by Michael Rhode, Archivist, Otis Historical Archives,
National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Walter Reed Army Medical Center is celebrating its 100 years of care for America’s service members and their families. By Congressional legislation, construction of the Walter Reed General Hospital was authorized, and the Hospital admitted its first patients on May 1, 1909. Named in Major Walter Reed’s honor, the medical center was founded on principles that would integrate patient care, teaching and research.

From the Otis Historical Archives in WRAMC’s National Museum of Health and Medicine, the museum’s archives staff provided graphics and content for two new books featuring the history of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center Centennial: A Pictorial History – “A profusely illustrated history covering the full range of WRAMC’s activities in service to the Army and the Nation.” Hardbound. About 2/3 of the photographs are from the Museum’s collections.

• ISBN: 008-000-01020-0, Price: 35.00
• http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=008-000-01020-0

Borden’s Dream – “An engaging history-memoir covering WRAMC’s early history, filled with stories about the people and events that shaped its evolution as an institution.” Hardbound. This is the first publication of a 50-year old manuscript from WRAMC’s library.

• ISBN: 008-023-00135-9, Price: 55.00
• http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=008-023-00135-9

Apply to join the management team at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in Bethesda, Maryland. We’re part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and located just outside Washington, D.C.

We are looking for an experienced library manager with knowledge of interlibrary loan to serve as the Head of the Collection Access Section. The section manages the DOCLINE interlibrary loan system which serves over 3,000 libraries and 2 million loans each year. Section staff annually process and deliver over 200,000 interlibrary loans from NLM’s collection. They provide over 80,000 items to customers in our public reading room and respond to customer inquiries for all of these services. The Section accomplishes this work with over 20 government staff, a handful of contracts and a dozen part time students.

Join the federal government and receive great benefits while contributing to an important part of NLM’s mission, to provide biomedical information to users through medical and research libraries throughout the United States and the world.

If you have never worked for the U.S. government, follow the instructions and use USAJobs to apply to announcement number HHS/NIH-2009-2361. Or if you currently or have previously worked for the government, you can apply to announcement number HHS/NIH-2009-2363. The salary range is $102,721-$133,543 USD per year and you must be a US citizen to apply. Posting closes at midnight, Eastern Daylight Time, May 15, 2009.

Questions? Contact Susan Burns at burnss@mail.nih.gov or 301-496-3661.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ¬ April 2009
For more information, please contact
Lisa C. Fried at 312.419.9094 x28; mlapd2@mlahq.org

MLA to Induct MLA Past President M.J. Tooey, AHIP, as Fellow of the Association

The Medical Library Association (MLA) chooses its Fellows based on their commitment to furthering the association’s goals and for their contributions to the health sciences information profession. MLA is proud to honor one of its most dedicated and accomplished members, MLA Past President Mary Joan (M. J.) Tooey, AHIP, with MLA Fellow status. She will officially become an MLA Fellow at the MLA ‘09 Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in May in Honolulu, HI.

About Tooey, MLA member Sheldon Kotzin, FMLA, stated, ” I have known and respected M.J. for nearly twenty years. During that time, I have seen her excel at every challenge that she has chosen to pursue. Ever approachable, it appears that she has never declined an opportunity to get involved, take a leadership role, and make a difference.”

Many have benefited from Tooey’s accomplishments and commitment to the health sciences information profession. Director, Health Sciences and Human Services Library, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Tooey served as MLA president in 2005-2006 and on the MLA Board of Directors from 1998-2001 during which time she served as Chapter Council chair. During her presidency, Tooey established and chaired the Task Force on Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians, which focused on the current state, future roles, and challenges of hospital libraries and librarians.

A proven leader in the association and profession, Tooey also chaired the 2007 MLA Nominating Committee, the MLA/Pew Credible Information Task Force, which resulted in the highly-referenced MLA’s User’s Guide to Finding and Evaluating Health Information on the Web, and the MLA 2004 National Program Committee, as well as MLA’s Public Services Section and Mid-Atlantic Chapter (MAC). She also lent her talent and expertise to MLA’s Scholarly Publishing Task Force and the Librarians Without Borders® Task Force. In addition, Tooey serves on the editorial board of Medical Reference Services Quarterly.

Because of her many contributions as a health sciences librarianship professional, Tooey has earned numerous honors throughout her career including Distinguished-level membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP), the 1997 MLA Estelle Brodman Award for the Academic Medical Librarian of the Year and the Mid-AtlanticChapter/MLA 1996 Librarian of the Year Awards.

She is known as a mentor and advocate for many health information science librarians and students, as well as many allied health professionals. Tooey helped to develop two popular MLA continuing education courses, “The Past and Future of the Medical Librarian” and “So, You Want to be a Library Director”. She has also built a strong scholarly record and has presented several posters and presentations at local and international meetings.

MLA Past President Jean P. Shipman, AHIP, to Become MLA Fellow

The Medical Library Association (MLA) is pleased to announce that MLA Past President Jean Pugh Shipman, AHIP, director, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah-Salt Lake City, will be inducted as an MLA Fellow at the MLA ‘09 Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in Honolulu, HI, in May. A Distinguished Member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP), Shipman has long served the association as one of its most revered and valued leaders and has had an impact on many key MLA initiatives, including health information literacy. She has made major contributions in this area, most recently as coprincipal investigator for the MLA Health Information Literacy Research Project, under a contract with the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The project researched hospital-based administrators’ and health care providers’ awareness and understanding of health literacy and its value in support of patient care. The project’s research resulted in the development of a health information literacy curriculum that will not only increase health care providers’ knowledge of health literacy issues, but also to increase patient and provider use of NLM resources and tools.

Prior to serving as MLA president (2006/07), Shipman was elected to the 1999-2002 Board of Directors, during which time she served as board secretary. She has also served as chair of numerous MLA committees and task forces, including MLA’s Informationist Conference Task Force, MLA’s 2001 National Program Committee, MLA’s Ida and George Eliot Prize Jury (1992/93) and most recently, the 2007/08 MLA Nominating Committee. She has also been an active member of MLA’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter having served as 1993 chair-elect and in 1991/92 as secretary.

A sought-after presenter, Shipman has taught many continuing education courses and has given more than fifty presentations locally as well as internationally, covering topics such as consumer health and the informationist role in document delivery. She has also authored fifteen peer-reviewed publications and over thirty refereed scientific posters.

About Shipman’s contributions to the profession, MLA member, Sherrilynne Fuller, FMLA, co-director, Center for Public Health Information, University of Washington-Seattle, stated, “As a member of the MLA Board of Directors and as president, Jean brought new life to the image of medical librarians and enhanced the visibility of the profession. She is a tireless advocate for the importance of health sciences librarians to improving the health of the public and has served as an enthusiastic mentor, role model, and advisor throughout her career.”

MLA, a nonprofit, educational organization, comprises health sciences information professionals with more than 4,000 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

Representatives from three popular vendors will be demonstrating changes and enhancements to their electronic resources for SE/A hospital librarians.

Tuesday April 28, 2009
12 noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Journals@Ovid
Speaker: Jenna Huson

Wednesday April 29, 2009
12 noon to 1 p.m. (EST)
Elsevier
Speaker: Garrett Meyer

Thursday April 30, 2009
12 noon to 1 p.m. (EST)
Cinahl on Ebscohost
Speaker: TBD

To join go to: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/bbb/
Enter as a Guest
Sign in with your first and last name

For more information on how to use Adobe Connect, please use this link - http://www.adobe.com/resources/acrobatconnect/

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the nation’s primary resource for biomedical information in all formats and is the world’s largest research library in a single scientific and professional field. The History of Medicine division (HMD) is a major component of NLM’s Library Operations program area. HMD is responsible for NLM’s historical collections of monographs and journals as well as manuscripts, archives, images, web sites, and historical audiovisuals. In addition, HMD staff provides technical and customer service to support research and scholarship in the history of medicine and conduct historical research. The Division develops and manages an interactive and innovative onsite and web exhibition program, travels exhibitions to libraries across America, and supports the use of K-12 curriculum materials associated with exhibitions.

The Deputy Chief, HMD shares responsibility for and participates fully with the Chief in directing and managing all activities of HMD, which has three Section Heads, several technical experts, and a total staff of 40 employees.

The complete vacancy announcement, along with mandatory qualifications, requirements, and application procedures, can be accessed via internet link: http://www.usajobs.gov (Announcement Numbers NLM-09-334228-DE {for candidates without prior Federal employment history} and NLM-09-334228-MP {for candidates with prior Federal employment history}). The salary range is $102,721.00 - 133,543.00 USD per year. Applicants must be US Citizens.

For questions, contact Susan Burns at burnss@mail.nih.gov or by calling 301-496-3661. Applications must be received before midnight Eastern Daylight Time, May 22, 2009.

Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.
Director
National Library of Medicine

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Milton Corn, M.D., as NLM Deputy Director for Research and Education.

Prior to joining the NLM, Dr. Corn served with distinction in numerous top leadership positions at Georgetown University including Dean of the School of Medicine. Since 1990, as NLM Associate Director for Extramural Programs, Dr. Corn has led the Library’s Division of Extramural Programs in an exemplary manner, establishing numerous collaborations with other agencies and organizations that have expanded informatics research and training opportunities. Dr. Corn creatively modified NLM’s Training Program in Biomedical Informatics to keep pace with developments in biomedical computing. At present the 18 NLM training grants (involving 27 academic medical centers)offer tracks in clinical care informatics, bioinformatics, public health and health services research informatics and the informatics of clinical and translational research and supports over 250 pre- and post-doctoral trainees. As administrator of the largest Federal programs for training in informatics and for a significant share of the research grants available to informatics scientists, Dr. Corn has become nationally and internationally known as an expert in research directions in biomedical informatics.

As you know, Dr. Corn brings rich experience, leadership, and talent - as well as a world class sense of humor - to the position of Deputy Director for Research and Education, where he will serve as principal medical advisor on research and development and medical education priorities for the NLM. Dr. Corn will provide direction and advice on the full range of NLM’s intramural and extramural research portfolio.

Click here to register for the conference.

Individual Registration - $195 (late registration May 1 at $295);
Government employees complimentary

Friends of the National Library of Medicine
2009 Annual Conference

Personal Electronic Health Records:
From Biomedical Research to People’s Health
May 20 - 21, 2009

National Institutes of Health, Natcher Conference Center
9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland

Reflecting the NIH mission, the National Library of Medicine and the non-profit Friends of the NLM have organized this conference to develop and promote new information and knowledge regarding the critical and recent developments in health information technology. The conference is structured to offer cross-cutting perspectives from government, industry, health centers and research, and to align closely with the priorities of the current Administration around the development and widespread implementation of personal electronic health records. Please visit www.fnlm.org for additional information on the conference.

Please find a selection of sessions and speakers listed below:

• Electronic Health Record and Economic Recovery David Cutler, PhD, Harvard University
• Biomedical Research and Electronic Health Record George Hripcsak, MD, MS, Columbia University
• Our Search for the Best Personal Health Electronic Health Record Alfred Spector, PhD, Google
• Health Records and Systems Interoperability Daniel S. Pelino, IBM and Dan Drawbaugh, UPMC
• Microsoft Experience with Electronic Health Records James Mault, MD, FACS, Microsoft Health Solutions Group
• Patient Access to Electronic Health Records Rich Umbdenstock, FACHE, American Hospital Association
• New Initiatives in Personalized Health Information Clement McDonald, MD, National Library of Medicine
• Ethical and Legal Issues of Personal Health Records Arthur Caplan, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
• If We Were Starting Now: What is Needed for the Electronic Health Record of the Future? Donald Lindberg, MD, National Library of Medicine

Conference Co-Chairs:

Andrew Balas, MD, PhD- Dean, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University

Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, MSHA, FACP, FACMI - Chief Medical Officer and President, Clinical Services, HCA, Inc.

For more information, please contact Sarah Pease at 202.719.8060 or spease@oai-usa.com.

Friday, April 17 is the deadline for applying for an outreach project in the May, 2009-April 2010 contract year.  If you are interested, please see http://nnlm.gov/sea/funding/outreach.html.  If all approved budget funding is not used, we will have another call sometime during the contract year but don’t delay, all money could be obligated by the end of May.  Full proposals will not due unless your project application is accepted.

Express awards will be open for applications sometime in May. These awards fund smaller outreach projects and various technology, training, exhibit, digitization projects.

If you have questions, please call one of the outreach coordinators in the SE/A Office - 1-800-338-7657.

Job Posting: Network Services Coordinator
Network Services Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region
NYU Health Sciences Libraries seeks to fill the position of Network Services Coordinator for the Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. The mission of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) is to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving the public’s access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health. The Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) office serves NN/LM members in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Overall Responsibilities
The Network Services Coordinator plans and organizes resource sharing and network programs in consultation with the MAR Resource Sharing Committee. Manages the DOCLINE program of the Region, offering training and consultation. Ensures compliance with all NLM requirements for members using DOCLINE and LinkOut. Reports to RML Associate Director.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Administers the DOCLINE and LinkOut programs of the NN/LM for the Region ensuring accuracy of the member information in the directory. Sees that membership certificates are distributed in a timely manner;
2. Staffs the MAR Resource Sharing Committee and encourages their participation in the development of region-wide resource sharing efforts;
3. Trains all RML staff on the fundamentals of DOCLINE and interlibrary loan, so they can answer basic questions from members;
4. Works five hours per month in a network member’s Document Delivery or interlibrary loan department;
5. Develops training programs using Adobe Connect, online tutorials and simple printed instructions for training staff in a variety of libraries on use of the DOCLINE and LinkOut systems; provides individual or group consultation on use of DOCLINE and LinkOut if needed;
6. Encourages use of EFTS and helps problem solve with librarians who cannot use it, due to technical or administrative problems;
7. Is training point of contact with other RMLs and the National Library of Medicine’s staff to be expert on current and upcoming system changes or technology developments in areas affecting resource sharing. Attends monthly teleconferences and provides regular feedback to NLM on problems or concerns of MAR members in regard to resource sharing;
8. Organizes user testing of new technologies and systems for NLM if requested;
9. Participates in all RML staff activities including exhibits, state liaison efforts, network member questions, implementation of region-wide programs including but not limited to Emergency Preparedness and Historical Collections and in offering training;
10. Develops and manage the NN/LM MAR RML Consultants program;
11. Develops a program to recruit new members, including a recruitment kit;
12. Oversees the annual contact process to ensure that the appropriate information is gathered and compiled;
13. Develops and implements a region-wide member recruitment program for public libraries;
14. Other related duties as required.

Skills and Requirements
MLS and at least 5 years experience in health sciences libraries. Knowledge of DOCLINE, LinkOut and related technology and cataloging issues preferred. Excellent communications, project management and team skills.
Salary begins at $60,000, with the NYU Medical Center benefits package. S/he is considered an employee of the New York University School of Medicine, which is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Information on the Middle Atlantic Region of the NN/LM is at http://nnlm.gov/mar/.

Applicants should send their resume and a letter of application to:
Ms. Terry Serra
NYU Health Sciences Libraries
NYU Langone Medical Center
550 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Fax: (212) 263-6534
HSL_jobs@med.nyu.edu
http://library.med.nyu.edu

by Martha Pedigo, librarian
Gateway Medical Center Health Science Library, Clarksville, TN

Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, Tennessee has been a Community Health Systems hospital since Fall 2007.  Interested in identifying other hospitals in the system that provide medical library services, I obtained a list of CHS Hospitals and searched for each one in DOCLINE, the National Library of Medicine’s automated interlibrary loan (ILL) request routing and referral service.  When CHS libraries were located, I noted contact information and called to introduce myself.  I developed an email list to provide a quick way to communicate with other libraries’ staff members.

A natural progression was to consider forming a DOCLINE Group among participating CHS libraries.   I contacted Beth Wescott at our Regional Medical Library (Southeastern Region) to discuss technical aspects of forming a new Group.  We would need a minimum of 11 members and all agree to keep our holdings list in DOCLINE current.  I developed a brief survey to send to each library asking such questions as delivery capabilities (fax and/or scan), number of subscriptions, cell placement preference, etc.  Once everyone returned their information to me I sent LIBIDs to Beth along with what we wanted to be called…CHSL (Community Health Systems Libraries) and voilà! We are now a Library Group in DOCLINE flocking together with 12 members!

Benefits of being part of a group are the usual.  Although most of us may have never actually met, we can offer support and exchange ideas, drawing on common experiences.  We can help one another with interlibrary loans and other services.   As the English version of the phrase goes, attributed to William Turner in 1545, birds of a feather flock and fly together…or… like seeks like to congregate.

Members of the CHSL Flock:
Lutheran Hospital Medical Library, Fort Wayne, IN
Chestnut Hill Health System Medical Library, Philadelphia, PA
Vista Medical Center East Medical Library, Waukegan, IL
Gadsden Regional Medical Center Education/Library Services, Gadsden, AL
Porter Valparaiso Hospital Medical Library, Valparaiso, IN
Affinity Medical Center Medical Library, Massillon, OH
Southside Regional Medical Center Medical Library, Petersburg, VA
Deaconess Hospital Medical Library, Oklahoma City, OK
Easton Hospital Frank J. D’Agostino M.D. Medical Library, Easton, PA
Brandy Hospital Health Sciences Library, Coatesville, PA
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Medical Staff Library, Pottstown, PA
Gateway Medical Center Health Science Library, Clarksville, TN