The Transportation Research Board at the National Academy of Sciences is advertising for the position of Manager of Information Services.  Below is a copy of the position description.  If you have questions on this announcement, please contact Barbara Post (bpost@nas.edu) or Stephen Godwin (sgodwin@nas.edu)

Manager, Information Services
Location: Corporate Headquarters - DC Department:

Transportation Research Board

Job Req #: 100019-4

Basic Requirements: Master's degree in library or information science or equivalent knowledge with 6 years of related professional experience, 2 of which were in a supervisory capacity. Three years of management or supervisory experience is desired. Experience in developing and overseeing bibliographic databases and knowledge of database design. Knowledge of current information trends and changes in information technology. Knowledge of transportation information resources and organizations. Experience in managing a technical library and overseeing all aspects of library services including reference, interlibrary loan, serials management, and technical services. Experience with the use and development of thesauri and controlled vocabulary. Ability and experience in working with committees and collaborating on projects. Excellent written and oral skills and the ability to interact with all levels of employees.

Description

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council---a private, nonprofit institution that is the principal operating agency of the National Academies in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Board's mission is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal.

The Studies and Special Programs Division conducts policy studies at the request of the U.S. Congress, executive branch agencies, states, and other sponsors; operates a bibliographic database of transportation research and provides library reference services; produces syntheses of current practices in highway, transit, airport operations, and commercial truck and bus safety; and manages Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) programs in highway, transit, and rail and truck safety.

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for overseeing the Transportation Research Board's Information Services department including producing and maintaining the Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Database, the Research in Progress (RIP) Web site, the Research Needs Statement Database and the TRB Publications Index. Collaborate with sponsors, and users to provide access to high quality transportation information. Work with information professionals and providers from around the world to provide access to transportation research. Oversee the management of the TRB Library and provide quality reference and library services to TRB staff, committees, and sponsors.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES: 

1. Independently manage the operations of the various TRB Databases including supervising staff, handling budgets, and administering contracts. Oversee the acquisition and selection of material to be entered into TRIS. Work with staff on assuring the quality of the database.
2. Work to improve methods of information delivery to meet the changing needs of sponsors and users of transportation information and to improve the usability of TRB's information resources
3. Collaborate with experts and sponsors from federal, state, and local government agencies, universities, publishers, and non-profit organizations from around the world to provide better access to transportation information.
4. Maintain ongoing relationships with major TRB sponsors and work on developing and improving resources to meet their information needs.
5. Work to maintain the quality of TRB's information databases and the TRB Library within the current resources and budget.
6. Manage contractors and supervise contract staff. This includes both indexing/abstracting staff who telecommute and IT contractors who maintain the databases.
7. Collaborate with TRB IT Department to ensure that computer operations for TRIS and RiP databases are coordinated with their operations.
8. Market and promote TRB's information products and services to a variety of audiences.
9. Serve as liaison from TRB to various library and information activities
10. Provide oversight of the TRB Library and work to ensure that the library meets the information needs of TRB staff, committee members, and sponsors. 
    

  TO APPLY GO TO:  http://tbe.taleo.net/NA4/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=NAS&cws=1&rid=6721\\

Dear colleagues,

 I'm excited and honored to be chair of the SLA Transportation Division for 2010, following in the footsteps of Rita Evans, our new past chair. Thank you, Rita, for your excellent leadership of the Division; you are a true role model!

A few initiatives the Board and I hope to focus on this year include:
1) A new award for Division members, to be unveiled at the SLA Annual Conference in June
2) The development of a strategic plan for the Division
3) Membership growth

The SLA Annual Conference will be June 12-16 in New Orleans, Louisiana. I encourage all of you to attend. Registration is now open at http://www.sla.org/content/Events/conference/ac2010/index.cfm; register by April 2 for the best rate.

Highlights of the conference include:

    * All-day networking and learning from each other at GTRIC, on Sunday June 13
    * Keynote speeches by James Carville & Mary Matalin, and a provocative talk by Nicholas Carr of the Harvard Business Review on why IT is no longer relevant
    * Educational sessions to help you refresh your professional skills
    * Dinners and receptions for fun and socializing
    * Continuing from last year's conference: Unconferences and free wi-fi

I just returned from the Leadership Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. It was so motivating to learn more about SLA, the benefits the Association provides, and its future direction. Did you know that most of the resources in  Click University are free to members? Topics range from search strategies to web site management tips to career development tips.  SLA also offers free access to book summaries from execuBooks, so we can all stay up-to-date on the latest business and management books. Not to mention the resources of the Career Center, Information Outlook magazine, discounts on other library association memberships and conferences, and outstanding networking opportunities. Check it out at www.sla.org.

If you have questions or suggestions, or if you'd like an opportunity to become more involved in the Division, please call or e-mail me.

Regards,

Arlene

Arlene Mathison, Chair
Transportation Division, SLA

Director of Digital Information and Library Services
Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota
mathi032@umn.edu
612-624-3646

A.J. Million recently blogged the value of transportation libraries, updating ROI work that had been done in the 2003 MNDOT report. Check it out!

Make your voice heard in the SLA election that is now in progress - this is your chance to affect change in the direction of the Association.

Since we all know the value of information and that an informed voter will cast an informed vote, I want to pass on a package of information about each of the candidates. This information has been circulating on many chapter and division lists and offers no endorsements one way or the other.

The polls close October 1st at 5:00 pm EDT. To learn more about the eVote and to vote, just login at this URL: <http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/2010bodelect/evote.cfm>

>>> Psst, pass this on! >>>
_________________________________________________
2010 Board of Directors Candidates
http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/index.cfm

President-Elect:
Agnes K. Mattis
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/mattis.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2394&s=118&
Twitter http://twitter.com/agneskm
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/agnes.mattis
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/agnes-mattis/3/399/796
Blog

Cindy Romaine
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/romaine.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2395&s=118&
Twitter http://twitter.com/cindyaromaine
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/cindy.romaine
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/in/cromaine
Blog http://futurereadyblog.com/

Treasurer:
Karen Reczek
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/Reczek.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2392&s=118&
Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/karen-kreizman-reczek/0/666/245
Blog

Dan Trefethen
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/trefethen.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2393&s=118&
Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dan-trefethen/3/95b/319
Blog

Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect:
Liz Blankson-Hemans
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/blanksonhemans.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2390&s=118&
Twitter http://twitter.com/lizbh
Facebook http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Liz-Blankson-Hemans/684559128
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/liz-blankson-hemans/2/8ab/884
Blog

Debal C. Kar
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/kar.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2391&s=118&
Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/debal-chandra-kar/8/b70/4b4
Blog

Division Cabinet-Elect:
Mary Ellen Bates
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/bates.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2396&s=118&
Twitter http://twitter.com/mebs
Facebook
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/in/maryellenbates
Blog http://www.librarianoffortune.com/

Stacey Greenwell
Biography http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/governance/bodsection/can/09cand/greenwell.cfm
SLA TV Speech & Response to Questions http://www.slatv.org/media.cfm?c=549&m=2397&s=118&
Twitter http://twitter.com/staceygreenwell
Facebook
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/in/staceygreenwell
Blog http://staceygreenwell.blogspot.com/