Trends in Special Libraries: Observations Based on Conference Content

The annual conference of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) provides an opportunity to observe trends in special libraries emerging, continuing, and fading. This column analyzes the program of the SLA 2015 conference held in Boston June 14–16, 2015, and compares it to the programs of previous SLA conferences. Prior analyses and observations of SLA conferences are discussed. Emerging trends noted at the 2015 conference include data management and analysis, print collections, laboratory safety, and prospect research. Consulting, outsourcing, strategic alignment, open access, digitization, institutional repositories, and taxonomies have maintained a prominent presence at SLA conferences over the years. The column closes by calling for more research on and analysis of the content of SLA and other conferences attended by special librarians to capture trends not yet appearing in the journal literature.