recognize the value of what I provide them.
4. What advice can you offer to other info pros seeking to communicate their value?
Try to feel your clients’ pain. If your clients understand that you are listening to their needs and trying to help them fill their own information gaps, then they’ll appreciate your value. Also, when you discuss solutions you can provide, focus on the benefits, not the features.
Here’s an example:
Feature: "I can search MEDLINE."
Benefit: "I can deliver information, based on medical literature, that will help you decide whether to go ahead with that project."
5. How has participating in SLA benefited your career?
As an active member of SLA, I’ve had the opportunity to make a number of connections that have led to new business. More importantly, however, as a leader in SLA (in 2001, I was a director of the SLA-SD Chapter’s annual seminar, and this year I’m the chapter’s president), I’ve learned more than I could have predicted about business management, leadership, organizational dynamics, and project management. I can't imagine another, more cost-effective way to acquire the skills and experience that I have gained through membership in SLA.
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Interview conducted and written by Daria DeCooman