Palmetto Information Notes

Special Libraries Association / South Carolina Chapter
Volume 17, Number 2, Fall 2002

 

Contents

President's Message
by Dr. Stephen Bajjaly, School of Library and Information Science, USC

Welcome to the second installment of "E-PIN" - our chapter newsletter in electronic format. The feedback so far has been positive. The goal is to provide chapter members and other interested persons with useful, timely information that's always accessible while, at the same time, reduce the chapter's operating expenses. PIN printing/mailing had become the largest line item in the chapter's budget. Thanks to membership chair, Hui Hua Chua, we have also now subscribed to the electronic discussion list (scsla-ml) all chapter members and other interested persons.

The Board, at its planning retreat over the summer, agreed to focus on two priorities this year. One, to transition to electronic communications in order to provide members with valuable information in a timely fashion. Two, to focus the physical get-togethers on activities that enable members to interact. We recognize the time and effort it takes to get together and we want to make sure it's "worth it." So the meetings will focus primarily on networking and benefiting from being together. Now that we have everyone online, the next priority is to investigate sponsorships as a way to increase revenue to the chapter. Without a paper-based PIN, traditional ads no longer seem appropriate. In their place, though, we'd like to get sponsors for sections of the web site.

Our chapter, along with others in the region, hosted a very successful second offering "South Atlantic Regional Conference" (SARC II) in Asheville in September. Our own Leon Gyles was Chair of the conference.

The chapter's first event of the year was a "meet and greet" with the School of Library and Information Science students on October 17th. (In case you haven't heard, the "old" College of Library and Information Science merged over the summer with the USC College of Journalism into the new College of Mass Communications and Information Studies. Within the new College are the two Schools: "SLIS," as its now referred to, and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.) The day started off with attending chapter members breaking into small groups to discuss issues of operational importance. Following the lunch with the students, chapter members joined Dr. Pat Feehan's management class to hear Allison Evatt of Dialog present one of their Quantum Workshops: "Achieving Results through Relationships: The Power of Influence." Allison's Dialog job is to liaison with the LIS schools along the East Coast. But since she is also an active member of the Georgia Chapter of SLA, she really enjoyed the chance to "double dip."

Next up, we're trying something new in place of a traditional chapter meeting. At the suggestion of Program Chair, Helen Ivy, we're trying "regional dinners" as a way for members to meet informally and to get to know each other better - without having to travel a great distance to do so. Four regional dinners are being set up for the week before Thanksgiving: in the Upstate, Aiken, Midlands, and Lowcountry. If these dinners prove worthwhile, we'll plan to repeat them in the spring.

For those of you "traditionalists," don't worry: we'll return to a regular schedule in 2003. We will visit GulfStream in Savannah in February then hold the annual meeting and awards ceremony in Columbia in May.

As far as the national organization goes, if you haven't yet checked it out, the SLA web site provides a range of "members only" information services. I highly recommend it: http://www.sla.org/content/memberonly/index.cfm You have to know your PIN to get in (or have it emailed to you) but, once there, you can search the online member directory, view/change your membership information, renew electronically, and access a wide variety of electronic information resources (including Information Outlook).

As I've said before, I believe strongly that the number one benefit of SLA membership is networking: the opportunity to physically (and increasingly virtually) connect with others who share your professional bond. We welcome any ideas or suggestions for how to make the chapter as responsive as possible to your professional needs and interests.

Stephen T. Bajjaly
SC-SLA President

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