July-August
Volume 4 - Issue 2

In This Issue:
 





The Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA has an opening for an Assistant Catalog Librarian.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION: Reports to the Associate Director for Technical Services and works closely with the Catalog Librarian. Is responsible for cataloging and classification of library materials in compliance with national standards. Special emphasis is on electronic and digital materials.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
  1. Prepares/edits copy and original cataloging for library materials of all formats (print/fiche, audiovisual, electronic/digital) on OCLC and the Library's ILS, using National Library of medicine classification and subject headings and AACR2.
  2. Responsible for authority files, database management and clean-up of on-line catalog records for all formats.
  3. Prepares cataloging records and pathfinders for electronic materials.
  4. Downloads records and produces labels as appropriate.
  5. Responds to/resolves problems arising from cataloging operations.
  6. Trains and supervises assigned hourly assistants.
  7. Participates in Library professional staff meetings and consortia meetings.
  8. Participates on Library teams and/or committees.
  9. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  1. Masters degree in library science from an ALA-accredited program.
  2. At least one year's professional experience in cataloging in a medical or academic library preferred.
  3. Experience with NLM classification, AACR2, MARC formats, authority control principles and practices.
  4. Familiarity and experience with OCLC, online catalogs, integrated library systems (Endeavor's Voyager preferred), and knowledge management.
  5. Demonstrated computer literacy, working knowledge of database and word processing applications. Ability to accurately enter data into online systems. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to techical and non-technical audiences.
  6. Evidence of ability to work effectively under pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
  7. Evidence of individual and team leadership skills.
  8. High level of energy, creativity, and problem solving ability.
  9. Understanding of the environment of academic health centers, and familiarity with current trends in library and information management.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the direction of the Associate Director for Technical Services and in close collaboration with the Catalog Librarian and other Technical Services staff.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Provides functional supervision for any assigned hourly assistants.

Please send a cover letter, resume and the names of three references to:

Deanna Lucia
The Lamar Soutter Library
University of Massachusetts Medical School
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
Deanna.lucia@umassmed.edu
Fax number: 508-856-5039





National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kathleen Cravedi
Wednesday, July 28, 2004 301/594-7170; 240/418-7491 (cell)

National Institutes of Health's "ClinicalTrials.gov"
Web Site Wins Prestigious Award

Web site gives patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses
access to centralized information on clinical trials

(Bethesda, MD)-ClinicalTrials.gov, the Web site developed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) as an information service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was the recipient of Harvard University's prestigious "Oscar" of government awards-the Innovations in American Government Award. ClinicalTrials.gov, one of five winners of the award, will receive a $100,000 grant to support its replication.

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson noted that ClinicalTrials.gov is a good example of how government can improve access to vital health care information for all Americans. "It is an important element in this Administration's initiative to improve the health care system through the application of advanced health information technology," Secretary Thompson said.

Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health, added, "We are extremely proud of this resource. It is accessible to all and written in a manner that patients can understand. The site tells the public about the location of clinical trials, what they are trying to do, where they are located and how any member of the public can volunteer to participate. Even more, it links to additional information about diseases and disorders. We are delighted by this recognition."

ClinicalTrials.gov grew out of 1997 legislation that required HHS to broaden the public's access to information about clinical trials on a wide range of serious or life-threatening diseases by establishing a registry for both federally and privately funded trials (http://clinical trials.gov/). ClinicalTrials.gov is a completely confidential Web site. No registration or personal identification of any kind is required. People who search the site are not contacted by the sponsors of clinical trials or anyone else.

"Created in 2000, the Web site gives patients and families convenient access to information on clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions," said Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D., Director of the National Library of Medicine. "If we are to continue to make the giant strides in diagnosis, treatment, and cure of illness that marked the last century, we must have the participation in clinical trials by well-informed volunteers."

Alexa T. McCray, Ph.D., who directs the ClinicalTrials.gov project, remarked, "Most gratifying to us has been the reaction of our users. Our primary, overriding goal is to provide patients, their families, and other interested individuals with high-quality, reliable health information."

Traffic on the site is one measure of its value. Since its inception, the site has logged more than 75 million hits. During the last two years, daily visitors to the site have more than doubled from 7,130 to 16,055. In February 2000, ClinicalTrials.gov included about 4,400 trials. Today, that number has more than doubled to 11,000.

The Innovations in American Government Awards is a program of the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. The award is administered in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government.

Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the National Library of Medicine, the world's largest library of the health sciences, is a component of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.




From the NLM Technical Bulletin

Notes from the MLA 2004 NLM Online Users Meeting are available. This includes remarks, questions and answers, and the PowerPoint presentations used in the NLM Exhibit Booth. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ja04/ja04_mla_sk.html

PubMed Central - New journals added http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ja04/ja04_pmc.html

New books added to the Bookshelf http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ja04/ja04_technote.html#books

Search PubMed directly from the Household Products Database http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ja04/ja04_house.html

HSTAT moves to the Bookshelf
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj04/mj04_hstat.html

Toxics Release Inventory expands reporting years http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj04/mj04_technote.html#tri





Donald A. B. Lindberg Research Fellowship

The Lindberg Research Fellowship Endowment, established in 2003, will provide a $25,000 grant, awarded annually by MLA through a competitive grant process. The purpose of this fellowship is to fund research aimed at expanding the research knowledgebase, linking the information services provided by librarians to improved health care and advances in biomedical research.

Application deadline is November 15.

Award Recipient

  • 2004: Timothy Patrick, Ph.D.
  • 2003: Catherine Arnott Smith, Ph.D.

For more information about any of MLA's grants or scholarships, contact Lisa C. Fried(mlapd2@mlahq.org ), 312.419.9094 x28.





March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center launches new PeriStats Web site

NEW PERISTATS WEBSITE PROVIDES EASY ACCESS TO MORE THAN 60,000 GRAPHS, MAPS, AND TABLES ON PERINATAL HEALTH

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., AUGUST 17, 2004 - The March of Dimes announced today that it has released a complete redesign of its popular PeriStats Web site, offering the most current and detailed maternal and infant health statistics available in the United States. Funding was provided by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health through a 2-year grant collaboration with the New York Academy of Medicine.

See the full press release at:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/whatsnew.aspx?id=1

The Peristats Website is located at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/


NLM | NN/LM | NER


Comments to:
Rebecca.Zenaro@umassmed.edu
University of Massachusetts Medical School
222 Maple Avenue Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Phone:  800-338-7657
508-856-5979
Fax:  508-856-5977