SLA initiative seeks donations, material support for tsunami relief

Information Outlook, Feb, 2005

SLA has started an initiative to energize global membership in response to the tsunami that hit southern Asia in December. Staff members are working to develop an information clearinghouse for the global community of more than 12,000 members in 83 countries represented by SLA.

The effort will focus on two critical areas of need:

* Providing direction to members and SLA chapter/division leaders who seek options for immediate financial support to the disaster relief effort. A collection of contacts for government-approved relief agencies and charities that are committed to the relief effort is now available online. SLA information services staff selected lists from the governments of the top five nations most populated by SLA members, plus the nations affected by the disaster.

* Serving as a conduit for educating members of the information community on the needs of libraries in the affected region and directing information, resources, and expertise to persons in the affected region who will guide library rebuilding or restoration. This will be developed over the first several months of 2005, so that an effective collection of resources can be made available. SLA Executive Director Janice R. Lachance said SLA membership has a role to play as members of the world community and as information professionals: "This initiative serves as a way for our community to contribute to a global effort; to help those left behind in this horrible experience; and to aid an entire region of the world in moving forward from absolute devastation. The staff and leadership of SLA continue to keep the victims and their families in our thoughts, and we are ready to do our part to help."

More information is available online at www.sla.org/tsunami.>

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