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July-Sept 1998 Volume 19 Number 3

This is a long message. You can also look at it on the Web at the PNC/MLA web site. Each year we look forward to the annual meeting of PNC/MLA. We see it as an opportunity to network and share experiences with colleagues; meet with vendors to hear about and see new products; find out about new technologies; take advantage of reasonably-priced continuing education; learn from speakers inside and outside of our profession; and take time to think about what we do, in new and sometimes very different ways. On last year's survey of PNC/MLA members (and on past PNC surveys as well) benefits of the annual meeting, such as continuing education and networking, ranked highest in what members wanted and expected from the organization.

Each year fewer and fewer of us attend the annual meeting. Our membership has typically been at about 175, including our Life Members. Meeting attendance hovers a little above, and sometimes below, 50%. There are understandable reasons for this: the cost of travel, the cost of the meeting, little institutional support for attending meetings, having to choose between a national, regional or state meeting since all three will not be funded, no personnel to staff the library while you're gone, no time to be away from the library. The reasons are many.

Each year a small group of stalwart members from the "designated state" for that year's annual meeting puts heart and soul, and much time and energy (close to two year's worth) into planning and producing our yearly gathering. As you probably know it has been the practice in this chapter to rotate the site of the meeting among four (Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) of the five US states and the two Canadian provinces that comprise PNC/MLA.

It was always thought that there were too few members and the distance between them too great for folks in Alaska (10 members) or in Canada (17 members) to host an annual meeting. Or was it our thought of the cost of traveling to the meetings in such far flung places as Anchorage or Fairbanks or Banff that kept those members from ever having to plan an annual meeting? This is not to say that sometimes those folks haven't stood up and said "Let's have the party in my backyard". We had a marvelous meeting in Vancouver, BC several years ago, and Vancouverites would have been asked again had their city not been tapped for MLA's meeting in the year 2000. Needless to say they'll have their hands full for a while. And a meeting in Alaska will only happen once in a millennium. So plan for Anchorage in the year 2000! The only reason that special meetings at special places happen is because members in that area express an interest in hosting. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find members who are willing to take on the task of the annual meeting.

Even in Oregon (47 members) and Washington (65 members) recruiting for annual meeting Chairs and committee members is like the proverbial pulling of teeth. In the states of Idaho and Montana, where we have 13 and 14 members respectively, our membership changes little. The same people are being asked over and over to spend much time and energy every few years to produce the meeting, often to have a disappointingly small number of people show up.

Maybe it's time for a change. The Board has been discussing new ideas for how we hold our annual meeting and I'd like to present some of them in this message. I hope to start an on-line discussion on the HLIB-NW listserv and follow it with an open discussion of this topic at the chapter business meeting in Boise. If you are unable to attend Boise and would like to send e-mail or a letter to any Board member to be read at the meeting please feel free to do so. You are also welcome to call any Board member or me and discuss your thoughts on this topic.

#1. We have designated sites for 1999, Seattle, Washington and 2000, a resort outside Anchorage, Alaska. We can consider after those years that we rotate the meetings between Portland and Seattle. There are several advantages to this. These areas do have the largest number of members and, historically, meetings in these cities have been better attended than those in smaller cities and resorts.

We could negotiate with particular hotels in each city, for instance the Benson in Portland, to meet there every other year. We would have a standardized contract for each hotel. The hotels would learn our needs for meeting spaces and guest rooms. Less decision-making and work for the committee and less surprises about what we would be getting. Of course we can interupt the schedule for special requests. States or provinces will be able to request that the meeting be
held in their state.

That is what happened in Alaska. And yes, there are some drawbacks. Members from around the region will have to come to Portland or Seattle each year with the expense of travel and hotels. Of course Alaskans and Canadians have faced these costs for years. Members can apply for funding from the chapter to help defray these expenses.

Members in Seattle or Portland will feel the responsibility for the meetings more than those in other locations, even with the help of the Conference Planning and Professional Development Committees (see below).

#2. The newly organized Conference Planning Committee can be made up of members from all states and provinces. While it is recognized that there must be a contact person in the host city to do some of the leg work, many tasks for the meeting can be done from a distance. Program ideas and speaker suggestions can be discussed via e-mail. Vendors can be contacted from anywhere. Registration and some publicity are long distance naturals. Continuing education is already a cooperative effort between the Annual Meeting Committee and Professional Development Committee.

#3. We could simply have a banquet or dinner rather than someone having to plan a "special event" for our final evening of the meeting. What we often want to do at that meeting is talk with friends and colleagues. While it is lovely to do this on a boat or a train or in some other special setting a banquet dinner is easier to plan and it still allows us to do what we all say we want to -- network.

#4. Periodically we could meet in conjunction with other groups: other MLA chapters, other library organizations like SLA, ASIS, PNLA, etc., other professional healthcare organizations who may have interests in common with us, like health educators or health information managers. More attendees draw more vendors, perhaps some who don't normally come to our meetings because they don't know about us. More attendees can attract bigger name speakers. We can benefit from a new perspective.

Certainly we would not want to do this every year. Once in a while it would seem healthy to open ourselves to new people and new ideas and share ours as well.

The Board and your colleagues would like to hear from you. After all, it is your chapter and your annual meeting. Let us know what you think!

Around the Region

submitted by Nancy Press (originally posted to HLIB-NW, 10-2-98)

Congratulations, University of Alaska Anchorage and Kathy Murray!

NLM has announced the awards of 13 contracts totaling $650,000 for public health projects. One library in our region wrote a successful application. Here's the abstract:

"The "Outreach to Alaska's Public Health Professionals" will target the public health workforce in the eight Divisions of Public Health in the Department of Health and Social Services. The primary target group will be the public health nurses throughout Alaska and the Emergency Medical Services System (EMS) personnel will be the secondary target audience. Collaborative partners are The Alaska Health Education Library Project (AHELP), the Alaska Public Health Association, the Alaska Health Education Consortium (AHEC), and the Alaska Public Health Improvement Process (APHIP). Project objectives include: 1) increasing awareness of national and state health information resources and services, 2) increasing access
to the Internet and other information resources within the state, 3) training public health nurses and emergency medical services personnel in the use of the Internet and state health information resources, and 4) providing support for the Alaska Health Education Library Project. Work
stations will be provided for those sites in need of computers. Additional activities include onsite training, sponsoring three public health information video conferences and developing training materials."

*Cheryl Goodwin* and *Mary Ellen Lemon* are highlighted by NLM for National Medical Librarians Month!

Please note the following change in phone & fax numbers at Boise State/Interlibrary Loan

Borrowing voice phone: 208-426-3756
Lending and renewals voice phone: 208-426-3827
Fax 208-426-1394

Dolores Judkins has been appointed to the position of Consumer Health Resources Coordinator and will oversee development and management of OHSU's consumer health libraries initiatives and Health Information by Mail service. Dolores has been been a member of the Reference Staff at OHSU for many years, and is also the Librarian and Web Manager for the Center for Women's Health (CWH).

Margaret Connors, former Consumer Health Resources Coordinator, has been appointed to a new part-time position as Manager of Special Projects and Patient Education Resources where she will oversee patient education outreach projects and Web resources at OHSU. Margaret will also be directing a nonprofit health organization in the Bay Area.

*Cheryl Goodwin* and *Mary Ellen Lemon* are highlighted by NLM for National Medical Librarians Month!

submitted by Yuki Durham (originally posted to HLIB-NW, 10-9-98)

It's medical libraries month and we need to celebrate our own.

Laura Larsson, our intrepid research librarian, webmaster and director of information services, received the 1998 President's Award (Washington State Public Health Association) at the Joint Health Conference this week. Be sure to give her your best wishes and congratulations next time you see her, or (because she is always on her email..) send a note to Linda Larsson

Continuing Education

In celebration of MLA's Centennial, the MLA Continuing Education Committee is offering a year of distance learning opportunities. "Evidence-Based Health Care in Action" is the topic for this series of events.

MLA's first multi-level distance education program will launch with a teleconference on September 16, 1998. Our Pacific Northwest Regional Medical Library has graciously agreed to sponsor this CE event.

The conference will be televised live in the University of Washington Health Sciences Building. If you are interested in attending please RSVP to the RML by phone (206-543-8262 or 1-800-338-7657) or email (nnlm@u.washington.edu). The conference will also be videotaped. Contact the RML to borrow the video.

The year-long series will continue with journal clubs, beginning in September, 1998, continuing through April, 1999. For more information read the following announcement from the Continuing Education Committee or check out MLA's Evidence-Based Health Care in Action web site.

The Medical Library Association Centennial Distance Learning Program :
Evidence-Based Health Care in Action

The MLA Continuing Education Committee, in celebration of MLA's Centennial, is pleased to announce a year of distance learning opportunities. Evidence-based health care was chosen as the topic for this year-long series of events. Plan on participating in as many as possible and build on your skills!

Watch MLANET for more information! Or contact Kathleen Gaydos, MLA continuing education coordinator,via email or 312/419-9094 ext.

Just wanted to remind folks in the region that there are National Online Training Center PubMed and Internet Grateful Med classes scheduled December 14-16, 1998, as well as in Februrary and April, 1999.

A large green frog hops into a library, jumps up on the reference counter and says to the librarian, "I want an interlibrary loan."

The librarian says, "You'll have to see the Head of ILL. Her office is down the hall and the name on the door says "Patricia Wack."

So the frog hops off the counter, down the hall and to Mrs. Wack's office.

He jumps up on her desk and says, "I want an interlibrary loan." Mrs. Wack, quite puzzled, gives the standard line, "We must have something to secure the loan, a library card or some collateral."

At that the frog pulls out a ceramic lion, places it on her desk and repeats that he wants a loan.

So Patricia picks up the ceramic lion, goes in to the Library Director's office, places the ceramic lion on his desk, and tells him, "I have this frog in my office who says he wants a loan, and this is what he has to secure it. I don't even know what this thing is."

The Librarian looks at the ceramic lion, looks at Mrs. Wack, looks back at the ceramic lion and finally says, "It's a knick-knack, Patty Wack. Give the frog a loan."

The Journal of Library Services for Distance Education (http://www.westga.edu/library/jlsde/), a peer-reviewed e-journal, requests submissions of manuscripts for its next issue (anticipated publication date November 1998).

International in scope, this scholarly e-journal publishes refereed articles focusing on the issues and challenges of providing research/information services to students enrolled in formal post-secondary distance education. It particularly strives to meet the continuing education needs of practitioners by providing a forum for the discussion of extended learning policies and practices, and trends in information technology as they impact the delivery of library services for distance learners and faculty.

Articles may be philosophical and/or quantitative analyses of off-campus library issues, and may take the form of case studies, research studies, or general interest reports. Sample topics: role/history of library services to distance education, standards for such services, organization/planning of new services, library instruction for remote users, document delivery, inter-library cooperation, providing/creating access to bibliographic and other library resources, costs of such services, research on remote users' information-seeking behaviors, etc. Book reviews, conference reports, literature reviews, news items, URLs for homepages of off-campus library services worldwide, announcements of conferences and publications, and letters to the editor are also invited.

Original manuscripts will be accepted by email or on IBM-compatible 3.5 HD diskette (WordPerfect preferred), and must not have already been published or submitted elsewhere. Receipt of all manuscripts will be acknowledged. You may contact the editor at the address below if you wish to discuss the suitability of your proposed writing project prior to actual submission. Articles will be evaluated using a blind-reviewing process. Authors are
responsible for obtaining permission from the copyright owner to use any material from another source. Authors will retain copyright. Citations in bibliographies must be formatted according to the most recent edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Those of you who teach PubMed to end users will be pleased to know that NLM has updated the workbook. The new manual, intended to be used as a reference for a 2-4 hour class, includes Loansome Doc, the MeSH Browser and several other features added to the search system since the last edition. The workbook is available in PDF, PostScript and Word Perfect formats at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/web_based.html.

NLM ANNOUNCES: ART EXHIBITION at National Museum of Health & Medicine
Now Booking Other Venues

A unique exhibition that explores links between art, health care and healing will become available for bookings in medical libraries, museums and art galleries, beginning in 1999.

"All the Symptoms of an Artist: Working from Medicine" is currently at the National Museum of Health & Medicine in Washington DC, where it runs through January 3, 1999. The seven featured artists are all current or former health care practitioners. The curator, Cynthia Roznoy, shares this dual background: an art historian and manager of the Whitney Museum of Art's museum in Stamford, Connecticut, she is a former nurse.

"Symptoms" first opened in Philadelphia this summer, at the Esther Klein Gallery of the University City Science Center. A critic for the Philadelphia "Inquirer" lauded the show's fine premise and especially Elizabeth Hill's "striking figurative sculptures" and Frederick Franck's "softly meditative" zen-like paintings. The "Weekly"'s art critic described June Ahren's sculptures as "elegant and hauntingly spare," Cynthia Stone's "unnervingly attractive color field paintings, [which move in a] delightfully dangerous way." And Libbie Soffer's textile works as "surreal winners." The artists in the show all exhibit regularly in galleries and museums throughout the United States and overseas. June Ahrens was recently awarded the best artist/Advocacy by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. A former public health and emergency nurse, she is currently an artist-in-residence at a homeless shelter. One of her works, "Used and Worn" is a carefully assembled installation of 500 used bars of soap, each assigned its own empty sardine can and then adhered in a tight grid to a wall. The 5-by-6-foot work shows soaps that Ahrens has collected from people of all walks of life. It is at once a send-up of minimalism and an evocation of the evanescence of life.

The exhibition at the National Museum of Health & Medicine is free to the public, open seven days a week, and located at the Walter Reed Medical Army Base. Several gallery talks with the curator or artists are scheduled for September and October.

The show can be reconfigured for various size spaces, varying from approximately 1000-2500 square feet, and including upwards of 20 works. It rents for $6500-10,000 per venues (for 10-12 week periods), depending on the nature of the institution. Johnson & Johnson sponsored the initial tour. Openings for 1999, 2000 and 2001 are now being offered.

For further information, call Betsy Self, OATH (Organization for Artists Trained in Health Care), at 215 849 5790. Or fax 215 849 5791, or email: muxe@erols.com

*Cheryl Goodwin* and *Mary Ellen Lemon* are highlighted by NLM for National Medical Librarians Month!

[1] WIPO COPYRIGHT TREATY AND TERM EXTENSION BILLS CLEAR
CONGRESS; DANGEROUS DATABASE BILL DERAILED BUT BOUND TO RETURN IN 1999
[2] DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT GUIDE
[3] COPYRIGHT TERM EXTENSION ACT GUIDE
_________________________________________________________________

[1] WIPO COPYRIGHT TREATY AND TERM EXTENSION BILLS CLEAR CONGRESS; DANGEROUS DATABASE BILL DERAILED BUT BOUND TO RETURN IN 1999

By separate voice votes taken on October 12 and 7 respectively, both chambers of Congress have approved the conference report (105-796) on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (H.R. 2281) and on identical versions of the Copyright Term Extension Act (S. 505). President Clinton has indicated that he will sign the bills.

Those actions bring to a close more than three years of intensive work by ALA, library supporters and other groups to shape the national and international debate over how best to update the nation's copyright laws for the digital age. Significantly, the H.R. 2281 conference committee deliberately elected not to include in its report the Collections of Information Antipiracy Act (S. 2291/H.R. 2652), a proposal to provide sweeping new legal protection for collections of information, including those not presently protected by copyright.

While the legislative debate about how to implement the new WIPO copyright treaties and whether to add 20 years to the term of copyright protection may be over, both bills as finally adopted present ongoing opportunities and pitfalls for libraries, archives and educational institutions. Moreover, fierce legislative debate over database protection is expected to resume in earnest shortly after the new 106th Congress convenes in late January 1999.

Here is a brief guide to what Congress has done in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Copyright Term Extension Act ... and left libraries to do in the future:
_________________________________________________________________

PURPOSE: Update the current Copyright Act for the digital environment and conform U.S. law to the requirements of new World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties negotiated in Geneva in December 1996.

FUTURE LIBRARY ROLE: As detailed below, assuring that all kinds of copyrighted works remain available for fair use (and other lawful uses). The adoption of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act could depend in large part upon the success of librarians and library supporters in collecting and organizing evidence of the law's adverse or potentially adverse effects. In addition, librarians will have the opportunity to assist the Register of Copyrights in making recommendations to Congress early in 1999 as to whether (and, if so, how) the Copyright Act should be updated to better facilitate distance education.

KEY PROVISIONS: ALA, together with other major national library associations and its partners in the Digital Future Coalition, has struggled to maintain the traditional balance in copyright law between protecting information and affording access to it by: 1) helping Congress to craft entirely new law with this balance in mind; and 2) updating information users' existing rights and privileges to take changed technologies and practices into account. These efforts necessarily implicated many parts of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act identified with separate headings below:

PURPOSE: To extend by 20 years the length of protection afforded to works created by both individuals and corporate copyright holders.

FUTURE LIBRARY ROLE: By taking full advantage of the limited but important exemption described below, libraries, archives and nonprofit educational institutions can minimize the practical impact of this unfortunate legislation.

ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V)
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F)
Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V)

Contributors: Adam Eisgrau
All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits.

Positions Available

submitted by Della Matthis (originally posted to AkLA-L, 10-8-98)

Organization: Yukon Koyukuk School District, Alaska

The Yukon Koyukuk School District is seeking a Title I Librarian. We are working on a reading program and need someone who has Early Childhood or Reading Specialist experience. Interested persons may call 907-474-9400, ext. 137.

Chris O'Brien, District Librarian, YKSD

submitted by Moe McGee (originally posted on AKLA-L, 10-13-98)

Access Services Coordinator - Anchorage Municipal Libraries. $47,400-$60,500

As a member of the library's senior management team, this position oversees management of technical services and automation units. Monitors system-wide effectiveness of the library's access service in support of public services. Implement changes as needed. Develop consortia agreements and contracts and manage municipal and non-municipal cooperative projects involving the library's automated systems. Directly supervise 2 Professional Librarian III and indirectly supervise other professional and clerical staff. Develop the technical services and automation portions of the library's operating and capital budgets.

Minimum requirements: MLS from ALA accredited school and five years of increasingly responsible professional library experience, two of which must have been at an administrative level. Strongly prefer applicants with experience in the area of library technical services and/or automation.

Closing date: Nov. 9, 1998 at 5:00 pm

To apply, submit a Municipality of Anchorage application along with a resume to: MOA- Employment Office (Job #500), PO Box 196650, Anchorage AK 99519. Phone (907) 343-4511, TDD (907) 343-4889. EOE

For more information, please contact the Human Resources department at (360)256-2097.

Madelyn Hall, M.Ed., MLS
Southwest Washington Medical Center Library
400 N.E. Mother Joseph Place
Vancouver, WA 98668
(360) 256-3167 voice
(360) 256-6466 fax

INFORMATION SPECIALIST INTERN IN HEALTH INFORMATICS

The University of Washington IAIMS Program is seeking an innovative and energetic librarian with a background in computing and information science and a strong interest in metadata, terminology standards and implementation of integrated decision support systems for a one-year practical learning opportunity in health informatics. The goal of the internship is to provide an early career librarian with a rich learning experience and opportunity to develop leadership capabilities for improving health information delivery.

Funding for the program is provided by the National Library of Medicine, and includes an annual salary, tuition reimbursement, AMIA membership, and travel to the fall AMIA meeting. The internship will begin January 1999.

The University of Washington offers a unique environment for training in health informatics. Active work in telemedicine, IAIMS implementation, rural outreach, electronic information delivery, development and implementation of integrated health information systems, an academic program in biomedical informatics and a host of informatics research projects combine to create a dynamic atmosphere for learning. The training experience will consist of research opportunities and academic coursework in Health Informatics, Information Science and Learning Technologies, or other related areas. The Intern will be expected to conduct a focused research project, attend and present at Informatics Seminars and submit a paper for presentation at AMIA.

The IAIMS Librarian Intern will work under the direction of the Deputy Director of the Health Sciences Library in collaboration with a core group of IAIMS and Health Sciences Library information systems developers. It is expected that at the conclusion of the internship the individual will be qualified to serve as a change agent for integrated systems development.

See http://healthlinks.washington.edu/ for information on the University of Washington's IAIMS program and the Health Sciences Libraries.

Qualifications: ALA accredited MLS or related information technology advanced degree. Working knowledge of health informatics or information technology required. Familiarity with Web technology, metadata standards and data dictionary or thesauri construction are preferred. Familiarity with the health care environment or work experience in some aspect of health care required. Experience in information technology evaluation desirable. Evidence of outstanding interpersonal and communication skills must be presented. Applicant must be creative, energetic, team-oriented, flexible, and able to work both independently and collaboratively in a complex, dynamic environment. Applications from librarians with less work experience but other relevant activities and background will also be considered.

Benefits: The successful applicant will be appointed in the University of Washington's professional Staff series. This is a one year appointment. Benefits include participation in a TIAA-CREF retirement program on a matching basis, vacation of 15 working days per year, sick leave, and excellent medical, dental and life insurance plans. There is no state or local income tax.

Applications are now being accepted for the IAIMS Information Specialist. Applicants and interested persons attending the American Medical Informatics Association meeting may discuss the internship opportunity there with Debra Ketchell. Application deadline is November 20.

Please send letter of application, resume and names of three references to Ms. Rory Murphy, IAIMS Program Administrator, University of Washington, Box 357155, Seattle, WA 98195-7155

University of Washington Faculty Positions

The University of Washington is engaged in a major transformation and expansion of its School of Library and Information Science. We are committed to creating one of the top information schools in the world. As part of this effort, we are seeking five outstanding individuals to join us as tenure-track faculty members. Successful candidates should possess both excellent research and teaching skills in one or more of the following areas:

* Database creation and development, including conceptual database design, and collection development of all types of information.

* Socio-cognitive aspects of information, including human-computer interaction, computer-mediated cooperative work, information seeking, and cultural, linguistic and psychological aspects of information use.

* Organization of information and knowledge including classification, indexing, navigation and the application of principles of organization to emerging technologies.

* Information policy, including social, political, ethical, and economic aspects of information.

* Information management, i.e., management of information in organizations and management of information organizations.

The School is particularly interested in candidates who have strong skills and knowledge related to information technologies including incorporating information technologies into research and course content as appropriate, as well as in the delivery of courses.

The School is committed to an active and growing research and development program that involves both faculty and students. New faculty will join a faculty eager to transform the School into a broad-based, inclusive information and library school with academic programs on the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. The School will build on its strong library tradition while expanding into new dimensions of the information science and technology fields. Candidates on all levels (Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor) will be considered.

The University of Washington is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the Pacific coast with close proximity to world-class cultural and recreational attractions. Seattle is a capital of the information age-strategically close to some of the most important companies in the information economy.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. The University of Washington, an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, is dedicated to diversity. We strongly encourage women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply.

Applicants can find further information about the School at our web site:
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~gslis/. Applicants should mail or fax their applications, a letter of intent and the names of three references to:

Mike Eisenberg, Director, and Chair, Search Committee
School of Library and Information Science
University of Washington
Box 352930, Seattle, WA 98195-1237

Summary: Responsible for the successful launch of new products and marketing plans for product lines to achieve maximum global revenues and profits.

1. Grows global product revenues by analyzing product success and implementing new strategies to increase sales and reduce costs.

2. Devises new product line launch clustered around strategy, positioning, and product packaging. Achieves new product global revenues by directing the efficient and timely launch of new products.

3. Improves competitive position of product globally and grows revenues by developing cost-effective marketing plans execution by marketing communications.

4. Develops and maintains efficient, profitable, and streamlined pricing structure for product line. Analyzes special pricing requests based on competitive environment, migrations, etc.

5. Serves as SilverPlatter key contact and liaison for InformationProvider's product needs while also working closely with all SilverPlatter business units, including marketing, sales, customer relations, database design, distributor relations, finance and legal.

6. Reviews marketing communications materials, i.e. catalog copy, press releases, etc.

Special Work Conditions: Knowledge/Skills/Experience Required:

Knowledge of work processing, spreadsheets, customer management systems, email, and Internet. Organizational, interpersonal, strong communication skills, project management skills, and negotiation skills; 4-6 years of marketing management with information industry knowledge preferred; 2-4 years of medical information industry knowledge preferred.

email: staffing@silverplatter.com
fax: 781-769-8763
snail mail: SilverPlatter Information, Inc. 100 River Ridge
Drive, Norwood, MA 02062

Meetings/Conferences

WHAT IS ONLINE NORTHWEST: A one-day conference focusing on the use of technology within libraries and attracting librarians from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montona, and northern California. Presenters receive free registration to the conference.

WHEN IS THE CONFERENCE: Februrary 12, l999 (this will be the l6th annual conference)

WHAT TOPICS ARE WE LOOKING FOR: The coordinating committee is open to presentations on innovative uses of technology within a library setting. All topics relating to technology and libraries are welcome, but we are especially looking for submissions on the following topics:

PUBLIC and SCHOOL LIBRARIES: We are especially looking for submissions from these communities to help blance the program.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL: Proposals must be received by June 30 to receive full consideration.

submitted by Gillian Goldsmith (originally posted in MEDLIB-L)

(posted for Valeria Long)

A Professional Development Endowment Fund has been established by the Hospital Libraries Section of MLA to encourage participation in professional programs which will aid librarians working in hospitals and other clinical care institutions in developing and acquiring the knowledge and skills delineated in the Platform for Change (MLA's Educational Policy Statement) and Using Scientific Evidence to Improve Information Practice (MLA's Research Policy Statement). The Award may also be utilized to support reimbursement for expenses incurred in conducting scientific research such as professional assistance in survey research design, statistical analyses, etc.

Applications may be submitted for either of two award cycles:

Eligibility criteria & application forms can be found on the Hospital Library Section web site. If you need more information and cannot access the web site, contact:

Sandy Swanson, (98/99 awards committee chair)
Amberg Health Sciences Library,
Spectrum Health - Downtown Campus,
100 Michigan NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503-2560.
email sandy.swanson@spectrum-health.org;
fax 616-391-3527, voice 616-391-1265

Again this year the RML has purchased the entire set of Medical Library Association Annual Meeting Audiotapes. To borrow any tape, contact the RML.

GS1. Welcome to MLA '98 and Presidential Address... Rachael K. Anderson, AHIP, Director, Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona-Tucson

GS2. Plenary I- John P. McGovern Award Lecture: Perspectives on Medicine and Microbes... Moderator: Frieda Weise, Executive Director, Health Sciences and Human Services Library, University of Maryland, Baltimore; Preserving Traditional Values and Changing Paradigms of Medical Education and Practice...Kenneth Ludmerer, MD, Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine and Professor of History, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO: Emerging Diseases Behind the Former Iron Curtain...Laurie Garrett, Science and Medical Writer, Newsday

GS3. Plenary II - The Janet Doe Lecture: Strategies and Measures for Our Next Century... Wayne J. Peay, Director, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

GS5. Plenary III - The Digital Estate: Strategies for Surviving and Thriving in an Interactive Age... Charles L. Martin, Jr., President, The Digital Estate Group, LLC, North Hampton, New Hampshire

GS7. Plenary IV - Laugh for the Health of It... John Morreall, Ph.D., President, HUMORWORKS(R) Seminars, Tampa, Florida

GS8. Inaugural Address... Jacqueline Donaldson Doyle, President, Medical Library Association, and Director of Learning Resources, Merrill Brown MD Health Sciences Library, Samaritan Health System, Phoenix, AZ

GS9. Sealing the Time Capsule - MLA Time Capsule: Take One and Call Your Medical Librarian in 100 Years... Lois Ann Colaianni, Associate Director for Library Operations, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD

01. Collection Development Section - Alphabet Soup or All your Ducks in a Row: Selection Models for Purchase vs. Access in collection Development

02. Cancer Librarians, Consumer and Patient Health Information and Veterinary Medical Libraries Sections - Facing an Uncertain Future: Responses to Diagnoses

03. Dental and Public Services Sections and Outreach SIG - Innovative Services to Benefit Distant Practitioners and Learners

04. Medical Informatics and Public Health/Health Administration Libraries Sections - Public health Informatics: Connections Between Public Health and Health Care Systems

05. Research Section and Research Policy Implementation Task Force - Research for Decision Making: Evidence Based Practice for Librarianship

06. Pharmacy and Drug Information Section - Back to the Future: A Modern Perspective on Herbals and their relation to Alternative Medicine (the EMBASE Lecture)

07. Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Health Sciences Librarian SIG, History of the Health Sciences, and Relevant Issues Sections - The Human Rights Campaign: Advocacy Initiatives for Healthcare Legislation

08. Medical School Libraries and Hospital Libraries Sections - Living on the Edge of Tension: the Library's Position in the Managed Care Environment

09. Medical Informatics/Educational Media and Technologies Sections - Evaluating Information Technology Projects

10. Nursing and Allied Health Resources and Public Service Sections and Outreach Special Interest Group - Providing Library Services for Mid-Level Practitioners

11. Relevant Issues and History of the Health Sciences Sections - Relevancy Ranking: Championing Involvement in Contemporary Social Issues

12. Hospital Libraries Section and Research Policy Implementation Task force - Empowerment Through Benchmarking; Practical Tips in Design and Implementation of Benchmarking Studies

14. Veterinary Medical Libraries Section - Future Imperfect: Issues in Veterinary Medical Librarianship

15. Consumer and Patient Health Information and research Sections - Consumer Health Information Services: Do They Make a Difference?

16. Medical School Libraries and Medical Informatics sections - Evidence-Based Medicine: The Library's Role in Twenty First Century Medicine

17. Medical Informatics and Educational Media and Technology Sections - Evaluating Information Technology Products II

18. Hospital Libraries and Public Services Sections - Product Enhancement: Value-Added Services in the Health Care Enterprise

19. National Program Committee and Section Council - Visions of the Future; Reflections on the Past

20. International Cooperation Section - International Cooperation - Past and Future

21. Medical Library Education Section - Creating a Center of Excellence in Health Sciences Information Education: Perspectives from NLM Planning Grants

22. Collection Development and Technical Services Sections - Management of Internet Resources

23. Research Section and Research Policy Implementation Task Force - Evaluating Training: A Critical Research Need

24. Chiropractic Libraries Section - Non-traditional, Alternative, Complementary: Those Other Therapies

25. Federal Libraries, Technical Services, and Medical School Libraries - Show Me the Money! Costing Out Services and Generating Revenue in the Era of Managed Care

26. Educational Media and Technologies and Medical Informatics Sections - Digital Libraries: From Vesalius to the Visible Human

27. Consumer and Patient Health Information and Medical Library Education Section - The Librarian's Role in Providing Consumer Health Information

28. Public Services Section - The Spirit of Service Defined: Standards, Guidelines, and Accountability

Nominations are sought for the Medical Library Association's Janet Doe Lecturer for the year 2000. This distinguished award goes to an individual who will present his or her unique perspective on the history or philosophy of medical librarianship in a lecture to be given at the Association's Annual Meeting, and published in the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. Nominees should have a broad perspective of medical librarianship, be able to express ideas and experiences clearly, and be regular members of the Association who have made substantial contributions to its work.

Letters of nomination should be submitted in writing to the address below, and received no later than November 1, 1998. They should include a brief summary of the nominee's career, a description of his or her contributions to medical librarianship, a current curriculum vitae, and any other evidence or information supporting the nomination.

That's who * you * should nominate for the MLA Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship, our highest award in hospital librarianship. We award it each year to someone who has made significant contributions to the profession. They may have produced a definitive publication in hospital librarianship, shown exceptional leadership, or contributed through teaching, research advocacy or use of innovative technology. Often the winner is in mid-career.

Nominees must have worked in a hospital library for at least five years and we prefer that they be MLA members.

Karen Curtis, Awards Committee Chair
Michael Kronenfeld, Chair, Jury for the Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship

1998 PNC Board Officers

Chair
Maryanne Blake

Chair-Elect
Carolyn Olson

Past-Chair
Marcy Horner

Recording Secretary
Madelyn Hall

Treasurer
Pamela Spickelmier

Membership Secretary
Barbara Crain

Chapter Council Representative
Bob Pringle

Chapter Council Alternate
Edean Berglund

Committee Chairs

Archives
Janet Schnall

Automation Technology
open

Bylaws
Jan Schueller

Professional Development
Lisa Oberg

Governmental Relations
open

Nominating Elections
Marcia Horner

Program - Boise '98
Mary Ellen Lemon

Publications / Newsletter
Kathy Murray

Liaison to MLA/AHIP
Kim Granath

MLA HEADQUARTERS MOVES TO NEW LOCATION

After 10 years at its current location in Chicago, the headquarters office of the Medical Library Association (MLA) is moving to a new location at 65 East Wacker Place, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60601-7298. Effective October 1, 1998, all correspondence should be mailed to this address.

Because the old and new headquarters offices are in close proximity, only the address will change. All telephone numbers, fax numbers, lock box, and e-mail addresses will stay the same. The headquarters office will remain open during the move. To announce the new address, MLA will send members and other organizations an e-mail and a postcard notification.

According to Carla J. Funk, MLA’s Executive Director, “We would have liked to renew our lease at the present location, but the building was up for sale and the building’s owner would not renegotiate a new lease. While the headquarters staff has enjoyed working at the current address, we are also excited about beginning the next 100 years of MLA in the new office,” she said.

Ray Naegele, MLA’s Director of Financial and Administrative Services stated, “The new office is economical, is conveniently located in downtown Chicago just one-half block from Michigan Avenue, and should meet all of MLA’s office needs for the foreseeable future.”

MLA’s new location is just a few short blocks from the Hyatt Regency Hotel, site of MLA’s 1999 Annual Meeting on May 14-20, 1999. To celebrate our new home, MLA will invite MLA ’99 meeting attendees to a reception at the office during the meeting.

MEDICAL LIBRARIANS PREPARE TO CELEBRATE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL MEDICAL LIBRARIANS MONTH

As October approaches, medical librarians across the country are preparing for the Medical Library Association’s (MLA) second annual National Medical Librarians Month (NMLM) celebration held during the month. Various workshops, seminars, and promotions are being planned to showcase the significant contributions and services health sciences information
professionals provide for the medical community.

“National Medical Librarians Month provides MLA members with a way to highlight the value a professional medical librarian and well-executed library service provide. This is a time we all look forward to, a time to display our talents, a time to feel a pride in our profession,” MLA President Jacqueline Donaldson Doyle stated.

MLA declared October as NMLM to applaud medical librarians for the many efforts and accomplishments they have made in the interest of quality health care. The information provided by medical librarians can have a direct impact on the quality of patient care. Because of the skilled men and women in the field of health sciences librarianship, physicians and nurses have been able to reduce the number of procedures, tests, and surgeries performed on patients. The accurate and current information that health science librarians provide can also reduce the number of patient deaths.

In honor of NMLM, MLA is sponsoring the Creative Promotion Award, to be presented to the MLA member who designs and implements the most creative promotional idea to celebrate NMLM in his or her institution. The winner of the award will receive $100 applicable toward MLA publications, fees, dues, or meetings.

For more information about NMLM or the Creative Promotion Award, please visit the NMLM Web page on MLANET or contact Tomi Gunn at the headquarters office at 312/419-9094 x11; mlams@mlahq.org.

MLA BIBKIT ON OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE RECENTLY RELEASED

The Medical Library Association (MLA) has recently released BibKit #3: Osteopathic Medicine: An Annotated Bibliography and Guide to the Literature. Compiled by Craig S. Elam, MLS, AHIP, Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, the BibKit was written to increase awareness of osteopathic literature among health sciences librarians, especially those who may be serving osteopathic students or physicians for the first time.

Intended as a selective guide to osteopathic medicine, the publication will also prove useful to osteopathic students, physicians, and other health care personnel who may not be aware of the sources listed in the BibKit #3.

The BibKit is arranged by topic and focuses on osteopathic medicine as a profession and in clinical practice. There is also a chapter devoted to manual medicine because of its close relationship to osteopathic medicine.

BibKit #3: Osteopathic Medicine: An Annotated Bibliography and Guide to the Literature can be ordered from the MLA Headquarters Office at a cost of $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers, plus shipping and handling. To place an order, call 312/419-9094 x19 or fax us at 312/419-8950.

MLA PRESIDENT JACQUELINE DONALDSON DOYLE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF NEW CONSUMER HEALTH BROCHURE

In the increasing amount of print and electronic health information now available to consumers, there are many medical terms unfamiliar to the general public. Consumers encounter medical journals and articles filled with medical jargon or “medspeak,” the specialized language of health care professionals. “We as medical librarians recognize the public’s need for information they can understand,” Medical Library Association (MLA) President Jacqueline Donaldson Doyle says.

To support consumers who wish to take an active role in their health care, MLA has developed a new consumer brochure, Deciphering Medspeak. The brochure contains definitions of over 100 medical terms and a list of prescription shorthand terms. The brochure also contains tips on identifying quality medical information available on the Internet.

Doyle’s presidential theme, “Making a Difference,” captures the essence of the brochure and of medical librarians’ efforts in addressing the medical information needs of consumers.

“As medical librarians, our knowledge and perspectives are unique; they add to the value of the national medical information infrastructure. By responding to the needs of health care consumers and organizations, medical librarians can and do make a difference,” Doyle stated.

Deciphering Medspeak can be ordered from MLA headquarters at a cost of $10 for a pack of 50 for MLA members, $16.50 for nonmembers, plus shipping and handling. To place an order, call 312/419-9094 x19. Single copies of the brochure are available free of charge by contacting Tomi Gunn at mlams@mlahq.org or by calling 312/419-9094 x11.

Publication Statement

Northwest Notes is published four times per year by the Pacific Northwest Chapter, Medical Library Association: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

Kathy Murray, Editor: University of Alaska Anchorage, Consortium Library, Health Sciences Information Service, 3211 Providence Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508. 907.786.1611. (fax) 907.786.1608.

Statements and opinions expressed in the newsletter do not necessarily represent the official position of the Chapter or the Editor. News and articles are welcome! Please include your name, library, address, phone and fax number, and email address (if available).

Articles from Northwest Notes may be reprinted without permission; credit would be appreciated.

Northwest Notes / 19(3) July-Sept 1998 / Oct. 19, 1998

Chair	Maryanne Blake
Chair-Elect	Carolyn Olson
Past-Chair	Marcy Horner
Recording Secretary	Madelyn Hall
Treasurer	Pamela Spickelmier
Membership Secretary	Barbara Crain
Chapter Council Representative	Bob Pringle
Chapter Council Alternate	Edean Berglund

Archives	Janet Schnall
Automation Technology	open
Bylaws	Jan Schueller
Professional Development	Lisa Oberg
Governmental Relations	open
Nominating Elections	Marcia Horner
Program - Boise '98	Mary Ellen Lemon
Publications / Newsletter	Kathy Murray
Liaison to MLA/AHIP	Kim Granath