A new Working with Library Statistics module is now available at http://nnlm.gov/mcr/advocacy/statistics. This module looks at the types of activities and materials common in libraries, giving the definition, source of the data, considerations for use and the difficulty level of collection. While originally designed for hospital librarians, this module may be useful to all other types of libraries as well. (bbj)

Oops, we forgot to let you know that the recorded version of the March Breezing Along with the RML is available. Two great topics were featured in this session: 1)” Highlighting Library and Archival information in the NLM MidContinental Region”, featured a panel of representatives from different library/archival collections in the region: Dawn McInnis - University of Kansas, Clendening History of Medicine Library; Marysue Schaffer, Becker Library at Washington University; Emily Epstein, University of Colorado; and John Schleicher, University of Nebraska - McGoogan Library of Medicine - Special Collections. 2) Barb Jones offered an update on major library advocacy programs going on in the region. Click here to watch the archived session: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/p17552847/

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=7391207&page=1
Should Medical Studies Be Posted Free for All to See and Learn From?
By BRIAN BLANK
April 22, 2009

This article has been making the rounds in listservs. Its a good summary of the open access debate. [scb]

Looking for inspiration in marketing your library? The National Medical Librarians Month Creative Promotions Award winners were announced in the March, 2009 issue of MLA News. Read about the “Come Borrow Our Power Tools” campaign, two “Dig Deep” promotions and view the video “The Counter-Entropy Squad” on YouTube.

Or, if you want to see what’s happening in Wyoming, go to http://www.4029tv.com/automotive/18991889/detail.html to see what the Wyoming librarians are doing.

Use these and any other ideas you find to design the marketing and promotion materials for your library. Then prepare to enter them in the MCMLA Library Marketing and Promotion Contest! (bbj)

If you’re curious about knowledge management, here are some readings that will give you an overview.

Common Knowledge: How Companies Thrive by Sharing What They Know
Nancy M. Dixon (book excerpt) (Harvard Business School Press) http://www.acm.org/ubiquity/book/n_dixon_1.html

Knowledge Management in the NHS: positioning the healthcare librarian at the knowledge intersection
Carole Keeling, Sian Lambert (2000). Health Libraries Review. 17(3), 136-143. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/120100549/PDFSTART

The Future of the Future: Rise of the Knowledge Librarian
Art Murray, Ken Wheaton KM world. Feb 2, 2009
http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/Column/Future-of-the-Future/The-future-of-the-future-Rise-of-the-knowledge-librarian–52362.aspx

(bbj)

Thanks to an alliance between physician assistants and librarians, the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants features a new online column starting this month: “Ask a Librarian” http://www.jaapa.com/Ask-a-librarian–March-2009/article/128444/

This column is a co-authored by Jim Anderson, Physician Assistant, and Susan Klawansky, Network Member and Librarian at Seattle Children’s Library & Information Commons http://www.seattlechildrens.org/our_services/library/. The column will promote collaboration with medical librarians, address questions from physician assistants and point to resources, including http://www.nnlm.gov [scb]

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 February 6, 2009. (bbj)

Alison Aldrich, Technology Coordinator for the NN/LM Pacific Northwest Region, wrote an interesting blog post called, “(Fire)Wallflowers Invited to Dance?” She presents some evidence that firewall rules against Web 2.0 tools (such as blogs, wikis, etc.) are beginning to relax a bit at hospital libraries. Her blog post is available at: http://nnlm.gov/pnr/dragonfly/2009/01/27/firewallflowers/

Well worth reading! Note also the comment below the blog post.

[SD]

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 February 6, 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!