Inside SLA Welcome to the Special Libraries Association

A bit of background: The Special Libraries Association (SLA) was founded in 1909 in the state of New York and is now the international association representing the interests of thousands of information professionals. SLA serves more than 11, 000 members in 75 countries in the information profession. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives.

Vision? Mission? They got 'em: Vision The Special Libraries Association is the global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. Mission The Special Libraries Association promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives

Fun Facts: 1909 - Special Libraries Association (SLA) is officially established and has a membership count of 57. 1909 - Dues $2 including subscription to Special Libraries, which began publication in 1910. Single copies were 25 cents. 1910 - Affiliation with American Library Association (ALA) begins. 2005 - Click University founded, exclusive professional development benefit for SLA members. 2008 - SLA launches SLA Innovation Laboratory and creates SLA play area in Second Life.

For your reading pleasure: Information Outlook is SLA's monthly magazine and your source for news and information on trends and practices, written by your colleagues from around the globe. Information Outlook is the authoritative source for information on the profession. Information Outlook® Online gives members full access to cutting-edge feature articles and the most up-to-date news regarding the information profession. Back issues are available from January 1997 - present. SLA's journal from 1910 to 1996, Special Libraries, is now available in PDF. Yes, every issue has been scanned and digitized.

Join and get cool perks: Magazines and Newsletters Member Discounts Health Programs, including Insurance! Career Center Click U

Click U? What's that? Click University is the one-of-a-kind online portal to a world of learning opportunities offered exclusively to SLA members. The member only programming area of Click U includes these great offerings: * Live Webinars * Recorded Webinars * Online Libraries * Execu. Books * i. Lab (Innovation Lab for Information) * Career Center

Jobs? We got your jobs. It’s called the Career Center: Articles and Resources Latest Opportunities Career Coaching Networking Learning

Another cool perk: The SLA Innovation Laboratory: a place to explore The Innovation Laboratory is designed as a place where you can play and discover uses for the latest emerging technologies. The Innovation Laboratory is populated with SLA-licensed software and open-source applications. In addition there are free technology training courses to members. Including such topics as: *Setup and use of a wiki *Setup and use of a blog *Understanding social networking *Web development with Dreamweaver *Creating podcasts

How much for all this coolness? Full Member ($160) - Annual salary equivalent or greater than $35, 000 Full Member ($99) - Annual salary $18, 000 - $34, 999 Full Member ($35) - Annual salary less than $18, 000 Student Member ($35) Student Member status shall be granted to an applicant enrolled in a curriculum of library or information science at least part time (two or more courses). Student members may affiliate with one chapter and one division at no additional cost. Student membership may be maintained only while actively a student, but for no more than three years.

Where do I sign? ! It’s easy. Join online! Visit: http: //www. sla. org/content/membership/joinsla/index. cfm, Fill out the form and pull out the plastic. It’s only 35 bucks for students.

Finally, another fun fact to know and tell: (A shout-out to Bill Bratton from my theatre days)