After serving as executive director of the Special Libraries Association for only six months, Roberta I. Shaffer has announced that she will step down from the position effective February 22. Although she accepted the job last April, Shaffer didn’t officially begin serving until September. She replaced David Bender, who retired after 22 years with the association. SLA announced that Deputy Executive Director Lynn Smith will serve as acting executive director.
“The Special Libraries Association will continue its course as the leading professional association for information professionals,” Shaffer said. “The board of directors and I share the same vision for the future of the association and the profession. However, we are not in sync in terms of the pace of change. I have enjoyed my time working with the board, staff, and members. I am confident that the association will achieve its goals in the new century and meet the needs of a new generation of information professionals.”
“Roberta has provided the SLA with a new level of enthusiasm and energy in light of the changes in the association world and the evolving position of information professionals in society,” said SLA President Hope N. Tillman. “On behalf of the SLA board of directors and staff, we thank her, and wish her well in all her future endeavors.”
SLA has suffered a decline in revenues and membership in recent years. Reports from the association’s Winter Meeting last month in Chicago state that SLA will face a $300,000 shortfall at the end of the current fiscal year.
Posted February 18, 2002.