SLA Goes Green, Faces Changes

The SLA annual conference (June 13–18 in Seattle) attracted 5,011 attendees, including 845 first-timers, plus 464 booths representing 283 exhibitors, 50 of them SLA premieres—similar to numbers for the 2007 meeting—even as the organization and its members face significant changes.

The opening general session was a “mixed bag.” Current SLA president Stephen Abram (SirsiDynix) spoke eloquently about commonplace messages: being prepared to face whatever future tech has in store for info pros and appreciating the perks SLA offers. TV host Charlie Rose's interview of “father of the Internet” Vinton Cerf, however, was disappointingly general.

SLA's membership continues to experience “turbulent winds of change,” in the words of SLA's CEO Janice Lachance. On the conference floor, placement firms stated that financial sectors sustained “deep hits” and the newspaper industry has experienced steady layoffs. Physical corporate libraries continue to close.

The Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) reported that its membership, never entirely comprised of MLS librarians, is increasingly attracting non-MLS sci-tech specialists. Still, nontraditional IT, project management, and competitive intelligence skills remain in demand.

At the business meeting, Lachance reported a small budget surplus for 2007 and Click U!'s 300 percent growth in the past year. SLA is in an “alignment process” to create a “common vision identity and core purpose for [itself] and the profession,” she said. Consultant firm Fleishman-Hillard presented a progress report.

SLA's “Go Green” agenda was in evidence in Seattle. Cool grey messenger bags made out of 60 percent recycled material were handed out at registration. Badges were likewise composed of partially recycled material. Abram pointed out that 25,000 plastic bottles typically would be used by attendees over the course of the conference and urged the audience to change this statistic. (SLA funded the purchase and distribution of 3000 reusable water bottles.)

Abram announced the winner of the first President's Citation, as Gary Price, founder of the Resource Shelf site, was honored for “raising the visibility of librarians.” Abram called for candidates for the next citation winner, who will be acknowledged for his/her efforts in “going green.”