The National Network of Libraries of Medicine MidContinental Region is sponsoring a workshop on Knowledge Management. Participants of this workshop must include a team consisting of a hospital librarian and a professional from another department in the same institution. The goal of the workshop is for each team to explore the potential of knowledge management in the hospital setting, and to develop and implement a program in each respective institution.

In addition to the April 16-17, 2009 workshop, there are required readings, two required online pre-workshop sessions and post-workshop communication sessions. These pre-workshop sessions will be held on March 9 and April 7 on Adobe Connect. The post-workshop sessions will be scheduled at a later date.

Cost of the workshop is $35: this includes one lunch and all break refreshments. This workshop is open to participants nation-wide; however preference will be given to members of the MidContinental Region. The first 2 teams of MidContinental Region network members accepted for the workshop will have their travel expenses paid. Those 2 teams will be responsible to attend all sessions and either present their project within 18 months of the session or publish their work in a MidContinental Region publication.

To apply for this workshop, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mU0l95vzMYPHKD8L1WY87A_3d_3d and complete the application form. Deadline for submission of applications is January 19, 2009. (bbj)

Network members have been invited to complete the 2008 Network Member Questionnaire. Have you responded? Just click on the link in the email you received and complete the questionnaire by January 16, 2009. If you’ve deleted the email contact Betsy Kelly and she’ll send it to you. We do this just once every 5 years and the information we collect impacts the programs and services we offer. Don’t let someone else decide what’s important in this region. We want to hear from everyone!

The online class - “Thinking Like an MBA” - will be offered beginning Jan. 12 , 2009 and ending Feb. 6., 2009. The four one-week modules include topics on Project Management, Time Management, Money, Resources (people) and Change Management. The class is free and upon completion students will receive four MLA CE credits. To register, e-mail mmagee@unmc.edu.

The Octoberr 14, 2008 Tech Therapy column is an interesting discussion of the diferences and similarities between library and IT staff. To read this column, go to http://tiny.cc/VnSII (bbj)

Join a demonstration of the Valuing Library Services and Cost Benefit/ROI Calculators on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 2pm Eastern Time, 1pm Central. Barb Jones and Betsy Kelly from the MidContinental Region, NN/LM will reprise their MLA presentation on these tools to enable health science librarians to determine the return on investment and cost benefit of their libraries and services. Come with some numbers and let’s discuss how you can use the online calculators to show the value your library brings to your institution. To participate, come to this url: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/libraryvalue/.

This demonstration will be held via Adobe Connect. If you have not used Adobe Connect before, feel free to log into the site in advance. The system might want to install an Adobe Connect plugin, and if it does, you should allow it. When the meeting begins, the system will normally ask you for your phone number and then call it so that you can hear the audio and participate in the discussion. If the system does not call your phone, join us using this toll-free number:

1-866-548-4716

Participant Code: 243436

For an advance peek at these great calculator tools, go to http://nnlm.gov/mcr/evaluation/calculator.html and http://nnlm.gov/mcr/evaluation/roi.html and see how you might be able to express your value in monetary terms!

This session is hosted by the NN/LM Outreach Evaluation Resource Center. For questions, contact Susan Barnes at sjbarnes@u.washington.edu or Cindy Olney at olneyc@coevalmail.com.

A Rexburg, Idaho, woman who spends her days helping doctors, nurses, and patients is also using her skills to help one of the most important people in her life, her son. Teresa Murdock has been working as Madison Memorial Hospital’s medical librarian for the past 15 years. Just three months ago, Murdock’s 19-year-old son Chance was diagnosed with an extremely rare type of terminal cancer…. http://www.kidk.com/news/local/33413104.html
KIDK-TV, Idaho Falls, Oct. 27 [posted in AL Direct October 29, 2008] scb

This month’s Breezing Along with the RML will feature three of our liaisons. Betsy Kelly, Assessment and Evaluation Liaison, and John Bramble, Utah/Network Membership Liaison, will continue last month’s library valuation presentation. They will discuss the economics of library services and resources and how you can communicate them to your stakeholders.. Using EFTS as an example, they will demonstrate how you can show the value of adopting sound business practices. There will also be an opportunity for you to share your experiences, practices and/or successes with the other attendees.

See an example of what can be learned and a product produced as a result of the Web 2.0 101 online class that MLA offered earlier this year. Marty Magee, Nebraska and Education Liaison will present the background and experience in creating the “Nebraska Notebook”, a collaborative project focused on MedlinePlus, GoLocal Nebraska and CHIRS (Consumer Health Information Resource Service) completed with an MLS practicum student, and the McGoogan Library of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center .

Join us Wednesday Sept 17, 2008 at 10am MT, 11am CT at http://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcrupdate/

We are fast approaching National Medical Librarians Month, October 2008! Take advantage of this opportunity to submit a project that you would like to see highlighted on the NLM public web site. Submit project descriptions, the personnel responsible for implementation, and the name of the institution where the project took place to the Claire Hamasu, chamasu@RML4.utah.edu. Only logos will be accepted. No photos or other graphics, please.

Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, September 10, 2008.

To see highlighted projects for National Medical Librarians Month 2007 go to: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/lo/profiles07/

MCMLA Library Advocacy Task Force is sponsoring a contest for “Frontier Forerunners of Library Marketing and Promotion!” Here is your chance to show off your marketing project or promotional activities that you have used to improve or expand services in your library or for your users. MCR members are encouraged to submit materials to Marketing and Promotion Categories: you may enter one or both categories

Prizes for the best entry scoring above 80 points will be awarded. Entries will be evaluated on Design, Presentation and Evaluation Criteria. Entries should be submitted to Barb Jones jonesbarb@health.missouri.edu by September 1, 2008. Judges for the contest will be members of the MCMLA Library Advocacy Task Force. All entries are encouraged to display their projects and promotional materials at the Marketing Booth at MCMLA. The winners will be announced at MCMLA 2008 in Cody, Wyoming. (bbj)

This Wednesday August 20, 2008 at 10am MT, 11am CT is the time for our monthly Breezing Along with the RML. Barb Jones, Missouri/Library Advocacy Liaison, and Betsy Kelly, Assessment and Evaluation Liaison, will reprise their MLA presentation on tools to enable hospital librarians to determine the return on investment and cost benefit of their libraries and services. Come with some numbers and let’s discuss how you can use the online calculators to show the value your library brings to your institution. Joining is as easy as going to a web site (http://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcrupdate). More information and links to recordings of previous sessions are available on the MCR web site (http://nnlm.gov/mcr/services/updates/updates.html Add this event to your calendar and join us! /ch