The new information technology division - Special Libraries Association

Information Outlook, May, 1999 by Hope Tillman

In the past year, SLA and the Information Technology (ITE) Division have greatly increased their use of and presence on the Net. SLA named the Information Technology Division as the prototype Virtual Division, as it named Western Canada the Virtual Chapter. A given in the world of IT is the regular upgrading of systems and software, and this past year SLA's ITE Division felt its own need to upgrade in terms of both its form (committee and section structure) and function (the things the division does). So in 1998 two new sections (Webmaster and Programming, Systems Analysis & Design) were added, and the rest were resculpted with new names and/or scope notes (Digital Content, Government Information, Information Systems, Technical Services, and Virtual). Embedded is the plan for continual review and change so critical to a division that deals with information technology. It is the only way we can hope to stay ahead of the curve. This year, we have a regular schedule of Internet chats with members and are delivering the bulletin on the web as well as in print. Our listserv and web site (http://www.sla.org/division/dite/) continue to be major communications tools for members and division leaders.

The Technical Services Section Chair Connie Sheridan comments that while the revised profile keeps all of the traditional functions and adds some new trends, she hopes to find out where members fit into this new description. "Are you still firmly rooted in the tasks of the past, slowly inching forward, experimenting with the new trends? Do any of these cause anxiety?. What about your processes for doing work? Are you happily engaged in the same processes you've been using for several years or are you having nightmares about what you should be doing differently?"

Andy Breeding, the current chair for the Programming, Systems Analysis & Design Section, manages the library automation function at Compaq. "Personally, I am interested in tools and standards which allow us to build better web-based library solutions. These include Dynamic HTML, XML, the Dublin Core, web application servers, and agent technology. Also, as a manager, I am interested in how librarians can work better with programmers and IS groups to make things happen." Other topics of interest he is interested in for this section include trends in programming and applications development and Internet/web standards.

The Information Technology Division is exploring how it can best serve its members as a virtual division, and the charge for this belongs to the Virtual Section. And yes, finally, ITE has a Webmaster Section, and its chair, Michael McCulley, is the current ITE webmaster.

What does this mean to you?

If you are already a member of ITE, be sure to review your Section memberships and let SLA know of any changes you wish to make. You can do this on the ITE web site (http://www.sla.org/division/dite/joinsection.html) or by contacting SLA in whatever way is most convenient for you. If not, we hope you will look at the new sections and see if ITE has added section content that you will find more relevant and meaningful to your needs.

At the Annual Conference in Minneapolis, the sections will be hosting the evening open houses, so you can learn about the specific sections by attending and talking to the chairs and chairs-elect. (Sunday: Technical Services; Monday: Digital Content and Information Systems; Tuesday: Programming, Systems Analysis & Design and Virtual; Wednesday: Webmaster and Government Information.)

The scope notes of the Information Technology Division sections show the interests covered by each group.

The Digital Content Section (formerly Online) provides a forum for members to address the needs of users and providers of all kinds of computerized information. Central to this section is digital content, including its access, use, management, navigation, selection, implementation, training, dissemination, evaluation, and manipulation. Selection concerns include contract negotiations, integration with the rest of the collection, instruction & documentation, and dissemination/access method whether via modem, network, Intranet or Internet, or installation standalone. Manipulation includes data extraction and visualization, search and retrieval, data mining, archiving, and warehousing. Critical to this section is a focus on the evaluation of the quality of information.

The Government Information Section provides a forum for members to exchange information concerning government documents, information programs, and policies. The section goal is to establish a network among members whose information needs require access to and use of government publications and other data sources that require technology. This section also serves as a liaison for the division with the Government Relations Committee of SLA providing information to the division that is relevant to the division's interests and representing members' interests to the SLA Government Relations Committee.