I think it is very important to emphasize that SLA members and other information professionals have been included in every single phase of the Alignment Project. In the first, benchmark survey, more than one-third (34 percent) of respondents were information professionals. In the language exploration phase of the research, we held five separate focus groups for information pros in cooperation with SLA chapters in Vancouver, Seattle (two sessions, one just for students), Los Angeles and D.C., each with 25 to 30 participants. SLA members took part in both of the dial testing sessions, which took place in Toronto and D.C. Finally, members were involved in selecting the names that were tested, and information professionals were included in the separate online survey done to determine the name that is ultimately being submitted to membership for a vote. Additionally, at both the 2008 and 2009 Leadership Summits, we conducted roundtable discussions, each involving about 250 members, and input from them was incorporated into the project. In all, well over a thousand SLA members and information professionals were involved directly in the research, and many more than that have been indirectly involved.
We did this because our goal right from the start was to find ways to communicate that made sense to both our members and to the people who hire them, fire them, and ultimately decide whether there is a place in their organizations for them. Our members have told us for many years that they need help in demonstrating their value so that they will be paid what they are worth and permitted to advance.
We do think that SLA has much to offer people in allied professions—in fact, we already have a considerable number of members who are trained in market research, Web development, content management, competitive intelligence, and other closely related areas. They join because they recognize the value of librarians, and they have knowledge that benefits us, too. If changing our name makes SLA more attractive to this audience, it will only enhance the learning opportunities for members. But that is not our primary goal.
SLA has always been, and will always be, primarily an organization of librarians. Nobody is trying to change that or to diminish the title or training of librarians. We are simply trying to use research—in which SLA members were directly involved--to find ways to communicate your value. Period.
Members were highly instrumental in developing the new name we are proposing, and they are completely in control of whether or not it is adopted. A majority vote is required by law to change our articles of incorporation, and every member gets to vote. You will be asked to vote on the full name and not on an abbreviation or acronym. We set up numerous forums for discussion, and both sides have been extremely vocal. I encourage you to join the discussion if you have not already and most of all, to vote.
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