EDITOR'S CORNER
by Jackie Jackson
"My lifelong love affair with books and reading continues unaffected by automation, computers and all other forms of the twentieth century gadgetry."
Books in my Life
Robert Downs (1903-1991)
More and more references are appearing in the library literature concerning the demise of the book and or/library (depending on the focus of the author) due to the expansion of information sources available on the Web, and the perceived threat to libraries from the mega-bookstores. One such reference that caught my eye recently was in a copy of American Libraries. An amusing incident was reported about a woman with an armful of books who walked into a bookstore and asked where she should return them. I wondered whether anyone pointed her to the nearest library with a suggestion that she donate the books (assuming, of course, that she had previously bought them at the bookstore).
However, doesn't this incident demonstrate the fact that libraries and books are still very much alive, while technology is a tool of great flexibility to be used in accessing information be it in book, journal or electronic format?
APRIL MEETING
by Joyce Burkhart
The next SIS meeting will be held on April 7th, 1997 at the Allstate Center Library of St. Petersburg Junior College, 3200 34th Street South (US 19), St. Petersburg. Those traveling south on I-275 should use the 22nd Avenue South exit; those coming north will find getting off at 54th Avenue South more convenient.
The event will start at 11:30 a.m. in the library, and will include a short business meeting, lunch, and discussion of continuing education for information providers. An optional tour of this state-of-the-art facility for criminal justice training and education will follow.
Lunch this time will be in the dining room at the Allstate Center. The cost is $4.95 per person and includes sandwich makings of all sorts (yes, vegetarian, too), pasta salad vinaigrette, dessert, and beverage. No tips, no tax. Reservations are not necessary, but contact Joyce Burkhart by phone (341-4732) or email (burkhartj@email.spjc.cc.fl.us) for more information. Hope to see you there!
MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY
MEETING
by Tina Neville
Approximately twenty-five people attended the February 3 dinner meeting at the Valencia Gardens restaurant in Tampa. The business portion of the evening began with a reminder by Treasurer Betsy King to check the expiration date on the printed mailing label of your copy of the newsletter. It is not too late to send in your dues if your membership has expired. Membership in SIS is still one of the best bargains in town! Members are also reminded to send their favorite Web sites to Shirl Kennedy for addition to the SIS home page. President Lana Bullion asked for volunteers to work on the nominating committee for the upcoming elections. A slate of officers will be needed for the June elections. If you are interested in serving on the nominating committee, please contact an SIS officer.
Following the brief business meeting, our speaker for the evening was introduced. Former SIS President Harriet Thompkins provided us with an enlightening and sometimes humorous look at the "Perils of Downsizing". Harriet began her library career when she was working as a technical writer for AT & T Paradyne. When the company downsized she was asked to work in the library. One day Harriet was asked to perform a DIALOG search and, not knowing quite how to begin, she happened to come across an SIS Directory that indicated if the reader had questions they should call Betsy King. Harriet called Betsy and received some very useful knowledge regarding librarianship. As her interest in the library field continued, Harriet enrolled in the USF School of Library and Information Science. She continued her library career at AT & T Paradyne for several years until one day she was informed that her library was being closed.
After providing us with her library background, Harriet passed along some tips she has learned based on her own experiences and on research she has conducted on downsizing. She feels that libraries are often downsized because of a lack of knowledge of what librarians do. She suggests that you "publicize, publicize, publicize!" Let everyone know what you are doing and how you are adding value to your organization. Suggested ways to accomplish this include newsletters, bulletin boards, speaking at management meetings and creating a niche that will allow your customers to think of the library whenever they use any associated service.
Harriet also provided us with some tips on how to survive downsizing. Before downsizing occurs you should:
The talk concluded on a positive note. Downsizing happens and change is inevitable, but with a little planning and creativity we can get through it. Thank you, Harriet, for your informative insights!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Some of you may have seen the announcement last year of a new discussion group, FL-Lib, which is devoted to matters relating to the library community in the State of Florida. I have recently received an email from Marian Deeney reminding me about this listserv. I promised her I would include the email address in this edition of the newsletter for those of you who may have missed hearing about it.
Participation in the list is open to anyone, anywhere, but the topics of discussion should relate to Florida libraries.
To subscribe send a message to:
majordomo@florida3.dos.state.fl.us
with the following command in the body of your email message:
subscribe fl-lib [lower case!]
If there are any questions, feel free to contact the list moderators:
Marian Deeney or Carole Fiore
fl-lib@mail.dos.state.fl.us
State Library of Florida
Gray Building
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
487-2651, FAX (904)488-2746, TDD (904)922-4085
Another listserv that has just resurfaced is Libsafe-L, the listserv which provides a forum for the discussion about issues of library safety and security. This list was shut down early last summer when over 10,000 messages echoed from a site in Canada! The administrators believe the problem to be solved.
To subscribe send a message to:
Mailserv@bvu.edu
with the message: Subscribe Libsafe-L
This listserv is open to discussion of all aspects of library security for patrons, staff, collections and facilities, and for related matters in cultural property protection. Direct any questions you may have to: Tim Rebnord (Tim@bvu.edu) or Jim Kennedy (Kennedyj@bvu.edu).
Coincidentally I had included the following URL among those that I am listing
for your attention:
Florida Government Information Locator Service --
http://florida3.dos.state.fl.us/gils/index.html
Also, an interesting Ready Reference site -- http://www.ozemail.com.au/~acceye/html_frame.html
And BUBL Information Service - Electronic Journals & Texts -- http://bubl.bath.ac.uk/BUBL/TEXTS.html
FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES
The 1997 ACRL 8th National Conference, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, takes place April 11-14. Keynote speaker is Cornel West, Harvard University professor and prolific author.
Closer to home is the FLA Annual Conference, taking place this year in Daytona May 6 - 9th. Dr. Ralph Russell, ACRL Academic Librarian of the Year, will be the keynote speaker for the Academic Section Program. He will be joined by Dr. William Miller (FAU & ACRL President) and Dr. Ann McGee, President of Seminole Community College, for a discussion during the program "Partnerships Transform Academic Libraries" on May 7th, 1997 at 2 p.m. This program would be of interest to any library seeking ideas on creating beneficial partnerships with other institutions or organizations.
SIS OFFICERS, 1996-1997