Chemistry Division Special Libraries Association

Message from the Chemistry Chair Oct. 2001

As I prepare this, Nancy Simons & I are also working plans for next year's annual conference which will be held in Lost Angeles on June 8-13, 2002 and trying to meet a few deadlines. By the time you are reading this, we'll have a full exciting schedule in the works and will be taking a short breather before the next round in January.

One of the highlights will be the Trisociety Symposium. This is a joint effort of the Chemical Information Division of ACS, the Scientific & Technical Information Special Group of ASIST and the SLA Chemistry division. You'll find the call for papers in this issue. This symposiums theme will be "Electronic Chemistry Collections: Dealing with Chemistry Resources in Electronic Formats." I hope you will considering submitting an abstract. It would be wonderful to have so many great ideas that we have a hard time choosing. I know that there are many talented people in this division who are working on these types of projects. Sharing your learnings would be a great help to all of us.

I know that there are people out there who would like to be more active in the divisions. I think you are wonderful! We'll try to find you something to do. One of the ideas that come to mind is that we'd really like to have more articles to print in this publication or put up on our web version. Now I can hear many of you gasping and saying "but I hate to write" --I often feel the same way which is why I usually wait until the last minute. Many of you have loads of information and experience you can share. Perhaps it could be about your top five websites/sources for chemical pricing questions. Your favorite tips on STN, Dialog or search system of your choice. How you handle the influx of questions of the organic chemistry students. Perhaps a profile of your library/information center. And it doesn't all have to be practical.. If you have an interest in scientific history, how about sharing something interesting you've come across? Since the next conference is in LA, my mind turned to Hollywood - how has chemistry influenced the film industry? (Somebody had to invent Technicolor) Think about make-up and special effects & how are chemists portrayed in movies. This list goes on. If you are interested in contributing, please drop a note to our newsletter editor, Jim Oliver at oliver@mus.edu

And it's never too early to start thinking about whether you'd like to be an officer in this division. Dana Roth is looking for nominations for Chair-elect and Treasurer. If you don't want to do it yourself, perhaps you can recommend someone who will do a great job.

If neither of these ideas have tickled your fancy, please let me know what would. Suzanne Fedunok, our chair elect, & I would both love to hear ideas about what the division can do for the membership. It's nice if can give us suggestions on implementing those ideas but not necessary. Since the Chemistry Division really is as strong and as active as its members, please give some serious thought to what the Chemistry Division can do for you and let me know your ideas. We may not be able to do them all but we can see what can be done.

Marilynn Dunker

Comments to: Susanne J. Redalje
Chemistry Division
(206)543-2070(voice)
(206)543-3863(fax)
curie@u.washington.edu

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This page updated January 2002