12-15 June 2011
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, PA

Conference Sessions

Elevator Speeches: How to Develop Them
A panel of experts explored the rationale for developing elevator speeches for different audiences. The session also included a discussion of the SLA Future Ready Toolkit and how to use the tools provided.
Download the presentations from Gayle Gossen (PDF) and Mary Ellen Bates (PDF).

Launching and Branding the Internal IHG Research Service and Web Portal
Presented by Chris Olson and Ilene Strongin Garry
iSite is a human-powered research service and Website portal operating inside the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). This presentation updates the case study presented at SLA 2010 and follows the journey of iSite as it matured during an economic slowdown, senior management transitions, and shifting product focus. Over the past 12 months, iSite staff began considering a mobile version of iSite, held an all-day event featuring iSite Research Partners, hosted numerous information sharing events, partnered with other companies and internal departments to sponsor speakers and launch new products, and added new resources for the global IHG workforce to use. This presentation reviews a “work in progress” and highlights how iSite continues to deliver on its brand promise to give IHG the decision advantage. Best practices and lessons learned will be shared, including how the iSite brand and its position helped revise new management’s traditional perceptions of libraries.

NEED TO KNOW SESSION: The Corporate Library in Turbulent Times
Presented by Jim Matarazzo and Toby Pearlstein
Cutbacks and reductions in corporate library budgets have increased, fueled by the erratic economy and unprecedented bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions. Based on research for their articles in Searcher magazine, the speakers will present specific survival skills for corporate libraries/librarians, including alternate sourcing, scenario planning and aligning with the parent organization (especially how to understand alignment and foster and demonstrate it). The balanced scorecard will be reviewed as a strategic data-gathering tool to support survival. This session is for all information professionals who want to learn how to adapt and avoid being marginalized.

2011 B&F Poster Session
Following a theme of Innovation & Best Practices in Business Librarianship, the Business & Finance Division hosted its third annual poster session.