by Amy Levine, Head of Research and Reference, U.S. Courts Library, 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 2011 New Member Grant Recipient (Published August 4, 2011)

I first heard of the Special Libraries Association during library school when I took a corporate library class. That, of course, opened my eyes to the greater world of libraries and not just law libraries. At the time I considered pursuing a career in a non-legal library, but I also wanted to apply my law degree to my library work. SLA was always in the back of my mind as I worked in an academic law library after library school. After leaving my position in academia for my current position in the U.S. courts, I realized I needed an organization which would expose me to varied viewpoints. I wanted a wide ranging view of information organization, knowledge management, and training. I saw SLA as the organization that could expand my view. I started looking for ways I could be a part of SLA and thought the Annual Conference would be a good start. I applied for the 2011 SLA Legal Division Travel Grant and to my surprise won the grant!

I arrived on June 11th and stayed for the entire conference, which ended on Wednesday, June 15th. I received the varied perspectives, ideas, and inspiration I was seeking from the programs I attended. Overall, my impression of SLA is that the members are interested in the practical aspects of libraries, but also the evolution and professional development of each individual member. Some programs were held just to inspire members to lead a better life. This, in turn, will improve the professional.

I was inspired by the award winners at the Opening General Session, some of whom had dedicated thirty plus years to SLA. The keynote speaker and New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman, discussed his conceptualization of the world made flat by the merger of technology and globalization. He described the developments in technology over the last few decades that have made global collaboration possible and public. Friedman urged us to act on our individual ideas because, if not, those ideas “will be done to you.” Friedman stated we all have to find our “extra,” whatever “extra” means to each of us as individuals. He encouraged us to find what is special in ourselves and exploit it. Friedman explained that it isn’t enough to just show up for work, but we must all find new ways to do old work and new work in new ways. He was an engaging speaker who delivered inspiration and encouragement.

I attended programs which offered practical information. One session was about open sources in libraries. I found this to be very applicable to my work in a federal court library because security is always a top priority. Often times, suggestions to use open source programs are dismissed because of security reasons. Most of the open source programs discussed can’t be implemented in a court library, but perhaps there are some that can be used despite the increased security concerns.

I also attended a cost prevention program. I found similarities between firms’ cost containment and court community concerns about rising costs, depleting budgets, and streamlining collections. The speakers stated that the strategy now is not to recover every cost, but to recover either no costs or partial costs. Suggestions were also made to use lower cost legal research databases which everyone can benefit from. The speakers suggested that we, the librarians, should manage the dialog and negotiation between the vendor and the library. More often, a procurement office manages relationships and contracts with vendors. Using education and training as ways to curb costs were also discussed.

I attended another program on copyright, which is always a very hot topic. The speaker captured the turmoil and spirit of the copyright world in her fiery speech on developments in copyright law that affect the library. She identified modern copyright law as the “greatest threat to libraries.” She talked about the decline of the Fair Use Doctrine by elements of contract law. The speaker cited specific cases that seemingly chip away at copyright law, which detrimentally affect academic libraries abilities to educate students using course reserves and digital resources. She painted a poor picture of copyright, but ended on a hopeful note by pointing out the open access movement.

My professional, management, and leadership skills were all improved by the programs I attended. The programs were of the highest quality. Towards the time of the closing session, I was overwhelmed with new information and impressed with the quality and quantity of information presented at SLA. As I attended the Closing Session, I listened to the theme of “future ready” as discussed from the dais. I thought about the qualities I could develop within myself. I need to continue to be confident and flexible given the rapid change we are experiencing in our world. I promised myself I would keep chasing SLA. I would follow the website, read the various blogs, participate in my local chapter, and return to the Annual Conference. I discovered SLA is a unique organization with a worldwide membership and global view. Being aware of changes and developments and adapting to them is of the utmost importance in and out of our library worlds.