News Library News Online

25th Anniversary 1978-2003

Vol. 25, No.2/Winter 2003

Table of Contents
Regular Features

New This Month

News Library News
SLA News Division Home

People
By Kathryn Pease

On the Move

There have been several changes at The Dallas Morning News library according to reference editor Judy Sall. Julie Wilson resigned from the reference department last April after she and her husband, Scott Nishimura, adopted a baby girl from China. While Julie is missed at the paper, daughter Seiler Marie Xin Ming Nishimura is keeping mom happy and busy.

Larry Derrick was promoted last May to daytime research librarian. Larry has been with The News since 1987 in working in various capacities, and prior to that he worked as a law librarian. Congratulations, Larry, on your new appointment!

Mike Meiners is the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's new Editorial Research Manager. Mike began his library career at The Tampa Tribune and was the Sun-Sentinel's Research Supervisor from 1994 to 1997. After moving to Interactive and Editorial Technology at the Sun-Sentinel, Mike worked briefly for both USA Today and The Washington Post before returning to the Sun-Sentinel as Systems Manager. Welcome back to news research, Mike!

Last but never least, John Cronin has returned to the Boston Herald after recuperating from triple bypass surgery. We're glad you're back, CofB!

Awards & Acknowledgements

With apologies to Dave Barry, "alert reader" Leigh Montgomery of The Christian Science Monitor, linked us to a St. Petersburg Times story in which news researcher Caryn Baird was featured. The story was about a woman who found a note from a young boy attached to a balloon, and how she contacted the Times to see if they could somehow track the boy down with just a first and last name. The reporter was kind enough to include Caryn's investigative skills in locating an obituary on the boy's father that led the reporter to the boy and his family. Way to go, Caryn!

You can read the heartwarming story at: http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/24/Floridian/A_note_for_Daddy.shtml.

Not only were The Toronto Star's library staff featured in a story, they were the story—on A1 no less! As a part of The Star's 110th anniversary series, the article details the library's humble beginnings from small clip library to electronic archive and the age of the Internet. Besides fielding a myriad of daily requests, the staff of 13 provides data analysis for major projects. It's clear The Star's library staff is a highly thought of editorial component. As one editor said, "Simply put, they make us a better paper." Congratulations to The Star library and their well-deserved recognition!

To read the story, go to http://tinyurl.com/2i5z.

Reference librarian Alphonse Vinh's Musings column is now available on the NPR Web site at http://www.npr/org/programs/musings/index.html. Rob Robinson reports that Musings started as an in-house column where Alphonse discussed articles, stories, or books that he felt would make interesting features on NPR. Congratulations, Alphonse!

Longtime News Division member Ernest Robl has recently published a book on transportation issues that may be of interest to reporters and editors. Understanding Intermodal covers the basics behind various types of intermodal transportation and technology and explains the applicable terminology. Information on the book is available at http://www.robl.w1.com/im-bk/index.htm.

In Passing

Sadly, December saw the deaths of two News Division members:

Dee Lyon, a longtime former news researcher with The Baltimore Sun, passed away from pancreatic cancer. Sun library director Sandy Levy said that, "Dee was the institutional memory for The Sun. When everybody thinks of the library, they think of Dee." Donations in Dee's memory can be made to the National Foundation for Cancer Research (http://www.nfcr.org).

Judy Metcalf, retired reference editor of The Dallas Morning News, passed away after a long illness. An instrumental force in creating The News' computerized archive, Judy was also an expert in Dallas history and regularly contributed to The News' This Week in Texas History column. In addition to her love of journalism, Judy was an animal lover and longtime advocate of wildlife and wilderness conservation and preservation. Donations in Judy's memory can be made to the SPCA of Texas, 362 South Industrial Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207 or Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 720490, Dallas, TX 75372.

Kathryn Pease is a Librarian at Newsday. You can contact her at kpease@newsday.com.


Last Updated: 2/4/03
Ron Larson
rlarson@madison.com