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NEWS DIVISION, SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION
BUSINESS MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2001
SAN ANTONIO, GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER
Submitted by Alice Pepper, Secretary.
Meeting called to order at 3:10 p.m. by president Debra Bade.
Debra asked for a motion that the minutes from the June 2000 business
meeting be accepted as published in News Library News. Peter Johnson made
the motion; Richard Geiger seconded.
EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORTS
CONFERENCE REPORT:
Jody Habayeb said this year’s sponsors include LexisNexis, Factiva,
NewsBank, Dialog, Proquest (Bell & Howell/UMI), CCI MediaStore,
Cold North Wind, Freedom Forum and Gale Group. She thanked them all
and the San Antonio Express-News for hosting Saturday’s tour. UPI has
asked to keep them in mind for sponsorship next year.
Additions/changes to this year’s program: The roundtable BYO breakfast
meeting has be reinstated for 7:30 a.m. tomorrow; there will be a NewsBank
users group meeting tomorrow at 5:00; the Division board meeting is
at 5:30 on Wednesday.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Debra made the report for Bill Van Niekerken, whom she thanked for
stepping into the treasurer’s spot when the previous treasurer was unable
to fulfill the responsibilities. Bill had to work with incomplete records
but was able to pull together a basic report. He used a July 2000-June
2001 fiscal year so the costs of only one conference are shown, which
is a more accurate reflection of our income versus expenses. Debra also
noted that an additional $10,000-$12,000 in sponsorship money for the
San Antonio conference is still outstanding from the treasurer's report.
News Division Treasurer’s Report:
July 1, 2000 to June 1, 2001
Income
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Dues Allotment |
$ 7,930.00
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Interest Income |
40.83
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Sponsorship |
8,776.00
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Total income |
16,746.83
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Expenses |
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Bank Charges |
$ 39.00
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Bulletin – Adv |
3,453.71
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Bulletin – Non-Adv |
7,568.99
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Meeting Exp |
19,520.43
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Misc. Exp |
78.80
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Total expenses |
30,660.93
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|
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Total |
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Income/Expense |
-$13,914.10
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Balance |
$15,581.79
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Incoming treasurer Catherine Kitchell and others will be collecting $25
hospitality suite fees.
The Atlanta regional conference made a profit of $913.
Richard Geiger moved to accept the treasurer’s report. Linda Henderson
seconded.
AWARDS COMMITTEE:
Ginny Everett, committee chair, reviewed the details of tonight’s awards
banquet which will be held at the Southwest School of Art & Craft.
- Vormelker-Thomas Student Award (student stipend) goes to Christine
Davies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Ralph J. Shoemaker Award of Merit: Debra Bade, CNN.
- Agnes Henebry Roll of Honor Award: Charles Campo, Bangor Daily News
and Teresa Leonard, Raleigh News & Observer.
- Joseph F. Kwapil Memorial Award: Kathy Foley, San Antonio Express-News.
Ginny thanked the awards committee: Richard Geiger, Bob Jansen, Julie
Kirsh and Barbara Semonche.
Ginny expressed her gratitude to Debra for taking over the student
stipend committee after the chair, C.B. Hayden, passed away. Debra thanked
the members of those committee members: Jessica Baumgart, Carolyn McClendon
and Rachel Sapienza.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Carolyn Edds, director of education, shared some evaluations of Sunday’s
CE class: "News Research: Critical Evaluation of Specific Industry
Resources." Carolyn heard many compliments including "one
of the best at SLA." The seven speakers covered six topics. Thirty-one
people signed up, five extra came to the class, six didn’t show up.
Highlights and contact information regarding the presentations will
be up on the News Division web site: www.ibiblio.org/slanews
PUBLICATIONS:
Mona Hatfield, committee chair, thanked NewsBank for their continuing
support in publishing the Division membership directory.
Covering costs of the print bulletin continues to be a challenge. The
board is looking at options and alternatives, keeping in mind the needs
of members and sponsors regarding electronic formats.
Mona gave highlights of webmaster Chandra Pierce’s report. The top
visited pages on the News Division web site were NLN News, Intranets
and Job postings. Chandra needs help to keep the site updated and viable.
There is a section on the site of pages that are up for "adoption."
Membership participation is vital.
Top Ten Most Visited Pages for 2000:
Page |
Monthly Average |
Total |
/slanews |
123,895 |
1,610,645 |
/slanews/internet |
93,635 |
1,217,257 |
/slanews/intranets |
5,629 |
73,180 |
/slanews/jobs |
4,979 |
64,730 |
/slanews/nln |
3,725 |
48,426 |
/slanews/conferences |
3,104 |
40,364 |
/slanews/surveys |
987 |
12,843 |
/slanews/terms |
816 |
10,620 |
/slanews/archiving |
770 |
10,011 |
/slanews/reference |
405 |
5,270 |
New pages:
- Adoption Center
- Changing Microfilm Companies
- Research Request Forms
Pages updated regularly:
- New Members (Sammy Alzofon)
- Sources and Experts (Kitty Bennett)
- News Library News (Leigh Poitinger)
- Jobs/Internships (Carolyn Edds)
Other pages updated:
- Awards
- Officers
- Conferences (SLA, DC, Atlanta)
- Newspaper Archives
- Essential Reference Books for a US News Library.
Pages in need of being updated:
- Newbies (check links, add any new resources or web sites)
- Archiving Vendors (this page was done in 1995)
- Articles about News Librarianship (Jessica Baumgart has donated
a bibliography which is being used to update this page)
- State by State Top Internet Resources for Journalists (if anyone
from an "empty" state could send a web site or two, it would be greatly
appreciated)
- Internet Resources for News Librarians and Researchers (check links,
add any new resources)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ARCHIVES: M.J. Crowley
Report from the Archives & History Committee 2000-2001, Submitted
by M.J. Crowley, June 11, 2001.
Item 1: Moving the archives
A total of 25 cartons have been shipped from The Star-Ledger to The
Park Library, School of Journalism and Mass Communication at University
of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Thus all the News Division Archives files have now been received by
Barbara Semonche at the library. Barbara indicates it will take a couple
months and some student labor to have the files into usable storage.
She also indicates that she would like to scan some of the visually
interesting information to be made available on the web site.
Attached is a list of what was shipped, and an updated index listing.
These files also exist in digital format. [Secretary’s note: List of
archive file headings not included for publication in NLN.]
I propose that a new archivist be named and in that regard I would
like to nominate Teresa Leonard from the Raleigh News & Observer.
Barbara is happy to house the archive and provide physical oversight.
She is even willing to provide some photocopy and faxing of material
to Division Members. But I think we should not impinge on her generosity
any more than we have already.
She and I both believe it is important to have a designated/appointed
member as official News Division Archivist. It makes sense to have it
be someone who lives geographically close to the Chapel Hill. There
are some limited SLA responsibilities which accompany the position.
Item 2: News Library News – Searchable archives
With the purchase of Media Stream by NewsBank, the News Library News
searchable archives will now be hosted by NewsBank.
At this time the Data has not been loaded. it should be available by
next week. Jeff Wilson from NewsBank will then send us the new URL.
Arrangements for updates will then be made.
Respectfully submitted, M.J. Crowley
At the meeting, M.J. requested volunteers to scan old NLN issues, since
these only go back to 1990.
AUTOMATION: Justin Scroggs
No report
BROADCAST: Melinda Carlson
The Media Asset Management program is tomorrow.
BYLAWS: Ron Larson
Debra reported for Ron that no changes were needed for the bylaws.
DIVERSITY: Laura Soto-Barra
Laura said she has tried to alert the membership to diversity issues
and the committee should be continued.
EMPLOYMENT: Rosemary Nelms
SLA News Division Employment Committee Report, Submitted by Rosemary
Nelms, Employment Committee Chair, June 4, 2001.
Between June 9, 2000 and June 4, 2001, 63 jobs were posted on the NewsLib
listserv and/or on the NewsLib Web site. This compares to 76 jobs which
were posted between June 14, 1999 and June 8, 2000. The number of postings
per month has dropped noticeably in 2001, perhaps reflecting worsening
economic conditions in the newspaper industry.
Of the jobs posted during the current period, 38 were in the newspaper
industry, 13 represented broadcasting positions, 5 were from magazines,
2 were from wire services, and there were 5 "other" positions
that did not fit into the first four categories.
Of the job totals, the majority were postings for reference librarians
or researchers, full-time (21) and part-time (4). Other categories included
Library Director (2); News Research Editor (3); Database Specialist,
Web Feed Editor, Digital Technologies Specialist, Archive & Research
Manager, Information Store Manager, Business Information Manager, Database
Editor, Cataloger (2), Photo Librarian, Library Assistant (5), and Interns
(4)
19 of the positions posted required an MLS; in 4, an MLS was preferred.
Of the listed skills needed or knowledge required, the ability to search
databases like Lexis/Nexis, Dialog, and Dow Jones was mentioned most
often. Last year, the skill most often requested was ability to search
the Internet. Also appearing more often this year, were references to
expertise in database development, along with knowledge of spreadsheet
and database programs, as well as skills in building Web pages and intranets.
Another desired characteristic mentioned more times this year than last
was the ability to function well under pressure. In the current economic
climate, this probably represents an important quality for us all.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Heidi Yacker
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) gives owners of copyrighted
digital information the right to control access to that information
by banning users from circumventing codes used by the owners to block
access to their material. DMCA also required the Librarian of Congress
to investigate this ban and make suggestions for any exceptions to it.
On October 20, 2000, the Librarian, in conjunction with the Copyright
Office, issued regulations providing for two very narrow exceptions.
The first involves certain filtering software that blocks access to
Web sites. Some of this software includes lists of the blocked sites,
but the owners of the software will not release these so-called "blacklists.
" The October rule allows hackers to break barriers to access these
encoded lists.
The second exception allows circumventing barriers established by blocking
software to protect copyrighted materials if they were erected by malfunctioning,
damaged, or obsolete access control mechanisms.
The limited decision by the Librarian disappointed many, including
the major library associations who would like to see broader use of
exceptions to the circumvention ban. These associations have worked
to maintain the principle of fair use in the digital age. Some members
of Congress are also interested in looking into expanding fair use rights
under the Act.
Spamming Legislation. Rep. Heather Wilson introduced legislation (H.R.
718) that would make electronic spamming illegal. The legislation would
provide criminal penalties for intentionally transmitting unsolicited
commercial e-mail messages knowing that certain information (such as
a domain name associated with the message) is false.
Tasini v. New York Times. The Supreme Court heard arguments in this
case on March 28, 2001. The case, brought by the National Writers Union
against the New York Times, Newsday, Time, Lexis/Nexis, and University
Microfilms, charged copyright violation for electronically reusing freelance
work. A lower court decision in favor of the publishers was overturned
by the Court of Appeals.
E-Government Legislation. Senator Joseph Lieberman introduced the E-Government
Act of 2001 (S. 803) to promote electronic government services. It would
establish a Chief Information Officer within the Office of Management
and Budget to strengthen citizen access to electronic government information.
The bill would improve the FirstGov Web site, establish an online national
library, require federal courts to file decisions online, require federal
agencies to put up regulatory notices, and provide training for information
technology professionals. It authorized $200 million in funding. A similar,
although smaller scale ($20 million), proposal was made by the Bush
Administration.
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. Congress's
FY 2002 budget eliminates funding for NCLIS. Final action on the issue
will come later this year.
Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act (UCITA). UCITA is state-level
legislation which aims to strengthen software and digital information
licenses such as "shrink-wrap" licenses on new software packing, and
"click-on" agreements seen when downloading new software online. Software
industry supporters argue that as states pass these UCITA laws, licensing
will become more uniform and more easily enforceable, and will attract
more e-commerce. Opponents (including SLA) contend that UCITA laws bind
consumers to contracts before they've had a chance to read them. In
addition, the laws allow vendors to collect confidential information
about licensees, to "look into" computers to be sure that the contracts
are being upheld, and to disable software if it they are not.
A number of states have considered these laws; some have enacted them.
Recently, however, the Texas legislature killed its UCITA legislation.
SLA' s Government Affairs Committee sees this as the beginning of an
encouraging trend in other states considering bills.
SLA's Government Affairs and Intellectual Property Committee has been
reviewing its public policy statements (used to guide our policy initiatives)
and at the San Antonio conference will be reviewing new draft policy
statements.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Kate Arnold
News Division International Relations Report for 2000/2001.
It’s been quite an active year for the News Division with lots of involvement
in international conferences and activities – let’s hope this is indicative
of a trend that will go from strength to strength. There was a good
turn out for annual conference last year in Philadelphia, and Nora Paul
did her workshops at the Netmedia conference in London in July. Things
really got underway in October with the Global 2000 conference in Brighton.
Since then rarely a month seems to go by without news of some international
activity popping up on Newslib list. Finally to round the year off Annabel
Colley has become the first News Division member to be awarded the European
Special Librarian of the Year (ELSY) accolade. Make sure you attend
her talk at the San Antonio conference. To give a flavour of what’s
been happening over the year take a look at the list of some the activities
that have occurred. All have raised the profile of the profession and
publicised the Division’s work.
October 2000
- AUKML Conference, Leicester, England - Conveniently timed to fit
in before Global 2000, this conference organised by the Association
of UK Media Librarians (AUKML), entitled ‘Work smarter, not harder’,
drew delegates from all over the world, including many News Division
members from UK, US, Denmark and Hong Kong.
- Global 2000 Worldwide Conference on Special Librarianship, Brighton,
England - News Division, in conjunction with the Freedom Forum and
the Association of UK Media Librarians (AUKML), sponsored a well-attended
session: ‘The impact of news in a changing global climate’. The session
was chaired by Annabel Colley, AUKML Chair, and the speakers were
Christopher Hamilton, Librarian, Freedom Forum Library, St. Petersburg,
Russia; Mihaela Danga, Manager, Freedom Forum News Library, Bucharest,
Romania; Kate Arnold, Research Editor, BBC. www.sla.org/content/Events/global/g2kpresentations/index.cfm
- Freedom Forum Fellowship in Asia - Cathy Tierney went on the first
Freedom Forum Fellowship training programme in Asia. During her two-week
stint Cathy delivered an Internet training course & library technology
lectures for journalists & researchers in Hong Kong, Macau and
China.
December 2000
- Online International conference, London - Debra Bade, Director,
Online Training and Development, CNN provided a case study of training
at CNN as part of the session on ‘Information literacy in the information
age’. Several News Division members attended the conference and exhibition
as delegates.
January-June 2001
- Barbara Semonche, Library Director, Park Library, UNC has been in
Budapest, Hungary for Spring 2001 where she has been working with
journalists and librarians in The Freedom Forum's news library at
the Center for Independent Journalism. She has also given seminars
and workshops on media librarianship for groups in the Netherlands
and Denmark.
March 2001
- Internet Librarian International conference, London - Margot Williams,
The Washington Post, gave a talk on ‘Managing knowledge assets in
a daily newspaper’ as part of the ‘Intranet professional’s institute:
knowledge management’ session. www.internet-librarian.com/presentations/
May 2001
- Sweden - Ginny Everett, Director Information Services, Atlanta-Journal
Constitution, gave a talk on how new media has changed and is still
changing our roles within our news organisations at a conference of
Scandinavian news researchers and archivists.
- European Special Librarian of the Year (ESLY) Award - Annabel Colley
has been awarded the ESLY for 2001. She is the first News Librarian
to win this prestigious award, which seeks to recognise outstanding
achievement in special librarianship in Europe by developing innovative
concepts and services which contribute to the better promotion and
appreciation of the work of special librarians amongst information
professionals, clients and wider world. http://www.sla-europe.org/ESLY/ESLY-current/ESLY.htm
MEMBERSHIP: Sammy Alzofon
Sammy Alzofon reported that the News Division is still losing members.
We had over 900 members in 1999; a tad over 800 in 2000; now there are
774 members.
The Membership committee sends out new member packets with a introductory
letter and a copy of the Division directory. This year, Sammy also sent
out an email asking new members for a short biography for News Library
News. There was a good response to that request.
Sammy obtained extra address labels to send leftover directories to
students and journalism organizations. She thanked NewsBank for publishing
our directory.
Members were reminded that we can keep our own records updated on SLA’s
site. Keeping headquarters updated helps keep our membership directory
accurate.
Sammy asked to step down from the head of membership because of her
responsibilities as incoming chair of the Florida chapter.
NEWS LIBRARY NEWS: Leigh Poitinger
Leigh Poitinger said the bulletin needs a "people" columnist
and is always looking to members for story ideas.
The bulletin usually has 12 pages, but has not had any advertisements
this year; an ad manager is also needed.
Our printer, NewsBank, is "a joy to work with."
NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS: Marilyn Bromley
Annual Report of the 2001-2002 Elections, SLA News Division, Marilyn
Bromley, Teller/Elections Chair, BNA Library, June 6, 2001.
Ballots for three Executive Board positions (chair-elect, treasurer
and director-education/professional development chair) were mailed out
in early March 2001 to all current News Division members. Ballots were
to be postmarked no later than April 10, 2001 in order to be counted.
All 225 ballots returned by that date were valid - 29% of News Division
members. This percentage was 30% in 2000 and 34% in 1999.
The winners are: Michael Jesse, Chair-Elect; Catherine Kitchell, Treasurer;
Jennifer Small Evert, Director-Education/Professional Development Chair.
Expenses for the election were donated by BNA and the BNA Library staff.
PUBLICITY-PUBLIC RELATIONS: Dana Gordon
No report. Debra reminded the members that the auction of donated items
will be held in the Division suite Tuesday night.
SMALL LIBRARIES: Marcia MacVane
No report.
STRATEGIC PLANNING: John Cronin
John said the strategic plan is already in place and recommended Jody
appoint a new chair to carry on the process.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS
Laura Soto-Barra spoke of the benefits of the news research / news library
management courses held at Poynter Institute. There have been no classes
since Nora Paul left Poynter, so Laura contacted Paul Pohlman, Associate
Dean there. Paul is willing to coordinate courses with the News Division.
In the past, our members participated in research, leadership and management
seminars. Laura volunteered to work with Paul in continuing these classes.
Barbara Semonche read the following message from Lany McDonald, thanking
the Division members for expressions of support following AOL/Time Warner
cuts in their research center.
"I'm so sorry that I won't be with all my News Division colleagues
in San Antonio next week. Please give my best to everyone. Other than
Justin, whom I insisted attend and represent us, the Research Center
staff members who had planned to go to conference all decided to forego
it this year. They simply have too much to deal with here.
In tribute to them and to News Division members the world over,
I would appreciate it if one of you would share this paragraph from
a letter I just received from Dan Okrent (former editor of Life, author
of The Ultimate Baseball Book and Nine Innings and contributor to
Ken Burns's PBS Baseball special). He first expressed his utter dismay
at the closing of the Research Center and then wrote this paragraph.
He gave me permission to share it with all of you.
"For if you had asked me to define my workaday dream, I would
have said something like this: let me be associated with a group
of professionals who know a million things that I don't know,
and how to discover millions more; let them (like almost no one
else in this industry) do their work with an uncannily steady
good nature; let them be people who seek not credit, but simply
excellence; who constantly prop up the lazy, or the uncomprehending,
or the unimaginative (that is to say, journalists like me)."
Many thanks for all the kind, supportive messages we've received,
Lany"
Debra gave a brief overview of the News Division regional seminar held
in Atlanta, organized by herself and Ginny. David Bender was the keynote
speaker.
The Division is a founding contributor to the David Bender Endowment
Fund for International Development. We gave $500 towards this new fund
which honors SLA’s retiring executive director. SLA will use the fund
to support international conferences, offer fellowships and expand the
organization’s global reach.
Debra suggested creating a fellowship honoring C.B. Hayden. Since he
mentored students and new Division members, the C.B. Hayden Fellowship
might sponsor a news librarian from another country to come to the annual
conference. Debra asked for discussion. Members expressed support in formally
recognizing C.B.’ s contributions. More assistance for small libraries
was recommended. Financial backing for "first-timers" coming
to conference was also suggested. Debra has already received $125 in start-up
contributions from two sources and proposed looking into vendor partners
and revenue-generating accounts. Debra asked for a motion to create a
committee to develop the fellowship, starting with $1000 from the Division.
Donna Scheeder so moved, Richard Geiger seconded.
Thanks and a certificate of recognition were given to outgoing director
of education Carolyn Edds. Outgoing treasurer Bill Van Niekerken, who
was not present, was also acknowledged with thanks and a certificate.
The new Division officers were introduced: Michael Jesse, Chair-Elect;
Catherine Kitchell, Treasurer; Jennifer Small Evert, Director-Education/Professional
Development Chair.
Debra passed the gavel to Jody Habayeb, who started her term as president
of the News Division by asking for a motion to adjourn the meeting. It
was so moved and seconded.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
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