Via NewsLib:

“SLA reports that the News Division is 200 members strong as of April 3. We can easily increase that number with the multiple membership categories now available to everyone from students to retirees. Take a moment today to see if you now qualify for one of the membership categories offered.

Note that retirees come under the dues tier for members making less than $18,000 per year. 

Please join or renew today to support our division, a proud member of SLA since 1924 (thanks to Lany McDonald for her 1991 News Library News article which provided that date), and the generous volunteers who continue to give so much to so many. Don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions.”

– Ginny Hauswald, Membership Chair

via Newslib:

It is my honor and privilege to announce this year’s awardees of the Division’s Joseph F. Kwapil Memorial Award and the Agnes Henebry Roll of Honor Award.

The 2013 Agnes Henebry Roll of Honor Award will go to Catherine Kitchell and Derek Willis. The Joseph F. Kwapil will be awarded to Justin Scroggs.

Details for the awards ceremony in San Diego during the 2013 Annual Conference are still being finalized. If you plan to attend the annual conference and will want to attend the ceremony, please email me at misseli@mac.com and your name will be placed on a list of potential attendees.

Thanks to the Awards Committee this year for their efficient and invaluable work: Carolyn Edds, Peter Johnson, Toby Lyles, Leigh Montgomery, and Justin Scroggs (no, he didn’t vote for himself, the rest of the committee thrusted the honor upon him).

–Eli Edwards, Past Chair

From Kate Arnold, SLA President-Elect 2013:

SLA, in partnership with Financial Times (FT), is conducting a study on how information professionals can deliver greater value to their organizations.

We need your help with this study, so pleasetake 15 minutes to fill in the questionnaire. The FT will be presenting the results at a hot topic session at annual conference in San Diego, so be sure to keep an eye out for details. The results, which will be based on the findings from the questionnaire and case studies, will be made available to SLA membership.

As this study also seeks commentary from those who rely on, and use our services it would be helpful if you could please pass this questionnaire link https://www.ftfeedbackforum.com/R.aspx?a=410 on to anyone who relies on or uses your services.

Why participate?

• the more thoughtful participation we receive, the more helpful the results will be
• the study, and the results, will be made available to Financial Times readers, thus highlighting the information profession in front of an important and possibly unfamiliar audience. Let’s show them our best!
• You will be entered into a draw for £250 (approx US $380) voucher.

SLA has announced the recipients of this year’s awards, including the John Cotton Dana Award, the SLA Fellows and the SLA Rising Stars.

They will be recognized at the General Session & Awards Presentation June 9th, the opening night of this year’s conference in San Diego.

SLA’s new website has caused some problems with the registration system for the annual conference.

As a result, SLA has extended the early bird registration deadline one week from April 12 to April 19.

For more information and instructions on how to register, check out the SLA Blog.

Via News Division President Debra Bade:

News Division member Donna Scheeder is “currently a candidate for the presidency of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). If elected she would serve as President-elect 2013-2015 and as President 2015-2017. You’ll find more information here, along with Donna’s Statement of Candidacy.”

Also, congratulations to News Division member and past-president Leigh Montgomery, who was recently elected President-elect for the New England Chapter.

SLA’s first Twitter talk happens Tuesday, March 5. The topic is Job Hunting and Career Growth.

Two sessions are available:

• Session #1 at 1:30 pm Eastern / 10:30 am Pacific
• Session #2 at 7:00 pm Eastern / 4:00 pm Pacific

If you need inspiration, answer one of these questions:

1. What’s a successful job hunting method that helped you land you your current job?
2. What’s a profession-specific way you’ve prepared for an interview that worked for you?
3. What are key organizational traits you look for during an interview or online job search?
4. How did you empower yourself to move ahead at your job? or what skills did you learn which led to your career growth?

Feel free to ask your own questions, too.

Use the hashtag #SLAtalk on your tweets. Add the number of the question you’re answering if responding to one of the four above.

Via NewsLib:

From Merrie Monteagudo:

Registration is now open for the SLA 2013 Annual Conference, June 9 – 11 at the San Diego Convention Center.

The San Diego Convention Center is located on the downtown waterfront and across the street from the historic Gaslamp Quarter with lots of shops, restaurants and nightlife. The conference hotels are all within a few blocks of the convention center.

The median temperature in June is 72 degrees.

From the convention center, it’s just a five minute walk to Petco Park, where the Padres will be playing the Atlanta Braves June 10-12. The new Central Public Library, opening this July, is just up the street from the ballpark.

If you have an extra day, there are lots of things to do and see around town, from kayaking the sea caves of La Jolla Cove, to browsing the museums at Balboa Park, to watching the sun set off Coronado Beach — which was named the best beach in the U.S. last year. We also have SeaWorld, Legoland California and a pretty good Zoo.

Public transit is easily available around the downtown area. The Trolley serves the Convention Center, Old Town, SDSU and Mexican Border and there is a bus connection to the airport (see the MTS Online Trip Planner.)

The SLA San Diego Chapter conference wiki is up . There’s not much on it yet, but we will be adding more, so check back for updates.

SLA’s Competitive Intelligence Division is sponsoring a webinar on Tuesday, January 29, from 1-2 p.m. (EST):

Skeptical Knowledge-Seeking: Business Research in the Age of Truthiness

From the CI Division:

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements:

PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

SLA has announced that News Division member Kate Arnold has been elected President-Elect for 2013.

The four new board members elected by the 2,108 SLA members casting their votes are:

• President-Elect: Kate Arnold
• Treasurer: John DiGilio
• Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect: Kama Siegel
• Division Cabinet Chair-Elect: Tara Murray

Their terms will begin on January 1, 2013. They will join eleven current members of the SLA Board of Directors whose terms continue through next year.

Congratulations, Kate!