Reposted with permission from SLA Europe Blog

by Sam Wiggins, Europe Chapter, Legal Division

Before I outline of my impressions of SLA 2011, I’d like to explain the difficulties I have had writing about it. I’m normally pretty good with words, and when I have an idea I am usually able to run with it for some length. Upon returning from SLA, kindly sponsored by SLA Europe and SLA Legal Division as an Early Career Conference Award (ECCA) winner, I was full of ideas. I filled an entire notebook with them. I sat down to write, and then became stumped. The conference filled me with ideas, passion and excitement for the library and information profession beyond belief  (I was already pretty passionate about it to say the least), but it also provided me with so many things I want to say that becomes difficult to know where to begin.

SLA 2011 was not only my first time in the USA, but also my first conference, and consequently my expectations were of BIG things. It certainly delivered; big names delivering big talks with big ideas. I had numerous fears and trepidations before heading out to Philadelphia, some exacerbated, and some calmed, by the vast quantities of information I received regarding conference proceedings, etiquette and preparation advice. As someone due to become a fully fledged information professional when I finish my MA in September, it is with some shame that I admit to suffering from information overload prior to the conference. This soon subsided with some encouraging words from my mentors, Sara Batts and Liz Polly, as well as discussing the events programme with the other wonderful ECCA winners.

My principle concern leading up to the conference was how I would apply theory from my MA to practical examples provided by SLA 2011. Whilst I have library experience from various sectors, but am still very much a ‘new’ new professional. Thankfully SLA provided me with a melting pot of librarians with a diverse set of practical examples to problems I had contemplated.

Networking is something I have been interested in throughout my MA year, learning about theories such as ‘open twos’ and ‘closed threes’ and I was keen to try and implement all that I had mused upon. The First Timers and Fellows Reception provided the perfect opportunity for this. It was designed so that we first timers could gain some last minute conference tips, and enable the fellows to see that we are an enthusiastic library related bunch with much to give to the profession. Whilst the reception was excellent, it left a large dent in the networking theory I had researched. I quickly realised that determining how to enter a conversation and who to enter it with was quite simple, no theory needed. Instead, it was far simpler to just be natural, and talk to people! This may seem overly simplified, but I think a bit of simplification is exactly what the theory is missing. I had been placing a lot of focus on situations from a very objective position, without considering that others in the room will be in the same position as myself, also looking for a conversation.

This isn’t to say that the theory didn’t have its benefits. It was indispensable when attending some sessions; I realised that my MA has given me a strong grasp of many library related concepts that I had not come across whilst working, and if I had, I might have passed them by with little consideration. Even networking theory found its use for helping me to move on from conversations. The other SLA attendees provided me access to a whole host of information roles that I had never dreamt possible, making it easy to fall into the trap of spending a great deal of time speaking to one person, and without sounding too objective, limiting the networking connections that could be made. I tried to remain aware that it was important to make the most of the diverse set of librarians that were present at SLA; unfortunately this meant limiting the time I spent in some conversations. It was here that a little bit of practical theory became handy. Making use of business cards to exchange contact details and exit a conversation politely meant conversations could be continued at a later date where time was less pressured.

I was also keen to learn about practical solutions to enhance the visibility of the library service, and was able to do from a range of perspectives. Firstly through the sessions organised by my co-sponsor, SLA Legal. I was very impressed by the variety of sessions organised, ranging from networking opportunities such as the BNA breakfast and an open house (a great way to discuss libraries with people who have similar interests, and a fantastic leveller – I was able to talk to some fantastic professionals whom I never would normally be able to talk to), panel sessions, and an un-conference. Secondly through attending sessions by other divisions such as those by Mike Linksvayer, Mary Ellen Bates and Gayle Gossen enabled me to think about visibility from a personal perspective. Marketing the individual, in addition to the library itself is an idea I’m keen to take with me into future employment. The sessions have really got me thinking about how library professionals are perceived, and the differences the various cultures create for them. I hope blend the theoretical aspects with the diverse range of sectors and practical ideas SLA provided me with to ‘future proof’ my upcoming role as a law librarian, and ensure both the library service and its information professionals receive the visibility they deserve.

Samuel Wiggins is currently studying for his MA Librarianship at the University of Sheffield and upon graduation will take up the position of Information Officer for a London law firm. He can be found on Twitter (@LibWig)and writes a blog at libwig.wordpress.com.

by Christian Gray, Southern California Chapter, Pharmaceutical & Health Technology Division

Thinking about SLA President Cindy Romaine’s core tenets of Future Ready it is easy to see the convergence between pillars of Future Ready–career agility, alignment and community–and Corporate Social Responsibility/Social Responsibility (CSR/SR).

Your participation in CSR/SR can enhance your skill set and give you an opportunity to take on new roles and responsibilities giving you a more agile career.  CSR/SR is a very high profile matter for many public companies and other institutions. You will find yourself aligned with senior management’s desire to be a socially responsible organization by providing direct support to that department. And as CSR/SR relates to community, well it doesn’t take much effort to explain. That is what CSR/SR should be about, making a real difference in your community or the community that your organization represents.

I have several working hypotheses regarding CSR and SR which I hope to validate over the next few months:

1. Your personal participation in an SR program can increase your quality of life.
2. Your active support of your company CSR goals and objectives can have a positive impact on your career.
3. Being a leader for CSR/SR programs in your organization can lead to greater satisfaction in that role.
4. Professional associations and other business organizations benefit from participation in CSR.
5. Being an advocate and champion for CSR/SR programs can provide direct benefit to your clients, company and partners.

Recently I had a very late night of introspection and an honest evaluation of the many gifts I have in my life and had been aware of my growing need to be active in a community organization. I started researching non-profit organizations and even wrote a few checks. I joined the board of a local arts organization, Create:Fixate, and began to more actively participate in a group for which I had previously been a donor, LA’s BEST. Through that participation I reconnected with former associate Jim Howard, the founder of the Room to Read Los Angeles chapter.

Jim put the book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, in my hands and told me a little more about Room to Read. I was hooked before I even finished reading the book. I initially helped out informally, then facilitated their chapter strategic planning session. After visiting the global offices in San Francisco, I realized that what had begun as a conversation with an old friend had turned into not only an incredible project, but also a great and very personal passion.

My new-found commitment to caring and helping aligned with the broader community of colleagues I work with in the publishing and information industry, including clients, prospects, partners, publishers and even the Special Library Association. I was happy to discover that my commitment was also shared even closer to home, when I was casually speaking to my CEO at Reprints Desk, Peter Derycz, in December 2009 about life outside of work. While sharing my interest in Room to Read he got a funny smile on his face and began telling me about his own experience trekking in Nepal, how he wanted to start a school or library but was concerned about it being sustainable.

So like many good intentions, time passed and Peter’s plans faded until our conversation rekindled his own interest in creating a sustainable, positive change. Over the following weeks, Peter’s personal interest became a corporate initiative and a new partnership was formed between Reprints Desk and Room to Read. The result: basically every time there is a transaction (we deliver scientific articles to some of the largest research and development organizations in the world) Reprints Desk drops a small percentage in the Room to Read bucket. That commitment has, in one quarter, generated enough to fund more than 12 years of girls’ scholarships, including bikes and uniforms as needed, or more than 50 percent of a library, or more than 3,000 new books in local languages.

By integrating corporate social responsibility into Reprints Desk’s DNA, as we grow the company, the financial support and direct impact on children’s lives will grow with us. And that does not even count the impact of the initiative’s growing fan base. Both inside and around Reprints Desk, employees are making a difference around the world. While writing another line of code or providing customer service, our employees know clients are often thrilled to learn that their choice to use our services how has the added value of making the world a better place. As Peter and other senior managers have visited with the world’s largest publishers and they’ve learned about our partnership with Room to Read, many of these publishers are now asking how they can participate.

Over the past several years I’ve presented a series of talks about Career Agility to SLA Chapters and Divisions, sometimes solo, other times partnered with Cindy Hill or Kim Dority. One of the themes in these talks is emulating some of these positive characteristics of corporate leaders.  One key take-away has been that it is not only important to understand our own strengths, but to look at ways to channel our strength into action. I believe we have the means to do just that. To be an effective and valued contributor at your organization, you must consider becoming directly involved in your company’s CSR program. If your organization doesn’t have a CSR program, now is the perfect time to initiate one. Why? You will benefit by increasing your exposure to senior management, you can make a difference outside your enterprise and inside the “cause,” and you’re likely to gain tremendous personal satisfaction from your participation.

I hope this is the beginning of the conversation about CSR/SR and the role of the special librarian/info pro. We had a very engaged group during the SLA CSR Unconference session and we will continue the conversation via the SLA Social Responsibility group just started this week.

With over twenty-years of sales, marketing, business development and public speaking experience, Christian Gray has a unique and diverse perspective of technology, software and information companies. As a Strategic Account Manager for Reprints Desk, Christian has worked directly with many of the world’s largest life science companies including Amgen, Gilead, Genentech, Johnson and Johnson and Allergen, as well as other Fortune 500 Companies including Sony, Disney and Sun Microsystems.
Christian has been an active member of the Special Libraries Association since 2002 and is a past Board member of the Southern California Chapter and recently received an SLA Presidential Citation for his work on Future Ready 365.

Christian has given presentations to numerous SLA Chapters and Divisions and published a series of articles for Searcher Magazine, an Information Today publication on Enterprise Social Software. He has also been published in the Los Angeles Times, and Los Angeles Business Journal.