Posted on behalf of Barbara A. Epstein, Director, Health Sciences Library System serving the University of Pittsburgh (PITT) and UPMC. PITT is one of MAR’s resource libraries.

We are very pleased to announce that the School of Information Sciences (the iSchool) and the Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) at the University of Pittsburgh have been awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The three-year grant, for $911,311, will support the development of a “Post Master’s Degree Certificate of Advanced Studies in Health Sciences Librarianship,” to be managed jointly by the iSchool and HSLS.

The program will offer specialized preparation for professional positions in health sciences libraries through online coursework, an applied research project, mentoring experiences, and attendance at a national conference. The grant from IMLS will support the costs of curriculum development and evaluation, online course delivery infrastructure, and student recruitment. In addition, the grant will provide tuition scholarships for 27 students located throughout the United States. Students will enroll in the program beginning in May 2010.

Coursework will address such issues as evidence-based medicine, teaching and instruction in a health care setting, clinical librarianship, expert searching in medical resources, and integration of information resources in electronic health records. Students, admitted in cohorts of 12-15, will complete the 15-credit program within one year. Students will plan and complete a 3-credit applied research project at their home institution under the guidance of a professional mentor. For full information about the grant, please visit http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/news/article/IMLS-grant.php.

Queens Library (NY) has been named 2009 Library of the Year by Library Journal and Gale. The cover story of LJ“s June 15 issue, headlined “The Politics of Excellence,” announces this award.

Read the full press release and the LJ cover story here:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6665057.html?rssid=191

We congratulate MAR Resource Library member Queens Library!

Posters from the poster sessions at the Medical Library Association conference held in Hawaii are available for viewing online!

Trapeze Media Solutions has partnered with MLA to digitize the posters and put them online. The posters are even searchable!

If you’d like to see what posters librarians in our region have done, please take a look at the list below:

New Jersey

Informatics Infusion to Enhance Day-to-day Reference Work
Nancy Calabretta, Reference Librarian, Camden Campus Library, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Camden; Janette Pierce, Public Services Librarian, Health Sciences Library at Stratford, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Stratford; Marie K. Saimbert, Information and Education Librarian, George F. Smith Library, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Newark; Yingting Zhang, Information and Education Librarian, Robert Wood Johnson Library, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Brunswick

“COOL” Libraries Use of Web 2.0 Tools
Elaine G. Powers, Director, Library Services, VCOM Library, Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Blacksburg; Janice Skica, Campus Library Director; Janette Pierce, Cataloging Librarian; Library, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Stratford; Lisa Travis, Medical Librarian, Lon and Elizabeth Parr Reed Medical and Allied Health Library, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN

Market Your Medical Library to Support Information Systems/Project Lifecycles toward Improved Patient Safety

Janette Pierce, Public Services Librarian, Health Sciences Library at Stratford, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Stratford; Marie K. Saimbert, Information and Education Librarian, George F. Smith Library, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Newark; Yingting Zhang, Information and Education Librarian, Robert Wood Johnson Library, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Brunswick; Peter Cole, Library Director, Aquinas Medical Library, St. Michael’s Medical Center, Newark, NJ; Erica S. Moncrief, AHIP, Director, Library Services, Health Science Library, Capital Health System at Mercer, Trenton, NJ; Keydi Boss, AHIP, Medical Librarian, Medical Staff Library and School of Nursing Library, Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, NJ

New York

Creating a Network of Digital Displays
Michael J. Purcell, Web Librarian; Alena Ptak-Danchak, Web Librarian; Health Sciences Library, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY

Sharing for Distance Learning from the D. Samuel Gottesman Library
Nancy R. Glassman, AHIP, Systems Librarian; Racheline G. Habousha, Head, Public Access Services; Aurelia Minuti, Head, Reference and Educational Services; Rachel Schwartz, Reference Librarian; Karen Sorensen, Reference Librarian; D. Samuel Gottesman Library, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

iNeeds: A Needs and Assets Assessment of the Health Information Literacy of Master’s of Public Health Students
Joey Nicholson, Database Trainer/Online Analyst, National Training Center and Clearinghouse, New York Academy of Medicine-New York

SCISSORS: The Cutting Edge of Library Services
Diana Delgado, AHIP, Acting Associate Director, Public Services, and Head, Information Access Services; Judy C. Stribling, Special Assistant to the Library Director; Weill Cornell Medical Library, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY

Disaster Information Specialist: An Emerging Subject Specialty for Informationists?
Cynthia B. Love, Technical Information Specialist, Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD; Colleen Cuddy, AHIP, Deputy Director, Ehrman Medical Library, New York University School of Medicine-New York; Tahirih Fusscas, Reference Librarian, E. R. Stitt Library, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Alicia A. Livinski, Biomedical Librarian, NIH Library, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Patricia Reynolds, Director, Bishopric Medical Library, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL; Brittany Rice, Director, Medical Library, Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, MD; Alison E. Rollins, Reference and Instructional Librarian; Linda M. Spitzer, Head, Reference and Interlibrary Loan; James A. Zimble Learning Resource Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD

Comparison of Librarian and Advanced Practice Nurse Ratings of Depression Websites Using an Adapted Health Information Website Evaluation Tool
Konstantina Matsoukas, Head, Reference, and Education Coordinator, Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library; Sookyung Hyun, Associate Research Scientist; Myra P. Joyce, Programmer, School of Nursing; John T. Oliver, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library; Sapana R. Patel, Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons; Leanne M. Currie, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing; Columbia University, New York, NY

Disaster Preparedness Informationist: A Team Approach
Colleen Cuddy, AHIP, Deputy Director; Karen Brewer, AHIP, FMLA, Director; NYU Health Sciences Libraries; Miguel Figueroa, Network Services Coordinator, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region; Emily Molanphy, Web Services Librarian; Stuart Spore, Associate Director, Library Systems; Richard McGowan, Research Librarian; Carol Swain, Disaster Informationist Intern; NYU Health Sciences Libraries; New York University Langone Medical Center-New York

Symbolizing the Library’s Value: Designing a Logo for an Academic Medical Library
Emily Molanphy, Web Services Librarian; Colleen Cuddy, AHIP, Deputy Director; NYU Health Sciences Libraries, New York University-New York

What Is “Quality?”: A Systematic Review of Criteria from Existing Resource-evaluation Instruments
John T. Oliver, Reference and Instruction Librarian; Konstantina Matsoukas, Head, Reference, and Education Coordinator; Health Sciences Library; Sookyung Hyun, Associate Research Scientist; Myra P. Joyce, Database Manager, School of Nursing; Sapana R. Patel, Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry; Olivia Velez, Programmer/Analyst; Po-Yin Yen, Student; Leanne M. Currie, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing; Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY

Another On-ramp to the Digital Information Highway: Implementing WiFi in an Academic Medical Center Hospital Library
Kaura Gale, Medical Librarian, Seymour J. Phillips Health Sciences Library, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY

Pennsylvania

Future Impact: Conversion to a Near-total Electronic Library
Virginia A. Lingle, AHIP, Librarian, Collection Access and Development; Cynthia K. Robinson, AHIP, Director; Seamus Carmichael, Library Staff; Leona Charles, Library Staff; Sharon Daugherty, Library Staff; Elaine Julian, Library Staff; Patricia Kline, Library Staff; Robin Long,  Library Staff; Virginia Miller, Library Staff; Mae Risser, Library Staff; Harrell Library - H127,  Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA

Red, Yellow, Green: A Simple System for Collaborative Weeding of a Reference Collection
Theresa S. Arndt, Associate Director, Research and Instructional Services; Maureen O. Dermott, Assistant Director, Access Services; Amelia Brunskill, Liaison Librarian, Sciences; Waidner-Spahr Library, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

An Innovative Clinical Information Portal
Barbara A. Epstein, AHIP, Director; Nancy H. Tannery, Associate Director, User Services; Charles B. Wessel, Head, Hospital Services; Frances Yarger, Assistant Director, Computer Services; John LaDue, Knowledge Integration Librarian; Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Solo Librarian and Outreach to Hospital Staff Using Web 2.0 Technologies
Rebecca Landau, Librarian, Health Sciences Library, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA

To IRB or Not to IRB: Librarian Perceptions and the Realities of Involvement with Institutional Review Boards
Carlos I. Rodriguez, Medical School Liaison, Biomedical Library, University of Pennsylvania- Philadelphia

Outreach to an Undergraduate Health Studies Program
Theresa S. Arndt, Associate Director, Research and Instructional Services, Waidner-Spahr Library, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

The Validity and Utility of a Tool for Evaluating Web Pages Presenting Health Content
Elizabeth La Rue, AHIP, Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator, Nursing Informatics; Susan Sereika, Associate Professor; School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Do We Really Need an Electronic Resources Management System? Evaluating a Subscription Agent’s Resource Management Tool
C. Steven Douglas, Acquisitions Librarian, Collections Management; Robin Klein, Digital Resources Librarian, Collections Management; Health Sciences and Human Services Library, University of Maryland-Baltimore; Eric Rector, Head, Electronic Resources, Medical Library, Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, PA

Primary Care Physicians’ Consumer Health Information-seeking Behaviors: A Model for Working with Elderly Depressed Patients and Their Caregivers
Mary Jo Dorsey, AHIP, Faculty Librarian, Health Sciences Library System; Ellen G. Detlefsen, Associate Professor, School of Information Sciences; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Our Next Generation of Library Professionals: A Medical Library Internship Program for Library and Information Science Graduate Students
Robert T. Neumeyer, Coordinator, The Brady Library of the Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mercy Health System, Pittsburgh, PA

Robert Mackes, AHIP, of the Delaware Academy of Medicine was awarded the “Thomson Reuters/Frank Bradway Rogers Information Advancement Award” this year at the Medical Library Association Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Rogers Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions for the application of technology to the delivery of health science information, to the science of information, or to the facilitation of the delivery of health science information.

Congratulations to Robb on a job well done!

The Penn Libraries announce the appointment of Barbara Cavanaugh to the position of Associate Director for the Health Sciences Libraries and Director of the Biomedical Library, effective April 1. Her responsibilities include leadership of the Biomedical Library and oversight of the operations of the Dental and Veterinary School Libraries. She will play a key role in re-imagining Biomedical Library spaces and services in support of the joint renovation planning efforts between the Penn Libraries and the School of Medicine.

Ms. Cavanaugh has more than 25 years of medical library experience. She began her career at Pennsylvania Hospital Medical Library, Historic Library, and Archives. She also ran the School of Nursing and Medical Staff Libraries at Roxborough Memorial Hospital. Ms. Cavanaugh came to Penn in 1993 as the Health Sciences Libraries Liaison.

In 2001, Ms. Cavanaugh was promoted to head of Veterinary Libraries. In 2003 she was a recipient of the Veterinary Medical Student Government’s Commendation Award for Excellence in Teaching. As head of the Veterinary Libraries, she played a pivotal role in the planning and development of the School’s new, cutting-edge facility, the Steven W. Atwood Library & Information Commons, in the School’s new Vernon & Shirley Hill Pavilion.

“We are delighted to have Barbara in this major leadership role. Her experience with the Atwood Library will be invaluable as we re-envision the facilities and redefine the services offered by Penn’s Health Sciences Libraries in response to the Medical School’s planned renovations,” said Carton Rogers, Vice Provost and Director of Libraries.

Ms. Cavanaugh is a member of the Medical Library Association, and is currently involved in a project funded by the Elsevier Foundation to support the information, healthcare, and medical education needs of Penn programs in Botswana. She has a BA from Temple University and an MS in Library and Information Science from Drexel University.

The Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey (http://lvnj.homestead.com/) announce New Jersey’s first statewide health literacy summit. The summit is scheduled for April 3 at the Enterprise Center, Mount Laurel, NJ. An agenda and a registration form are available here.

Transformational Change in Health Sciences Libraries: Space, Collections, Roles

The one day conference will be held on April 2, 2009 at the University Conference Center on the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine Campus. Pat Thibodeau, Associate Dean of Library Services, Duke University Medical Center Library, will present the keynote address focusing on changes in health sciences libraries, the implications for librarian roles, and the need to transform skill sets.

Julie Poletta, Architect, Radelet McCarthy Incorporated, will speak about re-purposing library space for alternative uses.

Two panel discussions will address models and best practices in libraries’ reduction of print collection, models and best practices in libraries’ reduction of space and/or re-purposing of existing space, emerging roles and identities of librarians in the changing physical environment, and best practices in adjusting traditional library roles and services. A breakout session will follow each panel discussion.

Five scholarships of up to $1,000 will be awarded. The scholarship will cover conference and travel costs.

For more information and to Register: http://www.hmc.psu.edu/library/conferences/SpacePlanning.htm

Registration deadline is March 18, 2009. Spots are limited so register early.

NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region is pleased to announce three new affiliate members to our region.

The Elbridge Free Library (Elbridge, NY) is part of Onondaga County Public Library and was ranked by HAPLR as one of the best library’s of its size. The library provides reference services, literacy programs, books, magazines, and videos and is interested in increasing the amount of health information it provides to the community.

The Spalding Memorial Library (Athens, PA) is located on a historic plot between the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers and shares its building with a local museum. The library provides services for all ages, including literacy programs and computer classes.

The Greater Canonsburg Public Library (Canonsburg, PA) provides services for adults, youth, and seniors. The library is currently raising funds for a new, expanded main library.

Please join us in welcoming these libraries to our region.  We look forward to partnering with them to help create a health information community in the Middle Atlantic Region.

NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region is pleased to announce five new affiliate members to our region.

Cohocton Public Library (Cohocton, NY) is part of the Southern Tier Library System. The mission of the Cohocton Public Library is to enhance the quality of life in a small, rural community by providing access to cultural, educational, and recreational materials in various formats and for all ages.

Monroe Township Public Library (Monroe Township, NJ) is located in a sprawling, suburban/semi-rural community in the southernmost part of Middlesex County, NJ. Its significant demographic characteristic is the presence of two large distinct populations: young families with pre-school and school age children, and older adults, most of whom live in the six pre-retirement and retirement communities located in the Township. The library is already planning summer health information courses for their community.

Plattsburgh Public Library (Plattsburgh, NY) saw an increase in circulation of over 3.5% in just the past year. Their active friends group and events calendar keep the library as an active member of the community.

Micro Tech Training Center Library (Belleville, NJ) is a professional health care and security industry training institute supporting programs in massage therapy, surgical technicians, medical assistants and more.

Plainfield Public Library (Plainfield, NJ) just celebrated their first community health fair in May. The library hosted the NN/LM as an exhibitor at this weekend event that brought together community partners, health professionals, and members of the public.

Please join us in welcoming these libraries to our region!

On November 30^th at the John Ammon Center for Medical Education – Christiana Hospital, the Academy hosted a well-attended meeting to kick-off the first-ever strategic planning process for medical libraries in Delaware. Funded by the Delaware Division of Libraries, the Academy will play a key role in the development of the plan. Himmel & Associates, consultants, is conducting the six month hospital library analysis and the firm has a history in assisting with other State Library efforts in recent years. According to PJ Grier, an Academy director, “this is a first, for such collaboration with the State Library”.

Annie Norman – Director & State Librarian, Delaware Division of Libraries

The meeting focused on opening remarks by Annie Norman, State Librarian. Annie’s goal is to improve all multi-type library services, so that they set the standards for the nation. She said the State will use the outcomes from the plan as a foundation for important agenda-setting with the next State administration. Additionally, the outcomes will be blended with current results contained in the State Library’s overall environmental plan, which comprises public, academic and special libraries.

Next, there was brief discussion and consensus around the currently “perceived” sustainability levels of the four areas on medical librarianship: hospital-based clinical information delivery (60%), consumer health information delivery (50%), public health information delivery (10%) and virtual resources. In closing, the consultant conducted a highly participatory SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and the results can be found at the following link: http://www.libraryconsultant.com/DelawareMedicalSWOT.htm.

Seated from left: Christine Chastian-Warheit – Director, Medical Libraries, Christiana Care; Meg Ward – Librarian, Delaware Academy of Medicine; Linda Leonard – Consumer Health Librarian, Delaware Academy of Medicine; Patty Hartmannsgruber – Consumer Health Librarian, Delaware Academy of Medicine; Nadine Pieniaszek, Librarian – Bayhealth; Rosemary Figorito – Librarian, St Francis Hospital.

Standing from left: PJ Grier – Director, Delaware Academy of Medicine; Susanne Ingle – Librarian, Delaware Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health; Susan LaValley – Consumer Health Librarian, Delaware Academy of Medicine; Lynne Joshi – Librarian, AI duPont Hospital; Eileen Vaughn – Librarian, Beebe School of Nursing; Jean Winstead – Librarian, Beebe Medical Center; Robb Mackes – Electronic Resources Librarian - Delaware Academy of Medicine

People attending represented a broad spectrum of constituent organizations. The meeting also offered a rare opportunity to bring together all hospital and consumer health information professionals; they are pictured above.

Immediate next steps will involve the formation of a small steering committee, benchmarking, and extensive outreach to user communities and other stakeholders. The consultant is expected to have the Strategic Plan completed by July 2008.