MLA ‘08 Blog

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The purpose of the New Members Special Interest Group is to provide a forum for librarians with less than three years of experience to engage in information exchange and discuss information important to new librarians and new MLA members. Our goal is to foster learning, cooperation and support amongst new librarians and new MLA members. The New Members SIG is sponsored by the Leadership and Management (LMS) section. The New Members SIG was featured in the New Members Column of MLA News in the May 2006 issue.

Do you have a website? a list-serv? other means of communication?
The New Members SIG website is available on mlanet. New Members are encouraged to join the discussion on our listserv. We are also on Facebook as well. All interested are invited to be our friend on Facebook.

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when? and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
For more information about SIG meetings and co-sponsored programs at the Annual meeting, visit our events calendar. Membership in the New Members SIG is open to ALL MLA members who are interested in issues and concerns affecting new librarians and new members.

~ Business Meetings ~

The New Members SIG is sponsoring two meetings at the 2008 MLA Annual Meeting. All new association members are invited to attend our business meeting on Monday, May 19, 2008 from 6:00 – 8:00PM in the Hyatt Regency Toronto. The agenda (6:00 – 7:00PM) includes greetings and introductions, a review the NM SIG purpose, goals, and objectives, selection of SIG conveners, and suggestions for programming to co-sponsoring at the 2009 Annual Meeting. The meeting will conclude with a discussion forum (7:00 – 8:00PM) focusing on Leadership Development for New Librarians.

We will also be meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 from 7:00 – 9:00AM in the Hyatt Regency Gold Coast. All interested attendees are invited to join us. Several seasoned librarians will offer tips on preparing or retooling your professional portfolio. The discussion will begin at 8:00AM.

~ SIG Dinner ~

Join Us for Dinner in Chicago on Sunday, May 18th, 6:00pm at the Webber Grill, 539 N. State Street, Chicago, 60610. The restaurant is a short distance from the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Please RSVP to Ely Anderson. Need Directions? Click here to view the Google Map.

~ Co-Sponsored Program ~

Connecting the Dots: Strategies for Building A Portable Career (Leadership, Networking, Professional Development & Career Building and Career Reinvention) and Speed Mentoring.
Date: Monday, May 19th
Time: 2:00-3:00PM
Room: Hyatt Regency Columbus IJ.

“Connecting the Dots” is a two-part, hands-on session. In part one; attendees will participate in roundtables on professional development and job-searching skills and techniques. Part two is a speed mentoring session, in which mentees will have ten minute meetings with two to three library administrators to review resumes and discuss professional development opportunities. Attendees are encouraged to reserve their space at preferred round-table online.

• Table 1: Leadership
  Facilitators: Lisa Boyd and Neville Prendergast
• Table 2: Professional Networking
  Facilitators: Gabriel Rios and Meredith Solomon
• Table 3: Career Reinvention
  Facilitator: Mary C. Congleton and Molly Knapp
• Table 4: Professional Development/Career Building
  Facilitators: Julia Player and Heidi Sandstrom

Sponsored by the Leadership and Management Section, the Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee, and the New Members and African American Medical Librarians Alliance SIGs.

- Shannon Jones

Whether you are seeking an entry-level position, an opportunity for advancement, a change of scenery, or a highly qualified employee, take advantage of the Job Placement Center located in the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Individual job seekers must register with the Job Placement Center by completing the Job Seeker Form (pdf).

The center is open:

• Saturday, May 17 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 18 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Monday, May 19 9:00 a.m.–noon, 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 20 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

The NMFT Breakfast is a free event held in honor of MLA’s newest members and members who are attending MLA Annual for the first time. You will have opportunities to network with other new members; to meet MLA leadership; and learn about how MLA and conference are organized.

The breakfast is by invitation only, ticketed event. There is no charge for the breakfast, but registration is required. Please select the breakfast on the meeting registration form. You will receive your ticket at registration.

The NMFT breakfast will be held on Sunday, May 18^th, 7:00 a.m.– 9:00 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom A of the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The presentation will start at 8 a.m. and will be interactive by using an audience response system.

For information, contact mlams2@mlahq.org or 312.419.9094 x13

- Dean Hendrix, MLA Membership Committee

Will you be in Chicago for MLA on either Thursday, May 15 or Friday, May 16 and looking for a place for dinner with librarian colleagues?

Contact Gerald Dujsik at gdujsik@ico.edu to sign up for a specific Dine-Around. Contact the host if you have questions about the food, meeting time/place, etc.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Erwin: An American Café and Bar
2925 N. Halstead (map)

• Limit to Diners: 5
• Meeting Place: MLA Hospitality Desk at the Hyatt
• Meeting Time: 5:30 pm
• Dinner Reservation: 6 pm
• Price estimation: $40-$50 per person plus tax and tip and cab ($$63-76)
• Host: Jim Shedlock, j-shedlock@northwestern.edu

Russian Tea Time
77 East Adams (map)

• Limit to Diners: 7
• Meeting Place: MLA Hospitality Desk at the Hyatt
• Meeting Time: 6 pm
• Dinner Reservation: 6:30 pm
• Price estimation: Main entrees $17-$29
• Host: Pat Pinkowski, Patricia.Pinkowski@alz.org
• Additional Info: Those who want to take a cab can meet us there. The restaurant offers vegetarian options in addition to a wide selection of meats. It also offers a large selection of teas and Russian vodkas. They will give us separate checks.

RL (Ralph Lauren) Restaurant
115 E. Chicago Avenue (map)

• Limit to Diners: 7
• Meeting Place: MLA Hospitality Desk at the Hyatt
• Meeting Time: 5:30 pm
• Dinner Reservation: 6:00 pm
• Price estimation: Main entrees $19-$42
• Host: Carol Jeuell, cjeuell@childrensmemorial.org

Friday, May 16, 2008

La Petite Amelia
618 Church Street, Evanston, IL (near Hotel Orrington)

• Limit to Diners: 7
• Meeting Place: Lobby of the Hotel Orrington, 1710 Orrington Ave., Evanston, IL
• Meeting Time: 6:30 pm
• Dinner Reservation: 6:45 pm
• Price estimation: Main entrees $10-$25
• Host: Ramune Kubilius, r-kubilius@northwestern.edu

Redfish Restaurant
400 N. State Street (map)

• Limit to Diners: 6
• Meeting Place: MLA Hospitality Desk at the Hyatt
• Meeting Time: 6:30 pm
• Dinner Reservation: 7:00 pm
• Price estimation: Main entrees $17-$24
• Host: Dianne Olson, dolson@lumc.edu

Tavern at the Park
130 E. Randolph (at the Prudential Plaza)

• Limit to Diners: 7
• Meeting Place: MLA Hospitality Desk at the Hyatt
• Meeting Time: 7:00 pm
• Dinner Reservation: 7:30 pm
• Price estimation: Main entrees $17-$38
• Host: Dalia Kleinmuntz, DKleinmuntz@enh.org
• Additional Info: Reservation under Kleinmuntz. 2 block stroll.

• Need help deciphering the conference booklet and choosing what programs to attend?
• Want to know which social events have free food, drink and entertainment?
• Need a friendly and familiar face to introduce you to other members?
• Are you curious about what a specific MLA chapter, section, special interest group or committee can do for you?

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, register to participate in Colleague Connection!

Providing opportunities to meet new colleagues, build your professional network, discuss new ideas and maximize your time in Chicago, Colleague Connection pairs newer members or first-time meeting attendees with returning, more experienced members during the 2008 Annual Conference.

Experienced members benefit from Colleague Connection, too! Mentoring a colleague during the conference can expand your professional network, expose you to new ideas and see the conference from a fresh perspective. In addition, you will get the satisfaction of helping someone, and there’s no greater reward than that! Don’t be left out! Register at: http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/hsl/cc2008.asp

If you register by Sunday, May 11th, you will be guaranteed to receive your mentor or mentee before leaving for the meeting. After May 11th, members will still be able to sign up via the Web or in-person at the conference.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Dean Hendrix at dhendrix@buffalo.edu or 716. 829.3900 x112.

- Dean Hendrix, MLA Membership Committee

The Medical Library Association (MLA) Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee (PRRC) is pleased to announce the Annual Meeting’s (Chicago) Personalized Résumé Clinic.

Call for volunteers and participants:

The PRRC needs volunteer reviewers willing to spend 1 hour minimum, assisting participants (reviewees) with the creation of their cover letters and résumés. Each reviewee will have 15-20 minutes with a reviewer. During that time, the reviewer will critique the résumé and cover letter and offer tips and advice for improvement.

If you routinely receive cover letters and résumés (e.g., directors, associate directors, human resources officers, etc.), we encourage you help out. The hours of the Résumé Clinic are: Sunday May 18th, 3:00pm-5:00pm; Monday May 19th 10:00a-12noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm and Tuesday May 20th, 10:00am-1:00pm. These hours have been selected to avoid conflict with major conference events.

Volunteer Reviewers:

If you would be willing to serve as a reviewer, please contact Carolyn Warmann Carolyn.warmann@usd.edu , who will work with you to schedule a time slot for service.

Participants:

If you would like to set-up an appointment to have your résumé and cover letter reviewed, contact Craig Haynes, chaynes@ucsd.edu. Drop-ins are also welcome—just bring along a hard copy of your cover letter and résumé.