Jenny Pierce, MS
Public Services Librarian
UMDNJ-Health Science Library

Like many libraries the UMDNJ Health Sciences Library at Stratford has a board review collection. These books circulate for 7 days and are the most heavily used of our collection.

Formal cataloging isn’t always useful for this collection. Students refer to books by series or remember the covers. Previously all information regarding board review books was in an html file that listed them by subject. Updating that file was time consuming.

As part of the library’s effort to make information about board review books easier to find we are using the social networking site, LibraryThing.org, as an additional way to organize the Board Review Collection. Librarything uses tagging and other social bookmarking technology. Tagging creates a more intuitive way to both capture information and use it to search.

Part of our collection by title

We joined LibraryThing as a library. Any member can tag up to 200 books. We paid the membership fee so we can tag more. At $15 a year it’s a bargain!

One staff person tagged our entire board review collection and we have been adding books since.

Our tag cloud

Books are added using the ISBN code and a scanner. Tags are added using call numbers, series name and subjects. All information is based on the book’s cover.

Most books have a pre-existing cover image. If not a blank is created by the system.

In addition we have created a review bookmark for students, interns and residents to evaluate the books as learning resources. Once the review is returned the review is added by a staff member.

You can look at our Board Review Collection from our home page or at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/somboardreview.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Happy New Year from the Middle Atlantic Region! We are pleased to offer a number of online classes for Winter / Spring 2009. Classes are FREE. All you need is an Internet-connected computer and a telephone.

To sign up for a class, e-mail us at rml(at)med.nyu.edu with the title and date of the class you wish to attend.  Please include your name, e-mail address, and mailing address.

Thirteen classes will be offered—and three are new!

1. DOCLINE: Reports and Routing Tables

This one hour class will cover two of the more specialized topics in DOCLINE—reporting features and routing tables. Registrants are welcome to submit their “problem questions” to be answered during the course.

Thursday, February 5, 11 am-12 pm

2. What’s New in PubMed

This update class will review new and noteworthy features in PubMed, including the new display formats and revised Automatic Term Mapping (ATM) algorithm.

Wednesday, February 11, 2-3:30 pm

3. Basic Nutrition Resources

Consumers, students, clinicians, and you!  Where do you begin when looking for nutrition information for consumers or for clinicians?  This course will take you through basic resources available to you from NLM, NIH, and others.  We will also briefly review how to search for nutrition information literature.

Thursday, February 12, 11 am-12 pm

4. PubMed MyNCBI

In this 90-minute session, you will learn how to customize your PubMed experience using MyNCBI (formerly Cubby), and create shared filters for your library users. Save your favorite citations, and keep current with automatic searches—the results will come straight to your inbox. Change the look of PubMed with custom tabs and highlighted search terms. Create shared filters that allow you to activate LinkOut icons, specify display formats, and limit search results.  Shared Filters are an important feature for any library that participates in NCBI’s LinkOut program.

Thursday, February 19, 10:30 am-12 pm

5. Copyright and ILL

Guidelines? Law? CONTU? This course will give a basic introduction to copyright including the exclusive rights of copyright holders, copyright duration, and fair use. Learn how copyright affects ILL and how librarians can better balance ILL service needs with copyright law. You will also gain an understanding of the features in DOCLINE that address copyright law.

Tuesday, February 24, 1-2 pm

6. DOCLINE for Beginners

The title says it all! If you are new to DOCLINE, this one-hour class will provide an overview.

Thursday, February 26, 11-12 am

7. NEW! Logic Models

Are you curious about logic models and their application? Logic models are an often used tool in grant proposals, strategic planning, and program planning and evaluation. Attend this one hour introductory session to learn about their purpose and how to create a logic model.

Tuesday, March 3, 10:30-11:30 am

8. DOCLINE SERHOLD: Searching, Updating, and Reporting

This course will focus on the SERHOLD feature of DOCLINE.  Attendees will learn how to add new titles and formats to their library’s record, search SERHOLD for other libraries’ holdings, and utilize the SERHOLD reporting functions to make the most of this unique tool in DOCLINE.

Tuesday, March 10, 10-11 AM

9. NEW! Licensing Electronic Resources

Licensing electronic resources has been identified as one of the biggest challenges for members of our region—and with good reason.  Electronic collections are an incredible asset to users, but securing an effective license and managing multiple licenses from multiple vendors is a huge responsibility.  This one-hour session is designed to present the basics for effective licensing which will increase access to and resource sharing from electronic collections.  Presenter Paul Wrynn will explain what to look for in an electronic license (especially ILL rights, remote access, etc.); tips on managing multiple licenses; strategies for communicating with vendors; and best practices for consortia licenses.

Paul Wrynn retired in 2008 from NYU’s Health Sciences Libraries as Collection Development Librarian.  Wrynn has over 30 years of experience in libraries, including significant experience managing electronic licenses.

Thursday, March 19, 10-11 am

10. Free Productivity Tools

Library’s budgets are always pinched for one thing or another. Did you know that there are a multitude of free software packages out there that do just about everything that commercial software packages can do? In this 90-minute class we’ll take a look at some of these software packages, their usefulness, their limitations and things to think about if you decide to go the free software route.

Tuesday, March 24, 2-3:30 pm

11. Service Continuity Planning

An emergency can be as wide-scale as a hurricane or as local as a burst pipe in the book stacks. Do you know how to ensure the continuation of your primary services and access to your primary resources in the event of an emergency at your library? Learn (and share) strategies during this 90 minute class. Dan Wilson, Coordinator, NN/LM Emergency Preparedness Project, will present a simple, relatively quick, approach to creating a service continuity plan.

Dan Wilson is Associate Director for Collection Management and Access Services at University of Virginia Claude Moore Health Sciences Library.

Thursday, March 26, 10-11:30 am

12. NEW! Resources for Disaster Response and Preparedness

This course is designed to help librarians identify the key resources they and their users can turn to in the event of an emergency or disaster.  Instructor Emily Molanphy will focus on Web sites (FEMA, CDC, etc.), databases (TOXNET, HazLit, QUAKELINE, etc.), blogs and Listservs, as well as resources for mobile devices.  Attendees will learn sources for useful information in an emergency; the formats that are easiest to use; and ways to keep up-to-date.  Disaster preparedness is a major undertaking—and knowing where to look for information in the event of an emergency is an important step towards readying your institution.

Emily Molanphy is Web Services Librarian at the NYU Health Sciences Libraries, where she also serves on the Disaster Preparedness Team.

Thursday, April 23, 10-11 am

13. Introduction to TOXNET

Learn how to find information on chemicals, toxic releases, toxicology literature, and toxicology data files with NLM’s TOXNET set of databases. TOXNET is a rich resource for environmental health, toxicology, and chemical hazards.

Tuesday, May 5, 10-11 am

The Xerox DocuMate 510 scanner was installed in the medical library office by our IT staff on October 3, 2008. Since its installation, we have gotten much use from the scanner, as it is used regularly for ILL/document delivery purposes.

The scanner is compact and fits neatly at the corner of the desk. The scan quality is clear and it offers the common editing features, such as removing stray dots, auto straighten, etc. The equipment is easy to use, as well.

We expect to get continued use from this technology in the form of ILL/document delivery. I am certain that borrowing libraries are also happy to receive articles in pdf format, instead of difficult-to-read faxed articles.

As a result of acquiring the Xerox DocuMate 510, we now are able to minimize paper use, provide quick turnaround on all Docline requests, and provide better service to the library community.

Francine Silverman- Barney A. Slotkin Memorial Library- Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Cherry Hill Division

At the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, library manager used a Small Projects Award to purchase QuarkXPress software. The software is used to produce the Cancer Resource Library’s monthly newsletter and patient pathfinders with a professional look.

Previously the library produced a two-page newsletter using Word and clip art. With QuarkXPress we have more flexibility with formatting and the use of graphics.

After our first issue was produced, the Medical Director of the Cancer Center approached us, and asked if we would include a monthly clinical trial in each issue. The monthly newsletter has now been expanded to four pages. We also are using the software to produce the monthly newsletter for the Wilmington Hospital Library.

The Cancer Resource Library also produces over three dozen pathfinders – guides for patients to assist in locating information on specific cancer topics such as breast cancer, thyroid cancer, sexuality, caregiving, talking to children about cancer, and nutrition. These double-sided single sheets, formerly produced in Word, are available in spinner racks in the lobbies on both floors of the building. We are in the process of converting all of these publications into QuarkXPress and changing the look of the pathfinder to a more professional appearance.

Our third project, still in the development stages, will be the production of a series of low-literacy brochures defining cancer terms.

In the four months since the use of the software began, circulation has increased 12.7% (vs. same period in 2007), the number of visitors to the library has increased 9%, and we have had a 6.8% increase in the number of first time users registering for library cards.

Barbara Henry- Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, Medical Library

The New York State Nurses Association is a multi-purposed professional association with a membership base of over 36,000 nurses. We participate in a variety of library networks which for practical purposes makes us ‘open to the public’ for a wide variety of users. Over 10 years ago the initial design and construction of the library’s computer network was integrated into an association wide network. At that time issues related to security were not of major importance. However, as the library has expanded its user base and access to a variety of databases, security has become a major concern. The current network configuration allows library users inappropriate access to association proprietary information, as well as, potential harm to the network.

The grant was intended to acquire wireless equipment (PCs and printer) that would remove computers used by the ‘public’ from the association’s network and add them to the wireless network designed for outside users who attend various meetings and workshops at the facility. The grant application process was eased by NNLM staff assistance. Our only bump in the road was the delivery of a partial equipment order resulting in a small delay in replacing all the older equipment. All users have commented on the increased speed and better aesthetics of replacing the older PCs with wires everywhere. Library staff stress levels have also decreased slightly as we worry less when someone use and external drive on a PC since only a single PC may be affected by a problem rather than crashing an association wide, multi-office network.

Warren Hawkes- New York State Nurses Association

Join the National Training Center and Clearinghouse (NTCC) in April for FREE hands-on classes on National Library of Medicine’s resources!

The NTCC will be offering free hands-on classes hosted by Thomas Jefferson University, Edison Building, 130 S. 9th Street, 13th Floor, Philadelphia, PA.

Class schedule:

PubMed®

April 14, 2009

8:30am to 5:00pm

PubMed®

April 15, 2009

8:30am to 5:00pm

The NLM Gateway and ClinicalTrials.gov

April 13, 2009

1 PM to 4:30 PM

All the training sessions are free and intended for health sciences library staff, health professionals, and anyone interested in using these free National Library of Medicine (NLM) databases.  The NLM Gateway is of particular interest to public and consumer health librarians. The Clinical Trials database is of interest to anyone concerned with consumer health.

Follow this link, NTCC Training Registration , for a quick and easy on-line registration form.

For more information on these classes, please contact NTCC directly: (212) 822-7396

The staff of Thomas Jefferson University and the NTCC hope to see you there!

The National Training Center and Clearinghouse (NTCC) has scheduled an additional PubMed class for January 29, 2009 at New York University School of Medicine Frederick L. Ehrman Medical Library, New York, NY. Sign up soon before this class fills up!

PubMed®  (7.5 MLA CE Hours)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
8:30am to 5:00pm

Class description: Anyone who has used PubMed regularly has noticed some of the
many changes. This PubMed® class is of particular interest to those who
want a review of recent changes to the system, including medical
librarians, researchers, medical editors, and anyone who searches for
biomedical journal article citations.
This full-day class is designed to teach students how to use
PubMed® which includes MEDLINE citations. The class also includes an
overview of the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®) and its importance as a
tool to both searchers and indexers.

To register for this class, or to find additional classes, register here.

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/medsun/

provides a representative profile of reports from healthcare facilities, such as hospitals. MedSun improves understanding of medical device problems so FDA, healthcare facilities, clinicians, and manufacturers can better address safety concerns. Over 350 health care facilities, primarily hospitals, participate in the network. MedSun is unique because it educates health care professionals about the importance of monitoring, being aware of, and reporting device related problems to FDA and the manufacturer.

MedSun also ensures that new safety information is rapidly communicated to the medical community thereby promoting patient safety.

The content that FDA produces is not copyrighted. Stories can be reprinted without permission and copies can be downloaded and displayed free of charge. If you are an editor who wishes to use our material in your publication, we ask only that you acknowledge MedSun as the source and send us copies of your stories for our records.

If you click on “Subscribe to email updates” you will automatically receive monthly updates.

Questions may be directed to Tina Powell at 1-800-859-1292 or email at:

medsun@s-3.com

Reminder: Applications are due next Monday, December 15 for two awards, Electronic Access/Document Delivery Access to Health Information and Outreach Training. See below for more information.

Electronic Access/Document Delivery Access to Health Information Awards
For Full Network members to encourage and facilitate access to the biomedical literature by unaffiliated health professionals, including the use of Loansome Doc, development of a web portal, and establishment of partnerships between libraries and unaffiliated health professionals or health professions groups. Three awards up to $10,000 each are available. Deadline is December 15, 2008.

More details: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/docdelivery.html

Outreach Training Awards
For Full and Affiliate Network members to train and promote awareness of the products and services of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and NN/LM. Two awards up to $10,000 each are available. Deadline is December 15, 2008.

More details: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/outreachtraining.html

In late October, the Gretchen and James Johnson Medical Library at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center added two new patron-access computer workstations to its one existing workstation with funds from an NNLM/MAR grant. These workstations are an important new resource for our hospital’s nurses, therapists, teachers, personal care assistants, and other direct care staff who otherwise might not have easy access to computers. The project’s beneficiaries also include many medical students, residents, nursing students, and therapies interns who are trained at our facility. Aside from providing these individuals with greater access to the hospital’s computing network, the workstations have been an excellent “draw” to bring people into the library, prompting them to consider the library’s other resources. Funds were also used to upgrade a scanner used for a Table of Contents delivery service and interlibrary loans. The Matheny Medical and Educational Center is a special school and hospital in Peapack, New Jersey, serving the healthcare and educational needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Jungwon DeVone- Matheny Medical & Educational Center- Medical Library.  Peapack, NJ