SLA Campaign to Transform Learning

SLA's million-dollar education initiative will transform professional development for information professionals.

SLA launched the professional development program in June at Nashville 2004 with

SLA's vision is that by 2007 its professional development program will be regarded as the premier program for lifelong learning and improvement of professional skills and leadership development for all information professionals.

How will the $1 million be spent?

While final decisions will be based on the amount raised, SLA is considering the following:

* Development of the SLA LearnCenter, an online system that will provide information professionals with access to courses and content in a variety of subject areas. The LearnCenter will permit users to learn where and when they choose, collaborate with others in multiple languages, and engage other learners to expand their perspectives.

* Acquisition of three distinct course libraries that will include more than 200 courses focusing on core areas of professional and executive development.

* Translation of a focused set of courses into other languages, particularly French and Spanish.

* Conversion of a variety of SLA learning experiences into self-paced online courses.

* Enhancement of the Virtual Learning Series and the Career Development Series to meet competency-based goals by improving content and instruction.

* Purchase of an Internet-based video and audio delivery system for live and recorded SLA learning experiences.

* Use of internationally recognized field experts to deliver a balanced set of learning experiences that meet the needs of SLA's diverse audience.

* Construction of an Internet studio at SLA'S Global Headquarters to produce live and recorded learning experiences.

These products and services will be prioritized according to input received from members and will be funded accordingly. The Professional Development Committee will work with the board of directors and with members and staff to develop the priorities.

When SLA announced the campaign at its 2004 annual conference, it promoted the idea that if each member contributed $84, the organization could easily reach its $1M goal to create new educational opportunities.

The transformation of the professional development program builds on the framework already described in the Professional Development Committee's vision document which was accepted by the board of directors in 2003.

The SLA campaign for professional development was inspired by 2004-05 SLA President Ethel Salonen.