Student Chapter of the American Library Association:
News & Noteworthy Events
by SCALA Chair Leigh Anne Vrabel

It is never too early (or too late!) to get involved in Library and Information Science professional organizations. Here at Pitt, student chapters of professional organizations offer get-togethers, activities, and a sense of professional camaraderie.

This month we highlight SCALA, the Student Chapter of the American Library Association. As of this semester, SCALA is now represented by an almost entirely new contingent of elected officers:

Leigh Anne Vrabel, Chair
April Kent, Programming Chair
Raquelle Brennan, Membership Chair
Elaine Hagen, Secretary
Joey Nicholson, Treasurer
Colleen Miles, Faculty Liaison

The Faculty Liaison position was created in an attempt to improve relationships and communications between junior and senior library colleagues. Colleen Miles has been elected to this position. SCALA is also currently seeking a Webmaster, as the Web site is due for a little "home page improvement." If you are interested in helping SCALA look sharp in the digital domain, please contact Leigh Anne at lav5@pitt.edu.

ALA President CARLA HAYDEN to visit Pitt!

SCALA has a number of projects, programs, and partnerships in the works. First and foremost is ALA President Carla Hayden's campus visit, which is being jointly coordinated by members of the faculty, the Minority Concerns Council, and SCALA. Dr. Hayden will speak at 3:00 pm on Friday, April 2, in the English Room of the Cathedral of Learning. A reception will follow in the Croghan-Schenley room. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Angelle Pryor (adp13@pitt.edu) with your full name and any guests. Students will also have the opportunity to breakfast with Dr. Hayden on Saturday, April 4. Please keep an eye on the elevators, bulletin boards, and your mailboxes for pending details!

Here are a few more dates and details of upcoming events:

SCALA is working to create a SCALA t-shirt so that we can all wear our library pride on our sleeves,literally.  The deadline to submit your witty t-shirt slogans was February 25, but if you thought of something brilliant a few moments ago, please e-mail your ideas to Raquelle Brennan at rmb29@pitt.edu. 

The next installation of the "Librarians in Film" series will take place on March 19. The Big Sleep stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Join us at 6:30 pm in the 5th floor common room for cinema, popcorn, and conversation!

SCALA and the Minority Concerns Council are planning a spring clothing/canned goods drive to benefit the East End Cooperative Ministry. If you have a car and would like to help us get a very large donation box to the IS Building, please contact Leigh Anne Vrabel (lav5@pitt.edu) or Angelle Pryor (adp13@pitt.edu).

Keep an eye on SCALA's newly refurbished bulletin board, located on the fourth floor (off to the right after you exit the elevators), for up-to-the-minute announcements. Feel free to chime in on our message board, and tell us why you love libraries!

SCALA has a new communication system, Outer Office Memo, located at http://www.outerofficememo.blogspot.com/. Also be sure to check out SCALA's official Web site at http://www.sis.pitt.edu/~scala, or e-mail scala@sis.pitt.edu for more information.

If you have a suggestion, an idea for future programs, or constructive criticism, please voice it. We will have another "town hall" meeting after Spring Break to discuss issues and events for the rest of the semester.

Additionally, if you haven't already done so, you might want to consider a student membership to the American Library Association, available for $25 a year. See the ALA's Membership page at http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Membership.

Publication of the
Department of Library & Information Science
School of Information Sciences
University of Pittsburgh  
135 N. Bellefield Avenue  
Pittsburgh , PA 15260  

biblio@mail.sis.pitt.edu