[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      85TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION

                                 ______


                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 1994

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, because of the invaluable role 
that special libraries play in society, I am honored to announce to my 
colleagues that Atlanta will be the host of the 85th annual conference 
of the Special Libraries Association, June 11-16, 1994.
  More than 5,000 of the world's leading information resource experts 
and their guests are expected at the conference, appropriately titled, 
``Information Vision.'' The offerings include approximately 350 
educational programs, special events, and field trips to many Atlanta-
area businesses, museums and libraries. In addition, there will be a 
400-booth exhibit of the newest hardware, software, online databases, 
and other products and services that are revolutionizing the 
information and telecommunications industries.
  The Special Libraries Association is an international professional 
association serving more than 14,000 members of the information 
profession, including special librarians, information managers, 
brokers, and consultants. The association has 56 regional/State 
chapters in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Arabian Gulf 
States, and 28 divisions representing subject interests or 
specializations. Special libraries/information centers can be found in 
organizations with specialized or focused information needs, such as 
corporations, law firms, news organizations, government agencies, 
associations, colleges, museums, and hospitals.
  On behalf of its members, the Special Libraries Association has long 
been involved in information policy issues at all levels of government, 
in the private sector, and the international arena. Founded in 1909, it 
is headquartered in Washington, DC.
  Staff and members of the association are examining the role to be 
played by special librarians/information professionals on the 
information superhighway about which we have heard so much.
  The Special Libraries Association has made it clear that the role of 
the information professional is a pivotal one and must not be 
overlooked in this planning process. Special librarians, who are used 
to help their clients retrieve information, will be educators in the 
new networked environment by helping end-users increase their awareness 
of what is available over the networks, work with them to improve their 
information retrieval skills as well as assist--as they do now--in the 
analysis, packaging and presentation of the material.
  Sound decisions are based on experience, instinct, and, most 
importantly, current, accurate information--the kind provided by 
special librarians. These information resource experts use the latest 
advancements in computer and telecommunications technology to collect, 
monitor, organize, analyze, evaluate, package, and disseminate 
information within their organizations.
  Special librarians are going to be critical navigators on the 
rapidly-developing national information superhighway. Therefore, I'm 
most proud that Atlanta and its citizens will have the opportunity to 
host these individuals, who are on the cutting edge of the information 
age.

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