The award provided two new computers for the library’s preexisting workstations allowing 24/7 computer access for physicians and nurses. (see photos)  Computer availability to the latest medical research assists physicians and nurses in diagnosing and treating patients quicker and with greater accuracy.

As librarians we generally think of technology in terms of what it can do to help us provide better or expanded service or allow us to perform functions with greater ease and efficiency. We often fail to remember that our technological expertise provides us with social capital. This social capital only exists when those outside the library, particularly management, realize the amount of technical know-how required to provide access to a wide range of e-materials from a variety of providers  - and they won’t realize it unless you tell and SHOW them.

We all know the value of a well publicized launch of a new service, but building a tech savvy reputation means going beyond the usual. If you’ve set up an RSS feed or blog or for the library, don’t only give it a great intro, but offer workshops in setting up RSS feeds or blogs for departments, groups or clubs. Show your knowledge and your willingness to share.

Another approach is to see where a knowledge vacuum exists and fill it. For example, at my institution Academic Computing offered faculty many workshops on setting up a course in Blackboard and some very introductory workshops on Microsoft Excel. However, none of those workshops addressed integrating the Blackboard grade book with an Excel grade spreadsheet or how to use Excel to create bell curves, or other charts of student grades. So the library developed and offered such a workshop. By providing faculty with an expanded range of tools to analyze and display information we displayed our technical expertise, our involvement in the academic program, and our commitment to the use and analysis of information in all its forms.

We’ve also offered skills development courses to administrative support staff on the Microsoft Office Suite. Perhaps not really a library function, but our library staff are trained teachers where the IT staff isn’t. The Deans and other administrators were very happy that their support staff became more productive, IT was happy that they had one less task to do – and the library’s social capital expanded.

Obviously, it is very important to have a good relationship with the IT department. This means respecting its expertise and constraints. It also means letting IT staff know you “talk tech”. For example, help the IT staff understand that the “catalog” is not some low end listing of “stuff” but a complex relational database linking materials, authors, subjects, locations and users through rules and algorithms. Whenever possible, partner with IT. For example, develop handouts together, with library staff checking that all instructions are clear and don’t miss any steps. At our small campus there’s no IT help desk, so the library serves as a help point, pointing students to print or online instructions, helping them go through the steps and, if there is still a problem, contacting IT.

A library/IT partnership presents great opportunities. librarians (especially if they have faculty rank) can provide IT with a voice and support on academic committees while the library gains a voice and support on technical and infrastructure committees or task forces. Such cooperation usually results in many opportunities for informal interactions and discussions between library and IT staff that can lead to smoother technology improvement projects and better day-to-day support.

It is especially important to work with IT if higher administration is not that technologically au courant or not inclined to expand technology. If the Library and IT present a unified front on a request for upgraded bandwidth or new hardware or specialized software the request will have more power. Upper level administration will generally notice when the IT staff respects the technological expertise of the library.

Building social capital is not done just to improve the library’s image – it’s a way to have your qualifications recognized and to gain a seat at the planning table. All too often crucial technology decisions are made by planning groups that don’t include a representative from the library. It is important that someone from the library serve on every committee that addresses: IT; website development and maintenance; instructional technology; learning resources; and infrastructure planning. If you’re not in on the planning people who know little or nothing about libraries will make decisions that have a long range impact on the services you can offer, such as decisions about firewalls or filters – or even wiring.

Yes, wireless networks are great and eliminate the need for a network connection at every carrel, but you still need sufficient connections for current and future printers, desktop units, and networked projectors. What about power outlets? Are there enough and in the right location for computers, monitors, printers, photocopiers, scanners, projectors, clocks, lamps, and for students to keep their notebooks charged? Someone from the library needs to review the electrical schematics before any new library related construction or renovation is given final approval. If you’re not on the committee you’ll probably never get that chance.

Getting to the point where you have the opportunities you need and deserve to provide input isn’t easy. You must first develop your technological know-how to the point where you feel you have sufficient expertise and then be able to communicate that expertise to administration and IT. You might have to make many, many attempts to develop rapport with IT. Even with the respect of IT and some administrators you might find that the organizational structure or politics of your institution make it difficult for you to serve on the committees which impact the library. Even when you’re on a committee, it might be hard to agree on goals, let alone strategy. Often IT is more focused on security than access, and management more focused on budget than services. It is your job to show how your requests are reasonable and necessary; how they will improve services and support the institutional mission; and how they will position the institution for the next big trend while supporting current needs. The greater your social capital the easier that will be.

Shelly Warwick, MLS, Ph.D.
Director
Touro-Harlem Medical Library
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro College of Pharmacy
shelly.warwick@touro.edu

Friends of the National Library of Medicine: Michael E. DeBakey Award Nominations Accepted Now

The Michael E. DeBakey Library Services Outreach Award for Outstanding Service to Rural or Underserved Communities was established in the early 1990s to recognize the contributions to medical education and librarianship by Michael E. DeBakey and to honor a practicing health sciences librarian who serves in a rural or underserved community.

The recipient of the Michael E. DeBakey Library Services Outreach Award is publicly recognized at the Friends of the National Library of Medicine (FNLM) Awards Dinner on May 5, 2009. The dinner is in memory of FNLM past chairman “Mr. Health” Paul G. Rogers and will celebrate leadership in public health and medicine.

Nominations for the 2009 award are currently being accepted. Forms and materials are available on the Friends of the National Library of Medicine website, or view the announcement directly using this link.

Deadline for submission is March 9, 2009 extended to March 30, 2009.

Valuing Library Services and Cost Benefit/ROI Calculators

MAR is hosting an online class to enable health sciences librarians to determine the return on investment and cost benefit of their libraries and services. The instructors will discuss and demonstrate two tools to show the value a library brings to its institution:

1. The Retail Value Calculator, adapted from one originally provided by the Massachusetts Library Association, and then adapted for the web by Chelmsford Public Library, helps to determine the library’s worth to the institution, and how much would it cost to replace library services on the retail market;

2. The CBA and ROI Calculator helps to determine a library’s contribution to the institutional bottom line, and how much benefit the institution (i.e., the patrons) receives for every dollar spent by the library.

Guest Speakers: Betsy Kelly, Assessment and Evaluation Liaison (NN/LM MCR) & Barb Jones, Advocacy Liaison (NN/LM MCR)

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Time: 2:30-4:00 PM

This is a free, online class for MAR network members. This online session will be conducted using Adobe Connect, so all you need is an Internet-connected computer and a telephone.

To sign up for the class, e-mail us at rml@med.nyu.edu with your name, e-mail address, and mailing address.

Representative John Conyers has re-introduced a bill that will, among other things,  “Stifle access to a broad range of federally funded works, overturning the crucially important NIH Public Access Policy and preventing other agencies from implementing similar policies,”  according to other people concerned about open access.

To read more about the implications of this bill you can see Jennifer McLennan’s Letter from which this quote was taken from as well as other posts on BoingBoing and the Open Access Blog.

The Schaffer Library of Health Sciences used the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region Technology Improvement Grant Award to fund the purchase of four Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet computers.  Librarians are developing expertise and compiling practical recommendations to meet the technical support needs of students.

Approximately fifty percent of reference questions asked within the first month of the academic year were related to tablet technology.  Initially, about half of these questions were referred to the Information Services (IS) Department.  The number of referrals decreased in the following months.

Librarians are now able to provide support for connectivity, software, and other device-related questions.  Generally, the questions that librarians are unable to answer relate to institutional infrastructure issues or defective devices.

Tablet training sessions have been conducted for large student groups with individual follow-up sessions as needed.  Additionally, institutional wireless network connectivity enables librarians to bring the tablets to offices, conference rooms, and small group study venues to deliver real-time education programs and point of need service.

Enid Geyer- The Schaffer Library of Health Sciences , Albany Medical College.  Albany, NY

We at the Elbridge Free Library held our first-ever Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 10 am to 1 pm! The event’s purpose was to increase participants’ knowledge of consumer health information resources, local healthcare providers, and services. We also hoped that the community would see the Elbridge Free Library as a consumer health information provider.

The Health & Wellness Fair included:

• Exhibits (Curves, GeneWize, Kinney Drugs, Licensed Massage Therapist Karen Sikorski, the Onondaga County Department of Aging & Youth, the Onondaga County Health Department, Wake Robin Farm, and Whole Me)
• Displays of the best consumer health information resources (MedlinePlus.gov and others)
• Dietary supplement presentation by Dr. Karin Kroeger
• Blood pressure checks by Nurse Roxy Sherman
• Yoga for Kids sessions, crafts, and other fun activities for children
• Vision screenings for children by the Lions Club
• Drawings for prizes donated by Kinney Drugs, the Skaneateles Community Center, and Subway
• Refreshments donated by Owen Orchards

We believe the Health & Wellness Fair was a success! On a cold, winter day, we had a solid turnout of 84 people (the village of Elbridge has a population 1,052 according to the U.S. Census). We received 19 evaluations, with respondents rating the event highly. Here are highlights from the evaluations:

• The majority of respondents (74%) rated the event as excellent (14 selected excellent, 5 selected good, 0 selected fair, and 0 selected poor).
• When asked if they learned anything new about health and wellness, area services, or the library at the event, 18 or 95% said yes. Respondents learned about a variety of topics: services for the aging, medication side effects, gene testing, sign language, massage therapy, dietary supplements, yoga techniques, blood pressure, exercise programs, etc.
• When asked how the event could be improved, respondents’ answers (6) varied: hold at a bigger facility, more information on exercise, exhibit on essential oils, more promotion, more presenters, integrate more children’s activities. Though these suggestions are helpful, no trends were noted.
• Additional comments from respondents included:
  • Excellent!
  • My children enjoyed the yoga.
  • Great fair – well organized set up – wonderful – thank you!
  • Well done!
  • Loved the snacks.
  • Great fair! Come again!
  • Keep doing it!

Based on the above, we feel participants really benefited from the Health & Wellness Fair. We also had a lot of fun putting it together, and we are considering holding another one next year. We would like to thank the National Network of Libraries of Medicine for making this event possible!

Amanda Latreille- Elbridge Free Library. Elbridge, NY

We are now in Year 3 of the five year NN/LM contract (2006-2011). The MAR network member needs assessment was completed in Year 1 followed by the development of the Strategic Program Plan in that same year. Let’s take a look at the Strategic Plan objectives for Year 2 to see which have been achieved so far and those that are in progress, along with the action taken for each.

Stay tuned to the MAR web site for achievement updates.

2007‐2008 (Year 2) Library Improvement

1. Begin focused program for librarian mentoring and coaching in management, advocacy, and marketing the library through one or more pilot programs.

STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: Planning Awards incorporating this objective were announced in August 2008 but there were no applications. This objective will be incorporated into the Library Improvement objective (#2) in Year 3 which outlines a MAR Leadership Institute.

2. Conduct planning for a Value of Libraries Study to be conducted in the region in
Year 3.

STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The Value of Libraries Planning Committee has worked for the past year planning for a research study. Currently the committee is in the final stages of putting the research study together including the development of a questionnaire instrument. The Value of Libraries Planning Study website documents the committee activity, http://nnlm.gov/mar/about/value.html

3. Create an information and education program on e‐resources for hospital libraries and consortia. Address both licensing issues and resource evaluation. Suggest best practices for licensing and identify cost effective e‐resources with emphasis on evidence‐based medicine. Add a section to the MAR Website on e‐licensing tips and experiences.

STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: A new online class, Licensing Electronic Resources, will be offered in March 2009. A web page on e-licensing tips and resources is in the works.

4. Create a virtual forum as a new way for librarians to keep up with technology innovations, licensing trends, and open access initiatives and their impact on health sciences libraries.

STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: A new Technology Resources tab on the MAR website, http://nnlm.gov/mar/technology/, features freely available innovative tools. The new MAR Electronic Journals and Open Access web page, http://nnlm.gov/mar/rsdd/openaccess.html, provides links to open access resources in the health sciences field. Technology Committee members provide blog entries in the MARquee (http://nnlm.gov/mar/blog/category/technology/) about how they use current technology in their libraries.

5. Create a MAR informational tool about regional consortia to encourage individual hospital librarians to take advantage of local expertise and opportunities and to give existing consortia members or those considering consortia practical information and guidance on common issues.

STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The MAR Resource Sharing Committee developed a useful web page with up-to-date information on regional consortia, http://nnlm.gov/mar/rsdd/consortia.html

6. Strengthen hospital library capability to provide remote access to their electronic resources through training and technology awards. Investigate the need for central hosting of e‐resources and Websites for hospital libraries for remote access by their patrons.

STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: Based on results of the investigation, MAR is developing an informational webpage to include a directory of resources and services available for remotely hosting e-resources. Awards to promote this objective will be available in winter 2009.

2007‐2008 (Year 2) Outreach

1. Communicate to all network members the outreach priorities established by the RAC through the MAR blog, Website, and RML consultants.

STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The MAR Strategic Plan is mounted on the MAR website, http://nnlm.gov/mar/about/pdf/marstrategicplan.pdf; additionally, the outreach priorities are included in the description of applicable outreach award announcements.

2. Frame awards in terms of the outreach priorities and change the review process to include value for priority programs.

STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The Awards program was revised based on the strategic plan priorities, http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/

3. Promote Loansome Doc to hospitals and unaffiliated professionals – especially the target groups.

STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: MAR announced the Electronic Access/Document Delivery Access to Health Information Awards (http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/docdelivery.html) in Fall 2008 to promote Loansome Doc service throughout the region. A newly developed MAR tri-fold brochure explaining Loansome Doc registration and use is available on the MAR website, http://nnlm.gov/mar/training/ldtrifold.pdf . MAR will launch a questionnaire of non-Loansome Doc libraries.

An update on the progress of Year 3 objectives will be forthcoming later this winter.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Sue Hunter or 800.338.7657.

On December 9, 2008, the National Library of Medicine conducted a mid-contract site visit of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region (NN/LM MAR). MAR staff presented a program review of our activities to date as well as our plans for the remainder of the contract. Our network members also participated in the site visit by sharing in a feedback session on how MAR and NLM can better serve them. If you participated in the network member feedback session or the member questionnaire that prefaced the site visit, we would like to thank you for your input!

The final report from the site visit team is available on MAR’s Plans and Reports page, or you can read it here.

We hope to use the information from the site visit as we work toward our contract goals in the current contract.

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.