SLA to keep name

The result of the voting by SLA (Special Libraries Association) on whether to change its name to the Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals was announced yesterday with a majority voting not to change. This is an excerpt from the official announcement: “The Special Libraries Association (SLA) announced the results of its association-wide vote on a new name today. Voting in record numbers, SLA members failed to approve a proposal to change the organization’s name to the Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals. 50 percent of those members eligible to vote participated in the referendum, with 2071 voting yes and 3225 voting no.”

Personally, as a member of the SLA I am disappointed and had voted for a change. Although the proposed new name was not without its faults (being rather wordy was one of them), I felt it recognised the diverse range of roles that many SLA members have and the need to emphasise the strategic importance of information and the people that manage it. Following this decision, I imagine that the organisation will continue to move away from spelling out the SLA acronym. The only mention of the “L” word on their website this morning was at the bottom of the page in very small print.