The MLA Social Networking Software Task Force (official blog: http://sns.mlanet.org/blog/)  has a class, Media Sharing, that focuses primarily on screencasting and how you can use the technology to expand and promote your information services. It’s a self learning activity and you can log in any time to complete the work during Jan 19 - 25th. No registration is required.

The MLA Social Networking Software Task Force is offering a series of classes on Web 2.0 tools. You can find the complete schedule on their blog. Classes are free to current 2009 MLA members.

The February 2nd deadline to apply for all NN/LM SCR awards is fast approaching!

The following awards are now available:

Course Development Award:
Amount of funding: Two (2) projects up to $3,000 each
The purpose of the Course Development Award is to develop classes that meet the needs of the members of the NN/LM SCR and to enable Network members with expertise to share knowledge and skills with colleagues and enhance the NN/LM SCR education program.
For more information: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/cda.html

DOCLINE Library Improvement Project (DLIP):
Amount of funding: Four (4) projects up to $5,000 each
The purpose of the DLIP Award is to provide an opportunity to DOCLINE libraries, or libraries that are interested in becoming full DOCLINE users, to expand and improve existing library services.
For more information: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/dlip.html

Express Outreach Award:
Amount of funding: Eleven (11) projects up to $5,000 each
The purpose of the Express Outreach Award is to support a wide range of outreach projects aimed at improving access to and use of the health information found on the Internet, especially NLM databases.
For more information: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/exp_outreach.html

Mobile Health Education Project Award (MHEP):
Amount of funding: Two (2) projects up to $6,000 each
The purpose of the MHEP Award is to provide an opportunity for Network members to provide access to health information utilizing mobile technologies.
For more information: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/mhep.html

Regional Symposium Award:
Amount of Funding: One (1) project up to $8,600
The purpose of this award is to allow Network members to coordinate and implement a forum to support and enhance 2006-2011 RML Contract initiatives, including emerging health information technologies, hospital library advocacy, health information literacy, health information outreach to community based organizations, public health workforce, or allied health professionals, or assessment and evaluation.
For more information: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/symposium.html

To find a list of all NN/LM SCR funding opportunities, go to: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/index.html
For a list of past NN/LM SCR funded projects, go to: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/scrfunded.html

Do you ever wonder what the odds are that you’ll get the conditions your grandparents had?

The NN/LM SCR is offering the class ABCs of DNA: Unraveling the Mystery of Genetics Information for Consumers at the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library, Houston, TX on February 12, 2009.

This class explores basic concepts such as genes and chromosomes and offers an overview of genetic disorders, genetic testing, genetic counseling, and the Human Genome Project. Ethical and legal issues associated with genetic disorders will be covered with regard to privacy, discrimination, and potential legislative impact on medicine and society. A variety of reliable health information resources will be demonstrated. This 4-hour hands-on class is intended for librarians, educators and the general public.

February 12, 2009  –  8:30 am -12:30 pm
Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library
1133 John Freeman Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77030
Street Level Classroom

There is no charge for the class but registration is required.  To register: http://nnlm.gov/scr/training/

This class is part of the Darwin 2009 Houston Celebration sponsored by the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library.

The National Library of Medicine is encouraging the use of the Advanced Search feature in PubMed to search for specific citations.  The search is similar to the Single Citation Matcher and searches for a particular citation using the Author, Journal, Publication Data, Title, Volume, Index, and Pagination fields.

For more information, see: Nahin A. PubMed® Advanced Search Evolves. NLM Tech Bull. 2008 Nov-Dec (365):e6.

Two Can You Hear Me Now? How to Make a Podcast class sessions will be offered February 19, 2009 in Dallas, TX at the UT Southwestern Medical Center Library. It will be offered in English in the morning and Chinese in the afternoon. This hands-on class is designed to provide a fun yet informative introduction to what is podcasting and how you can utilize this technology in your library services, to enable your users to access the information whenever they want, wherever they want and however they want it. Basic steps and suggestions on how to make a podcast will be covered and students will be able to enjoy hands-on practice on popular audio recording and editing software and make their first personal podcast! This course has been approved for 2 hours of Medical Library Association (MLA) Continuing Education credits.

When?

Thursday, 2/19/2009 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (English)
Thursday, 2/19/2009 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Chinese/中文)

To get more information and to register, go to http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library/education/registration.cfm

If you have any questions, please contact Shikun “KK” Jiang at: shikun.jiang@exch.library.tmc.edu.

Health games are designed using gaming technologies and principles, to improve participants’ awareness of health related issues, or to increase their engagement in physical activities.

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Investigators or sponsors for certain clinical trials are required to submit basic results data to ClinicalTrials.gov.   In addition, links to published results are currently available in ClinicalTrials.gov.  Do you know how to access this information?

The National Training Center and Clearinghouse (NTCC) will be teaching the class NLM Gateway and ClinicalTrials.gov on February 2, 2009 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm at the Houston Academy of Medicine - Texas Medical Center Library in Houston, TX.   In addition to ClinicalTrials.gov, this class also covers the NLM Gateway database which allows users to search multiple NLM databases in a single search.

To register for the class, http://nnlm.gov/ntcc/classes/register.html

Trying to keep up with the changes occurring in PubMed can seem difficult sometimes.  One easy way to keep up is to subscribe to the NLM Technical Bulletin’s RSS feed.  When a new article is posted on the NLM Technical Bulletin, you get a message in your blog reader.

Some of the recent articles about PubMed improvement include:

Nahin A. PubMed® Advanced Search Evolves. NLM Tech Bull. 2008 Nov-Dec (365):e6.

PubMed Advanced Search will no longer be a beta site.

Nahin A. Title Scanning Easier with New PubMed® Summary Format — Coming Soon. NLM Tech Bull. 2008 Nov-Dec (365):e7.

The Summary format has changed so that the article title displays first.

Gene Sensor. NLM Tech Bull. 2008 Nov-Dec (365):e16.

Gene Sensor detects if the PubMed query includes a gene symbol and links it to the Gene Database.

The National Library of Medicine resources PubMed and MedlinePlus can be used to find health literacy information.

To find health literacy information in PubMed:

• Go to PubMed at www.pubmed.gov
• On the left side of the page under PubMed Services click on Special Queries
• Scroll down and under Subjects click on Health Literacy
• Click on MEDLINE/PubMed health literacy search
• To narrow your search, use the Limits tab.  You can limit your search by date, language, etc.

To find health literacy information in MedlinePlus:

• Go to MedlinePlus at http://medlineplus.gov
• Click on Health Topics
• Under Find your topic by first letter click on the letter H
• Scroll down and click on Health Literacy

Another useful resource is BHIC (Bringing Health Information to the Community), an NLM-funded blog with a wealth of health literacy information.

The Radiation Event Medical Management System (REMM) can now be downloaded to mobile devices (Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm) with selected key files from the full online version.

REMM provides:

• Guidance for health care providers, primarily physicians, about clinical diagnosis and treatment during mass casualty radiological/nuclear (rad/nuc) events.
• Just-in-time, evidence-based, usable information with sufficient background and context to make complex issues understandable to those without formal radiation medicine expertise.
• Web-based information that is also downloadable in advance, so that it would be available during an event if the internet is not accessible.