What is professional development?

Information Outlook, Nov, 2004 by Ethel M. Salonen

Hello colleagues,

My last column dealt with thinking outside the box and imagining a new type of information association. This month, let us look at an entirely new way of developing our expertise, expanding our knowledge base, networking with colleagues, and learning something new. How do we improve our professional development experiences in SLA? Here are my thoughts.

Access without borders: I attended the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations) congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in my capacity as President of SLA. Professional Development was one of the topics discussed since so many of our colleagues around the world do not have the resources available to them for developing their expertise in their disciplines or even the opportunity to network with their colleagues. So many of IFLA's members are in situations where technology is not available to enhance their learning experiences nor can they afford to bring in that technology. We as SLA members have so many services available to us that allow for "access without borders."

* We have virtual seminars.

* We have Communities of Practice.

* We have unit discussion lists.

* Our information colleagues at SLA, John Latham and Carolyn Sosnowski, have enhanced and added to the electronic services available for our use, through the SLA website.

* We have access to online presentations, both from our strategic partners and from our conferences.

* We have the "Competencies for Information Professionals in the 21st Century," which are in English, Spanish, and French.

Our colleagues around the world who are not members of SLA are envious of all we have available to us. IFLA is working on its professional development offerings and is using SLA's as a model.

Networking: I remember my first SLA meeting here in Boston. I had just moved to the area from Southern California. The September Kick-Off meeting was being held in our Cafeteria at Arthur D. Little, Inc., so it was easy enough for me to get to the meeting. I am a native New Yorker, as many of you know, so walking into a room with 100 strangers is usually not too difficult for me, but I was intimidated by who was in the room and the fact that I knew no one. I did notice that the person behind the registration desk was speaking with everyone so I went over and asked if I could help. The person was so relieved since she needed to excuse herself but no one had come up offering the relief she needed. Well, I stayed behind that desk for the next hour and got to meet just about everyone who was somebody. My network of colleagues and friends was born that day and is now so numerous and everyone is always willing to help me. Our chapter meetings, unit discussion lists, unit Communities of Practice, our conference programs, and our membership directory are some of the best tools out there for networking opportunities. No other information association has so many eclectic networking opportunities as SLA has. I mean, who else has a Baseball Caucus and a Retired Members Caucus where no one has really retired!

The SLA Annual Campaign for Professional Development: In June 2004, at the SLA Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, SLA unveiled the SLA Annual Campaign for Professional Development as a result of my desire to improve and enhance the professional development offerings from the association to my colleagues. One of the greatest barriers to a successful evolution in the SLA Professional Development Center is access. SLA members and other information professionals experience barriers to access in many ways: technological, geographical, financial and time limitations are the primary factors for most information professionals. The SLA Annual Campaign for Professional Development has been organized to provide funding for capital projects that will help to lower the barriers to access for information professionals, and aid the Association in making the quantum leap to becoming a premier provider of continuing professional education services. The targeted areas of support include:

* Development of the online SLA LearnCenter

* Acquisition of three distinct course libraries

* Translation of many of our courses

* Self-paced online courses

* Enhancement of our Virtual Learning and Career Development Series

* Purchase of an Internet-based video and audio delivery system

* Contract with internationally recognized field learning experts

* Construction of an Internet studio at SLA's Global Headquarters

The Campaign will support the trans-formation of SLA's Professional Development Center by the year 2007. Your contribution is a perfect way to ensure that SLA meets the profession's continuing education needs without raising dues or placing undue burdens on corporate partners and learning participants. Visit the SLA website, www.sla.org, click on the Professional Development button, and then the Annual Campaign link to read the complete story of how you can help make these offerings possible.

Enjoy your end-of-year holiday celebrations and I will speak with you next in January 2005!