General Information
The objectives of the Science-Technology Community shall be to draw together members having an interest in the role of library and information science as applied to the recording, retrieval, and dissemination of information in all areas of science and technology and to promote and improve the communication, dissemination, and use of such information to the benefit of libraries and their users.
Early History of the SciTech Division
Modern History of the SciTech Community (formerly Division)
For more information, read on for the FAQ.
FAQ
What is the mission of the Science-Technology Community of SLA?
To provide information, training, and tools to science and technology information professionals to develop the skills and knowledge they need to grow and excel. The Community functions as an international community that supports the professional development of its members through communication, networking, education, and research.
When did the Community form?
The Science-Technology Community of SLA was formed in 1923 under the name of the Technology Group. The first meeting was held during the 1924 annual conference. The Group was recognized officially in March 1925. Renamed Science-Technology Division in 1950, and Science-Technology Community in 2020.
What are the positions in the Executive Board and what is the function of the Board?
The Executive Board manages the Community's property and regulates and governs its affairs.
President— Chief Executive Officer of Community, responsible for supervision and control of Community affairs
President-Elect – Succeeds President
Secretary — Records minutes and official business
Past-President— Advisory capacity
What committees and other positions does the Community have, and what do they do?
Awards Committee — Selects winners for travel stipends and Achievement Award
Professional Development Committee — Organizes workshops/seminars for continuing education
Webmaster— Maintains the Community's web site.
What publications does the Community produce?
1) The Community has an open community within SLA Connect. The purpose of the Sci-Tech Open Community is to promote communication among the members of the Science-Technology Community of SLA and other interested parties via an unmoderated community. It should help special librarians everywhere advance their role as information professionals in their respective institutions.
Topics of posts to the list include information about the Sci-Tech Community and its activities, conference information and opportunities, resource sharing, reference questions, job announcements, reviewer or publishing opportunities, announcements about member publications, course and professional development opportunity announcements, research surveys, and sci-tech library-related news.
If you are a Sci-Tech Community member, you should already have access to the community from within the Connect platform. You can head to http://connect.sla.org, and login to your SLA account to see it.
2) A newsletter, Sci-Tech News, was the official publication of the Sci-Tech Division. It debuted as Ye Alchemical Libraries Almanack : being the bulletin of the Science-Technology Group with Lucy O. Lawton as editor in September 1947. It changed its name to SCI-TECH NEWS : the official bulletin of the Science-Technology Group in 1949. The last issue was published in summer of 2017.
What awards are given by the Community?
The Community currently considers nominations for several awards for travel, international librarians, professional development, achievement, and other forms of recognition of contributions to the Community. Some highlights from the history of the Community's awards follow.
- The Achievement award recognizes professional work marked by distinction & dedication to sci-tech librarianship. Ellis Mount received the first Achievement Award in 1984; Jean K. Martin received it in 1987; Robert M. Ballard received it in 1990. In 2014 this award was renamed the Ann Koopman Sci-Tech Division Achievement Award in honor of Ann Koopman's contributions to the division by serving in leadership roles and mentoring her colleagues.
- The Impossible Award, given in recognition of work that made the impossible possible, was first awarded to Cathy Williamson in 1990; followed by Wilda Newman in 1991, Ellis Mount in 1992, Sandy Moltz in 1996, and Ann Koopman and Bonnie Osif in 2004.
- The International Librarian Awards, given to help third world librarians attend conference, were first presented to Christina Santos Labourdette, Elena Reyes Varela, and America Santos (latter could not attend conference) in 1995. It was renamed the Bonnie Hilditch International Librarian Award in honor of Bonnie (Bonny) M. Hilditch in 2000.
- The Professional Development Award, given to help unemployed librarians attend conference, was first presented to Cathy Williamson in 1995.
- Additional awards: Jim Olsen and Carmela Carbone were given Appreciation Awards in 1991. Joanna Tallman was awarded $1000 for her revision of the Handbook of Scientific and Technical Awards in the United States and Canada in 1978. Ellis Mount awarded $300 to support work on the history of the Engineering Societies Library in 1978. Ellis Mount was named Editor Emeritus of the Sci-Tech News in 2004.