NAHSL Blog

Planning Ahead – WAY Ahead

nahsl — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:43:27 +0000

If you’re like me, you need to have the following bit of information pointed out to you. I’ve either not been paying attention OR just denied the truth of it because it seems SOOOOO early, but…

Paper and poster submission for MLA 2013 (yes, ’13!) in Boston are due – hang on to your calendars – before you even make it to MLA 2012 in Seattle!

The submission due date is May 1, 2012.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve no idea what projects I might be undertaking in the latter part of this year and into 2013, but I’m putting on my swami hat and peering into my crystal ball to see what I can come up with in the next 3 months. Hope you’ll do the same!

For more information, check out the MLA 2013 Meeting website.

~ Sally Gore, NAHSL Chair Elect

Literature & Medicine at the White House

nahsl — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:22:26 +0000

[Submitted by Dina McKelvy]

I thought you would like to see that Literature & Medicine’s VA program has been recognized at the White House for its success in supporting those who provide care to our veterans. You can read the announcement here and a video of the event is available here.

News from MLA on Federal funding for NIH and NLM

nahsl — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:18:40 +0000

[Submitted by Susan Mahnken, Chair, NAHSL Government Relations Committee]

Congress is in the process of negotiating its FY 12 funding for several federal agencies, including NIH and NLM. Provided below is a brief update written by Dave Moore of the AAMC for the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research:

House and Senate Name Conferees for FY 2012 Appropriations “Megabus”

On Dec. 7, leaders in both the House and the Senate appointed conferees to negotiate a “megabus” spending package that will finalize funding levels for the nine remaining appropriations bills. Senate Appropriations Chair Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and House Chair Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) both indicated in a brief, public meeting of the conference committee that negotiations continue and that they hope to present a final conference report “early next week.” Policy differences in the Labor-HHS-Education, Interior, and Financial Services spending bills appear to be the final hurdle to completing the package, and some observers have speculated that appropriators may opt to fund one or more of those bills through a year-long continuing resolution. Most of the federal government currently is operating under a continuing resolution that expires Dec. 16.

Announcements about the conferees are available at:

Advanced Study in Health Sciences Librarianship

nahsl — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:28:26 +0000

(Please share this information with librarians you know who are interested in health librarianship OR new to the field and feel a need for improved skills.)

The University of Pittsburgh invites applications to its online Certificate of Advanced Study in Health Sciences Librarianship (HealthCAS).

This year long program, beginning in May 2012, provides librarians with in-depth knowledge of the health care environment and advanced skills in managing health sciences collections and resources. Graduates will be prepared to play a key role in helping clinicians, researchers and healthcare consumers to keep pace with the expanding knowledge base in the health sciences.

HealthCAS is an online 15-credit post-master’s program offered jointly by the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences and the University’s Health Sciences Library System. The partnership between an ALA-accredited LIS program and a world-class, dynamic health sciences library offers a unique educational experience. The HealthCAS curriculum is based on contemporary applications of current information management theories and technologies and the varied and rich experiences that practicing medical librarian instructors bring to the program.

Please visit http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/healthcas to meet three of the HealthCAS librarian faculty and learn about the courses they are offering.

Development of HealthCAS was supported by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. We anticipate that scholarships will be available to support a substantial portion of tuition and other expenses.

For more information on the program and the application process, visit http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/health/, or e-mail Ester Saghafi, Program Manager, esaghafi.at.pitt.edu

NAHSL Continuing Ed Opportunities Have Direct Impact

nahsl — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:39:32 +0000

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NAHSL Scholarship Committee for the generous Professional Development Award, allowing me to attend the 2011 NAHSL Conference, held at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Uncasville, CT. The Award included attending a CE program on Sunday, October 30 (“Developing an Effective Strategic Plan for Your Library”). This CE program came at a most opportune time; I arrived back at my place of employment to immediately take part in a leadership retreat that dealt with strategic planning! Since my CE was in the afternoon, I was granted permission to audit Jeannine Gluck’s “Cancer Concepts and Search Techniques.” I congratulate the CE Committee for providing attendees timely and interesting educational programs.

Although the Plenary speakers were excellent, and Dr. Cimino’s “Infobuttons within EHRs…” was, again, an important and timely topic, I have to admit my favorite session during this year’s Conference was the breakout session given by Scott Wetstone, MD. It was interesting, stimulating and presented with a sense of humor. Excellent! And I will admit that both Mark Goldstein and Margo Coletti made a compelling argument that we are in fact already managing knowledge in our institutions, and I don’t really have to go kicking and screaming into the concept or initiative.

Visiting the vendors/exhibitors and networking is always a bonus, and reconnecting with old friends will always be an important part of the NAHSL conferences. I enjoyed the Lightning Presentations and considered them to be well rehearsed and presented. Overall, the entire Conference this year provided me with a much needed professional boost and for that alone I thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Kathy Brunjes, AHIP
Director of Library Services
Central Maine Medical Center
Lewiston, ME 04240