Vitae
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National Geographic Society. 1975-2010
Vice President, Libraries and Information Services, 2003-2010
Susan Fifer Canby is an information professional with organization, leadership, management, team building, teaching, communication, and Web and database skills.
Working with a staff of 17, applied nearly 35 years of information management experience to shape and direct the Libraries and Information Services of the National Geographic Society. Provide expert research and consulting services to editorial and business staff, as well as to the public. Preserve and leverage the Society’s history. Manage documents, records, and archival materials so they are organized and accessible, and meet legal requirements. Manage the publication of print and electronic indexes to the Society's publications. Represent LIS to others in the Society, to the public, and in the library profession. Managed the Society’s Intranet and Corporate University (NGLS) and contributed leadership to cross-divisional teams that support sharing the Society’s knowledge. In 2005 Special Libraries Association recognized the Society's Library as a Center of Excellence, for management. In 2006 the Society's Intranet was recognized by Nielson Norman as one of the ten best corporate intranets. In 2007 Corporate University Exchange recognized National Geographic Learning Systems with award of Excellence for a new corporate university. She has been recognized by Special Libraries Association with Leadership and Innovation with Technology awards.
Previous Experience
Director, Library, Archives & Records Library & Indexing, NGS 1998-2002
Director, Library & Indexing, NGS 1995-1998
Director, Library, NGS 1983-1994
Assistant Librarian, NGS 1981-1982
Circulation Librarian, NGS 1975-1980
Researcher, Logistics Management Institute, Washington, DC 1971-1973
English Teacher, El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Colorado 1970-1971
Other Professional Experience
American Library Association Chair, Publications Committee, 1999; Member, 1975-.
Capital Area Library Network [CAPCON]. Board of Directors, 1997-to date; Board of Directors, 1989-1994; Board Chair, 1994.
Computers in Libraries Advisory Board 2006-.
DC Library Association President, 1991-1992; Vice President 1990-1991; Chair, Joint Spring Workshop, 1990; Chair, Membership 1988-1989; Secretary 1981-1983.
DC/Special Libraries Association Chair, Encore Careers, 2010-; Chair, Awards Committee, 2006. Chair, Nominating Committee, 2006; President, 2003-2004; Vice President-President Elect, 2002-2004; Chair, Joint Spring Workshop, 1997; Long Range Planning Committee, 1988-1990; Chair, Geography & Map Division, 1978, 1985; Vice Chair 1977, 1984.
Lubuto Library Advisory Board, 2007-2010
OCLC Members Council [international library cooperative], 1997-2003. Chair, Nominations Committee 2001-2003; speaker; team leader.
Society of Women Geographers member, 2006-
Special Libraries Association 1975-; Chapter Cabinet Chair, 2009 Speech at conference;Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect, 2008; Professional Development Committee, 2005-2007; B&F Continuing Education Centers of Excellence Committee, 2006; Continuing Education Committee 2005-2007; frequent conference speaker. Chair, Publications Committee 1993-1994; Member: News, Geography, Business & Finance, Management divisions.
University of Nebraska, Cather Circle 2006-
Washington Council of Governments Executive Board, 1986-1989.
Publications
- Fifer Canby, Susan and Barbara Semonche. What Makes an Extreme Researcher? News Library News, Vol. 30, No. 3/Spring 2008.
- Fifer Canby, Susan. How Libraries Lead Learning at National Geographic Society SLA Information Outlook, September 2006, pp. 33-36.
- Ferry, Barbara and Susan Fifer Canby. Center of Excellence Award Winner for Management SLA Business & Finance Division Bulletin, no. 130, Fall 2005, pp. 21-22.
- Fifer Canby, Susan. Climbing the Corporate Ladder SLA Information Outlook, May 2005, pp. 13-16.
- Ibid. Librarians and Leadership SLA Information Outlook, May 2004, pp. 24-27.
- Chindlund, Jan and Susan Fifer Canby, What a Job! Why Should I say "Yes" to Chapter President-Elect SLA Information Outlook, July-August 2003, p. 35-41.
- Canby, Thomas Y. and Susan Fifer Canby. Annals of Sandy Spring, 1947-1962, with a Cumulative Index to the Annals of Sandy Spring, 1863-1962, Sandy Spring Museum, 2002.
- Briscoe, Ellen and Susan Fifer Canby, A Look at the NGS Library SLA News Library News, Fall, 2000, vol 23, no. 1, p. 10-11.
- Fifer Canby, Susan. Afterword and Bibliography to Michele Slung's Living with Cannibals and other Women's Adventures, National Geographic Society, Washington D.C., 2000.
- Fifer Canby, Susan and Barbara Studholme, "Through a Woman's Eyes: Writings of Women Travelers" Special Libraries, Geography Map Bulletin, March 1990, no. 59, p 9-20.
- Fifer Canby, Susan. "The National Geographic Society and Its Library Celebrate 100 Years." Special Libraries, Fall, 1988, vol. 79, no. 4, p 328-331.
Presentations
- FEDLINK, July 22, 2008, Library of Congress, "Succession Planning: a Process."
- Joint Spring Workshop April 29, 2008. Keynote: Knowledge Management - the Librarian's Role.
- DC/SLA Professional Enhancement Day Panel Moderator "Seeking Skills: What Employers Want and Need" October 26, 2007.
- Library of Congress July 9, 2007 "Webcast of LOC Panel, representing special libraries on "Economics and Organization of Bibliographic Control"
- SLA Conference June 2007 Panel on Centers of Excellence
- DCLA April 17, 2007. Panel: How do I get to the top in my profession?
- Croatian Library Association, April 28, 2006
- SLA Conference, June 2006, B&F Panel: "Finding Your Dream Job".
- Salzburg Seminar, June 13-18, 2005, A New Chapter: the Changing Roles for Libraries and Librarians.
- SLA Conference, June 2005 Centers of Excellence Award Presentation
- Cather Circle, University of Nebraska, April 8-9, 2005, High Adventure in the Stacks of the National Geographic Society Library
- Maryland Library Association 2005 Strategies for Professional and Organizational Renewal.
- Beta Phi Mu February 24, 2004, Strategies for Climbing the Corporate Ladder.
- SLA Conference, June 8, 2004 Making New Music Together: Three Pillars: Managing Your Library, Archives, Records; also for DC/SLA October 13, 2004.
- University of Maryland, Commencement Address, December 2003
- Military Librarians December 11, 2003,Washington, DC Working the White Space: Redefining our Roles. Also presented for the Air Force-Navy Librarians Working the White Space 2004, Kansas City, Mo.;Army Librarians[1], 2004 Kansas City, Mo.
- NISO, Information Age Program, Washington, DC, February 15-16, 2001.
- DCSLA Six Strategies Special Libraries Make a Difference 2000
Awards and Recognition
Special Libraries Association
- Leadership Award, 2005.
- Business & Finance, Centers for Excellence in Management, 2005
- Innovation with Technology Award 2001
- Featured in – Dave Shumaker and Jill Strand "Changing Your Game through Alignment"
University of Maryland
- Alumna of the Year, 2004
- Commencement Address, 2003 to MLS graduates of College of Information Studies
Salzburg Seminar
- Knight Fellowship, "International News", January 2007.
- Freeman Fellowship, “East-West: Finding Common Values”, June 2005
- Knight Fellowship “Libraries of the 21st Century” October 2004
American Library Association
- John Cotton Dana Award, 1985, 1989
DC Library Association
- Distinguished Service Award, 1993
- President's Award, 1991-1992
District of Columbia Special Libraries Association
- Featured in DC/SLA Chapter Notes, "First Innovator," 09-10/2001;
Library Journal. Cover and feature article, National Geographic's Evolving Library, July-August, 2001
OCLC Capcon
- Featured in Meet our Member, vol 1, 2006.
Cosmos Club, Washington, DC 2008- ; Docent 2009-
National Geographic Magazine
- Masthead, 1980 to date
Beta Phi Mu. (Library & Information Science Honor Society), 1975-.
- Keynote speaker, 2005 annual meeting
Corporate University Exchange
- NGLS Launch Excellence Award, 2007.
SMR International.
- "Building and Sustaining the Knowledge Culture: Susan Fifer Canby Puts Theory into Practice at the National Geographic Society", Profile by Guy St. Clair, May 2009.
Also listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Women, Who's Who in the East, and other directories.
Consulting Experience
- Baseball Hall of Fame
Community Experience
Presidential Rank Awards Distinguished Review Board, OPM, Washington, DC, May 2009.
Mayor's Task Force on the Future of the District of Columbia's Public Library System 2005-2006
Leveraging Library Leaders - executive librarians, Washington, DC, co-founder, 2006-
Olney Chamber of Commerce, Athena Awards Committee member 2006-2007.
Washington Literacy Council Board of Directors, 2001-2002; Literacy Tutor, 1997-2002
Sandy Spring Museum, Library Committee 2008-; Board of Directors, 2001-2008; President, 2006-2008; Vice President, 2003-2006; chair, Committee on Trusteeship, Museum Assessment Team, Volunteer of the Year, 2003 for compiling cumulative index to six volumes of the Annals of Sandy Spring.
Affairs of the Mind, a conversational salon. co-founder, 1998-
Monday Book Club, founding member, 1982-2007
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Brighton, Md. Vestry, 1998-2002, lay-reader
Sandy Spring Home Interest Society, Sandy Spring Md. member, 1996-2007
Sandy Spring Horticultural Society, Sandy Spring Md. member, 1982-
Education
University of Maryland, Library Administrator's Course 1985
University of Maryland, MLS 1974
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, BS, English 1970
Revised 01/2010
