SLA PR in print

Information Outlook, Dec, 1998

Over the last twelve months the profession and the association have seen several big media placements.

In the April 1998 issue of Hemispheres, the in-flight magazine of United Airlines, a feature article was published in their "Executive Secrets" section titled "Data Overload: Separating Gold from Garbage." To compile the research for this article, reporter Jim Cope interviewed several SLA members including Helen Manning with Texas Instruments, Marjorie Hlava of Access Innovations, Inc., and SLA Executive Director David R. Bender.

The article emphasizes the need for knowledgeable people behind information technology, and further, the need for information end-users to be assured that data derived from a search is indeed valid. Cope writes, "Thanks to the Internet, there's a world of information just a few mouse dicks away. Sifting through this and more conventional resources, though, can be like panning a mountain of rubble to find a few nuggets of gold. The Internet can be a valuable research tool, but it's strictly surfer beware. The Net is an open forum - a vast library where anyone can say anything is fact. The first rule of data: know thy sources."

Reprints of this article were sent to all SLA members as an insert in the 1998-1999 Who's Who in Special Libraries.

Also in print in the friendly skies was the aptly titled "Power Librarians - Today's Information Pros Add Value," featured in the June 1998 issue of Continental Airlines' in-flight publication, Continental. In the article, reporter Adam Kleiner emphasized the need and importance of the information professional.

Members on his interview list included Ellen Callahan of Putnam Investments, Barbara Spiegelman with Westinghouse Electric Co., and Bender. With information overload hot on the minds of productive businesses all over the world, Kleiner explains, "The more information on the desktop, the more the need exists for corporate-mission-minded personnel to separate what's critical from what's clutter. Professional librarians are considered some of the best-trained knowledge processors around." He continues, "The role of Fortune 500 librarians... has evolved from isolated administrator to informed adviser."

In addition to these print successes, an opinion/editorial piece by Bender was published in several major U.S. city business journals. This particular article (published in The Baltimore Business Journal, 4 September 1998; The Dallas Business Journal, 24-30 July 1998; The Houston Business Journal, 17-23 July 1998; and The Washington Business Journal, 19-25 June 1998) touts the benefits of information professionals in knowledge management roles.

In the autumn 1998 issue of Information Europe, the magazine of the European Bureau of Library, Information, and Documentation Associations, an article by Bender was published that discussed the state of the U.S. digital copyright debate.

Reprints of the Hemispheres and Continental airline magazines may be ordered from the SLA web site at www.sla.org/pr/reprint; text versions of the business journals and Information Europe articles will be available for online viewing.

Lastly, as of this printing, the 1999 Handbook of Business Strategies, published another article by Bender: Your Information Advantage: The Corporate Library. This article highlights the need and value of the corporate library. With online information searches and electronic communication, do you still need a corporate library? You bet. The Handbook of Business Strategies covers real world business and corporate subjects and provides senior-level executives with business management strategies, practices, and advice.

For more information on Public Relations Outlook or to contribute to the column, please contact Director, Public Relations Jennifer Stowe (jennifer@sla.org).