Technology Awareness Conference Award
Announcement
There is a compelling need to foster and increase partnerships between majority health sciences research institutions, their libraries and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and their libraries to aid in the increase of students who will enter science, technology, engineering and medicine fields; as well as to potentially address issues of health disparities amongst underserved populations. Minority populations experience two divides: an uneven access to health care1 and an uneven access to technology.2 African Americans and Hispanic Americans have a shorter life expectancy; higher infant mortality rate and higher mortality rates from cancers.3 The digital divide also affects African Americans and Hispanics, who are less likely to be computer users than whites, and may have only the school environment as a place where they have access to technology. However, when it comes to training minority populations in the sciences, it is the HBCUs that are graduating more than 40% of all black students in the United States who receive degrees in science, technology, engineering and medicine.4 And it is the HBCUs and HSIs who can bring greater involvement of community-based partners to health services research.3
The collaborative nature of research to address health disparities is bringing majority research institutions together5 and with them, their libraries.6 The NN/LM MAR proposes to foster and engage majority research institutions’ libraries with the libraries of HBCUs or HSIs in the hosting of a technology awareness conference award.
Technology Awareness Conference Award
The conference organizers will be a partnership between an Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or Hispanic Service Institution (HSI) and a Resource Library from the Middle Atlantic Region (MAR).
The technology awareness conference will address any of the following issues:
- Use of social network technologies in library services;
- New roles for librarians in the use of emerging technologies;
- New pedagogy: technology, faculty and librarians
- Content management, digitization and libraries
- Providing consumer health information services
- Telemedicine in home health care
- Technology applications in health care
- Health information policy
Purpose
The purpose of the Technology Awareness Conference Award is to foster relationships between medical libraries and academic institutions that serve minority or primarily minority populations. With the growth in the interest of health care as a field of study, and increases in allied health programs, cross-library relationships can build a strong state or regional infrastructure supporting health information and knowledge acquisition. The role of technology in enhancing the learning continuum from undergraduate to graduate and beyond is well documented. Librarian partnerships can lead the way in technology use for learning, curriculum development and assessment.
This conference is part of the NN/LM MAR Strategic Plan for 2008-2009. The conference should be held at a location to attract attendees from a wide geographic area within the Middle Atlantic region (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania).
The program should be at least 6 hours long and may be offered in conjunction with another conference or event. All programs should be based on technology and information policy issues relevant to students in the health professions, health professionals and consumers. Technologies as applied to health and information can be broadly defined; some emphasis should be placed on NLM products and services.
Application Process
Applicants should email or fax a 2-3 page proposal letter. The proposal letter should include:
- Applicant’s name, contact information
- Name and contact information of partner
- Approach to conference themes
- Proposed agenda
- Names of speakers
- Facility capacity
- Proposed date and place for the event
- Outline methods for evaluation
- Supply list of personnel involved in organizing the event, if possible.
- Draft budget
Proposal letters will be reviewed by the NN/LM MAR Technology Committee. Reviewers may contact the applicant with questions or comments for clarification and revision of the proposal letter. The merits of each application will be carefully evaluated, based on responsiveness to the call for applications.
The Technology Committee will select a proposal letter for submission of a complete proposal. Upon receipt of a complete proposal, and final review by the Technology Committee, the applicant will receive the conference award.
Awards must be applied to hold a conference scheduled within twelve months of the award date.
Draft Budget Instructions
All applicants must submit a draft budget providing a breakdown of all the costs included in each category. Total expenses must not exceed $15,000.
Materials on NLM and NN/LM products and services will be provided free of charge. MAR audio-visual equipment can be loaned if needed.
Allowable expenses include:
- Speaker fees and honoraria
- Travel
- Publicity
- Space rental
- Electricity
- Telephone lines/data lines
- Audiovisual costs
- Printing/reproduction/duplication
- Equipment rental
Non-allowable expenses include:
- Indirect costs
- Personnel costs
- Food
- Furniture
Reporting Requirements
Award winners will be required to submit a final report including a narrative summary of the event. This final report is expected within three months after completion of the program event.
Evaluation Criteria
CONFERENCE THEME
Ability to imaginatively address conference themes and propose models and suggest best practices that would make maximal use of technologies to benefit formal, collaborative and self-directed learning.
35 points
CONFERENCE PLAN
Ability to imaginatively address conference themes and foster a sustaining partnership between a Resource Library and an Hispanic Serving Institution or an Historically Black College or University.
35 points
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS OF STAFF
Experience and qualifications of key personnel, including names of potential partners
30 points
Total Possible Points: 100
Cost Proposal Instructions
Total expenses must not exceed $15,000.
Allowable expenses include:
- Speaker fees and honoraria
- Travel
- Publicity
- Space rental
- Electricity
- Telephone lines/data lines
- Audiovisual costs
- Printing/reproduction/duplication
- Equipment rental
Non-allowable expenses include:
- Indirect costs
- Personnel costs
- Food
- Furniture
Deadline for submission of letters of interest: August 1, 2008
Applicants should submit one original and two copies (print) or one copy (electronic). Send to: Kathel Dunn, Associate Director, NN/LM MAR NYU Medical Center, 423 East 23rd Street, 15 South, New York, NY 10010; or email rml@library.med.nyu.edu
If you have questions or require assistance contact Kathel Dunn, Associate Director, at 1-800-338-7657, 212-263-4197, or rml@library.med.nyu.edu . Awards will be announced on the MAR discussion list, MARL as well as the MAR newsletter, the MARquee.
References
1Smedley, BD, Stith AY, Nelson AR, Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Unequal Treatment: confronting racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 2002. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10260
2DeBell, M., and Chapman, C. (2006). Computer and Internet Use by Students in 2003 (NCES 2006–065). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, p. iv.
3Walker EA, Bragg R. National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Research Network for Health Services and Health Disparities 2004 Research Conference: Racial disparities in health outcomes: research and intervention perspectives. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2005 Nov;16(4 Suppl A):v-xii.
4Suitts S. Fueling education reform: historically black colleges are meeting a national science imperative. Cell Biol Educ. 2003 Winter;2(4):205-6.
5Carey TS, Howard DL, Goldmon M, Roberson JT, Godley PA, Ammerman A.
Developing effective interuniversity partnerships and community-based research to address health disparities. Acad Med. 2005 Nov;80(11):1039-45.
6Walker TA, Howard DL, Washington CR, Godley PA. Development of a health sciences library at a historically black college and university (HBCU): laying the foundation for increased minority health and health disparities research. J Med Libr Assoc. 2007 Oct;95(4):439-41.
