Fall 2016 Issue, Number 142

Submitted by Abby Thorne, MIDLINE Editor

Welcome to the Fall 2016 issue of MIDLINE! In this issue, you will find news from the Midwest Chapter Annual Meeting, including reports from award winners and committees. You will also find news from your President and Representative-at-Large and an opportunity to “meet” new chapter members. In addition, this issue features the debut of the “Promotions and Transitions” column, allowing members to submit news of promotions and new positions.

As we move into a new year for the chapter, please take the opportunity to read MIDLINE, get to know the chapter and its leadership, and seek out opportunities to get involved and serve your chapter.  And please consider submitting news to MIDLINE for future issues. All submissions may be sent to me at abby.thorne@uky.edu for consideration–and I am always happy to answer questions about whether MIDLINE is the appropriate venue for your news and articles!

Posted in editor's message, Publication Information | Leave a comment

President’s Message

Submitted by Debra Werner, Midwest Chapter/MLA President 2017

Greetings Midwest Chapter!  I am excited and honored to serve as President of Midwest Chapter this year.  As the cold weather bears down on us, I hope we are all able to bring a little hygge into our lives.  That’s right, hygge.  If you haven’t heard of this new buzzword (it was on the OED’s Word of the Year 2016 shortlist, but lost to ‘post-truth’), it is a word of Danish origin that encompasses a feeling of well-being in a cozy and convivial atmosphere while enjoying life’s simple pleasures.  Or something like that.

If you were able to attend the MLA 2016 Annual Meeting in Toronto and hear Teresa Knott’s Presidential Inaugural Address, you may remember that the focus of her talk was on building value.  That is a focus this year for our Chapter, as well.  I’m interested in learning what motivates you to be a Midwest Chapter member and how the Chapter can better support you as a health sciences information professional.  Please send any thoughts or comments my way at dwerner@uchicago.edu!  I’d like to highlight one new program that is already adding value for our members, the Resume and Interview Practice Program.  In this program, volunteer mentors prepare students and new graduates for the job market by providing feedback on mentees’ resumes and conducting a practice interview.  Those who participated in last year’s pilot have overwhelmingly positive experiences.

As Immediate Past President Chris Childs announced earlier in the year, the Chapter is currently weathering some financial difficulties (due to an unscrupulous business partner), and the Board took steps to significantly reduce the Chapter’s expenses.  I’m grateful to report that responses to that announcement were those of support, understanding, and encouragement–the Midwest Chapter has wonderful members!  The Board will continue these belt-tightening measures, which unfortunately, among other cutbacks, has meant a reduction in scholarships.  Our plan is the weather the lean year(s) while endeavoring to build up the coffers through the spending reductions and through fundraising efforts.  Edith Starbuck generously agreed to spearhead the fundraising effort, and if you attended the fantastic Joint Meeting of the Midwest Chapter and the Midcontinental Chapter in Des Moines this year, you may have noticed the Chapter’s 50/50 raffle.  We plan to continue these efforts at the 2017 meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the goal of restoring our scholarship programs as soon as possible.  If you have fundraising suggestions, please let Edith know at starbuem@ucmail.uc.edu.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who has volunteered to serve on the Board or on a Chapter Committee; this organization couldn’t run without you.

Health, happiness, and hygge to all in 2017!

Posted in President's Message | Tagged | Leave a comment

Midwest MLA Fundraiser Initiative

Submitted by Edith Starbuck, Chair, Awards and Scholarships Committee

The financial situation of the Midwest Chapter / MLA and reduction in scholarships/grants awarded prompted Clare Leibfarth to suggest trying a fundraiser during the 2016 conference.  As Chair of the Awards Committee, I was asked to spearhead this fundraising initiative.  With the blessing of the Chapter Executive Board, planning got underway.  My colleague Sharon Purtee and Clare Leibfarth served as co-chairs.

Clare suggested a 50/50 raffle which she had done numerous times in other venues.  We also considered a silent auction but chose to try the raffle first.  The Midwest and Midcontinental conference planners supported our doing the raffle during the entire Des Moines Merge and Converge conference which enabled us to sell raffle tickets at every opportunity.  After receiving guidance on how to manage the ticket selling from Midwest Chapter Treasurer, Liz Kiscaden, we began to promote the 50/50 raffle.  We purchased a cash box, cash aprons, and raffle tickets to use during the conference and created name tags, signs, and promotional blurbs to put on seats and tables.

For those who may not have seen the 50/50 raffle promotions, here’s how the raffle worked.  Tickets were sold ($1/each; $5/for 6; $10 for 15) and the winner of the raffle drawing received 50% of the total sales and 50% went to the Midwest Chapter / MLA Awards and Scholarships fund. Participation in the raffle was completely voluntary.

How well did the raffle work?  Preparations were not arduous except when the treasurer had to do provide last minute and unexpected paperwork to receive the Iowa gaming license for which had the chapter had paid months in advance. Conference attendees graciously purchased tickets throughout the conference and when we held the raffle drawing, the total amount had reached $488.00.  Gabe Rios, Library Director of the Ruth Lilly Medical Library won $244 and the Midwest MLA Awards and Scholarship fund received the other half plus an additional $30 that came in after the drawing had closed for a total of $259.00.

What comes next?  The Midwest Chapter finances are such that fundraising for scholarships and awards will need to continue.  Each conference scholarship award includes conference registration and $500.  The 50/50 raffle fundraiser gave us an idea of how much we might expect to raise during an annual conference.  The chapter is already looking into ways to enable donations to a scholarship and awards fund throughout the year but especially during membership renewal.

Although the 50/50 raffle was fairly easy to carry out, dealing with gaming licenses in each state makes it more challenging to arrange.  So a silent auction will likely be the type of fundraiser done during the 2017 Midwest Chapter MLA conference in Ann Arbor.  Keep your eyes open for fundraising developments!

There were many who helped bring the 50/50 raffle fundraiser to fruition.  Special thanks go to the Midcontinental Chapter for their willingness to participate in a fundraiser for the Midwest Chapter and to the Midwest Chapter / MLA Executive Board for their support and advice.  In particular, I want to thank Treasurer Liz Kiscaden for doing an outstanding job of managing the gaming license paperwork at the last minute, Janna Lawrence for her support, council, and willingness to print fundraiser flyers, Amy Blevins for helping to promote the fundraiser, scholarship recipients Stephanie Hendren and Karlene Campbell for selling raffle tickets, Bette Sydelko for carrying fundraising materials to Iowa in her car, and my fellow co-chairs, Clare Leibfarth and Sharon Purtee for all their work and support.

Posted in Chapter Business | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Midwest MLA Awards and Scholarships Committee Report

Submitted by Edith Starbuck (OH), Chair, Awards and Scholarships Committee

The 2015-2016 Awards and Scholarships Committee members included: Martha Airth-Kindree (WI), Jessica DeCaro (OH), Abigail Goben (IL), Nicole Theis-Mahon (MN), and Debra Werner (IL), President-Elect.  I want to thank them for their service, flexibility, and responsiveness.

This was a year of change for the Awards and Scholarships Committee.  The Chapter Executive Board met in the fall to discuss chapter finances and concluded that there were not enough funds to support all the awards and scholarships for 2016 or in the future. Consequently, the number of scholarship grants were reduced to one for each scholarship and no monetary awards were allocated for the Distinguished Librarian of the Year Award or the Jean Williams Sayre Innovation Award for 2016.  The MLA Free Roundtable Lunch awards had already been awarded.

The initial scholarship promotions were well under way so the funding change prompted a flurry of revisions to the scholarship information and applications as well as the chapter and conference websites.  The revised scholarship awards were promoted a second time and committee members were faced with the challenging task of selecting just one recipient out of several deserving applicants for each award.

Award Recipients:

  • MLA Free Roundtable Lunch Awards – Chris Parker (IL) and Hanna Schmillen (OH)
  • Student Annual Meeting Award – Stephanie Hendren (WI)
  • First-Time Attendee Award – Karlene Campbell (IL)
  • Annual Meeting Grant – Noreen Mulcahy (OH)

There were no applications for the Distinguished Librarian of the Year Award or the Jean Williams Sayre Innovation Award.

Posted in Awards, Grants, Scholarships, Chapter Business | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Midwest Chapter 2016 Annual Meeting Grant Winner

Submitted by Noreen Mulcahy, Health Sciences Librarian – Technical Services, Mount Carmel Health Sciences Library, Columbus, OH

It was an honor to represent my institution at Merge & Converge, the Midwest/Midcontinental Chapters/MLA Annual Meeting in Des Moines, IA in October 22-24, 2016.  The Midwest Chapter Annual Meeting Grant made it possible for me to attend.  Stevo Roksandic, Regional Director of Mount Carmel Health System Library Services (my boss) was my traveling partner.  As we were checking into the Marriott, Stevo and I had the pleasure of meeting Derek Johnson, the Greater Midwest Region Representative to Ohio.  Linda Walton and Darlene Kaskie were also there to greet us.

Arriving on Saturday afternoon, Stevo and I had enough time to take a walk to Des Moines’ East Village, a quaint little arts district.  We enjoyed a quick lunch at The Continental, a friendly pub with a tasty menu, before heading back to the hotel.

This being only my second Midwest Chapter Annual Conference, I felt it was appropriate to sign up to be a mentee.  At the Mentor-Mentee Meetup, I met Elizabeth Fine Weinfurter, my mentor.  She is Liaison and Instruction Librarian at the Bio-Medical Library, University of Minnesota and a very active member of the Midwest Chapter.  It was nice to put a face with a familiar name from the Midwest Chapter – Liz has sent out many correspondence about events and opportunities offered through the Midwest Chapter.  We shared our work histories and what we hoped to gain from attendance at the conference.  She was planning to participate in the GMR Tech Forum scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Following the meetup,  I attended the Welcome Party and Exhibit Opening and caught up with many of our vendors from EBSCO, Matthews, McGraw Hill, Rittenhouse, and STAT!Ref.  Stevo and I picked up some information and swag to bring home for our colleagues who could not attend.  Later that evening, I had the opportunity to talk with my roommate, Jennifer Herron, Emerging Technologies Librarian at the Ruth Lilly Medical Library, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.  She and I first met at the New Member Breakfast during the MLA 2015 Annual Meeting in Austin, TX.

Roger Altizer, the conference keynote speaker, energized the group on Sunday with his interactive presentation, Playing with Innovation and Scholarship, a Gamer’s Approach to Scholarship, which included an extensive of Q&A discussion with the audience during which Mr. Altizer provided great examples of games that he and his students created at the GApp Lab at the University of Utah.  He was a true innovator and demonstrated how technology can make positive change to the lives of patients in a variety of dynamic ways.

There were many paper presentations, and I had to make some tough choices on which ones to attend.  Of course, I wanted to support my institution and our director Stevo Roksandic.  His presentation, Merging Past & Present through Library Space Redesign:  Converging New Library Identity, showed how our library is proactive in meeting customer service needs and changes in technology.

Edith Starbuck discussed the pros and cons of offering 3D printing in a Library setting in her presentation, Planning a 3D Printer Pilot:  How Hard Can it Be?  Jennifer Herron gave two insightful presentations.  The first, Bad Apps:  There’s One in Every Bunch, gave us some excellent guidance on evaluating health apps.  This is How We Do It:  Picking from a Plethora of Programs for Producing Streaming and Instructional Materials was a great overview of the many software programs that can do streaming audio/video.  Kelly Thormodson discussed an innovative case study on music therapy, Active Learning:  A Case Study in Music Therapy; Merging Music and Medicine.

As with most conferences, the most beneficial part to be the networking opportunities it provided.  It was great speaking with my Mentor Liz Fine Weinfurter about her involvement in the Midwest Chapter.  Jennifer Herron and I really connected and found that we have a lot of things in common.  Thanks to the Midwest Chapter for giving me the opportunity to experience Merge & Converge.

Posted in Awards, Grants, Scholarships | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Midwest Chapter 2016 First-Time Attendee Annual Meeting Grant Winner

Submitted by Karlene Campbell, Genesis Health System, Davenport, IA

I had the pleasure of attending the Midwest/MidContinental MLA Chapter Meeting in October as a First Time Attendee Grant winner. As a new medical librarian, I felt it was a great way to learn more about the profession and engage in conversations with other medical librarians. I was able to interact with other colleagues when Edith Starbuck twisted my arm (just kidding) to help sell raffle tickets. I felt it would be a great opportunity, to not only get out of my comfort zone, but also interact with others. So without batting an eye, I volunteered. I enjoyed interacting with other participants and would like to thank Edith for having the grant winners participate in this fashion.

Each day’s events were filled with information about what other medical libraries are doing to make a difference in the profession. As a solo medical librarian, this was the most instructive part of the weekend. I attended a continuing ed course on Saturday afternoon called “Building Partnerships with Faculty, Clinicians, and Other Stakeholders.” The presenters, Gwen Wilson and Kristen Desanto, did a fabulous job offering their expertise on this topic. I was able to take away a great deal of information, which I’ll be able to utilize within my health system. Gwen and Kristen had us participate together in groups, which allowed us to hear the various struggles and successes each medical library deals with on a daily basis. Because I am new to medical librarianship, it was somewhat refreshing to hear that other libraries also struggle to communicate that we can do more than just search and retrieve articles for all the entities we serve. One of the biggest takeaways from the CE course was during the “Elevator Speech” suggestions. I realized that I could apply my health system’s mission statement specifically to the library’s mission and services. It was an aha moment!

Overall, I found the meeting to be informative, engaging, fun, and rewarding. I am very grateful to the Midwest Chapter for awarding the grant to me and to my employer for allowing me to experience this educational event. The chapter meetings offer a real opportunity for growth and I look forward to attending more conferences in the future.

Posted in Awards, Grants, Scholarships | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Midwest Chapter 2016 Student Annual Meeting Grant Winner

Submitted by Steph Hendren, University of Wisconsin-Madison

My Time at the Midwest Conference

As a grant recipient and a second year graduate student I was able to travel to Des Moines for the Midwest MLA Chapter meeting and gain a much larger perspective on what it means to be a medical librarian. One of my first events I participated in was the CE course “Building Partnerships with Faculty, Clinicians, and Other Stakeholders.” This class explored making connections with other people within other departments for those who might have entered a new position (or who are new to the field like me!). I particularly enjoyed this session because it not only covered some of my own questions, such as “how should I advertise myself and what I can offer to my future patrons,” but it also gave me an opportunity to see, speak with, and learn from various medical librarians that fell all over the clinical to academic spectrum.

That evening, I got to meet some of those librarians and speak in more detail at the Mentor-Mentee Meetup and the welcome party. The mentor-mentee pairing was another opportunity that I felt was especially helpful for me, as I could ask questions not only about the conference but about some professional decisions, such as AHIP and tenure vs. non-tenure positions. I would like to thank Dawn Hackman, my mentor, for being so helpful and patient in answering my questions!

The next day I presented a conference paper that I had been working with Mary Hitchcock from Ebling Library on for quite some time. I have to admit that a lot of that day is a bit of a blur from the nerves, but I do remember everyone being very nice and friendly during the paper rounds. I also got to listen to a few other presentations and was amazed at the different types of work being done in medical librarians across our region.

On the final day, after walking through and looking at some poster presentations, I got to see what the Chapter Business Meeting entails. This is the first professional medical librarian conference I have ever attended, and it was a good experience just to see the types of information that are shared, and the different committees that make up the chapter. I gained a deeper appreciation for the type of work and communication that is required to maintain an organization like the Midwest Chapter of MLA, and hope that someday I might be able to contribute in some way.

Overall, I feel that the conference had given me a number of unique and helpful experiences that have helped me understand the field better. Hearing others talk about their jobs, their troubles, and the important issues allowed me to start learning about the details and atmosphere surround medical librarianship, which I feel I wouldn’t have gotten outside of the conference. I am grateful to the committee for giving me the necessary funds to attend, and I hope to use what I have learned in the near future when I become a professional in the field.

Posted in Awards, Grants, Scholarships | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From the GMR

Submitted by Molly Olmstead, Finance and Communications Coordinator, National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), Greater Midwest Region (GMR)

The GMR Moves to Iowa City

The Greater Midwest Region (GMR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) has now been operating from the University of Iowa for six months! If you’re curious as to what we’ve been working on, we put together a short recap, just for you.

Our team was fully staffed as of October 17th! Liz Kiscaden joined as the GMR’s Associate Director, along with Director Linda Walton, in April 0f 2016. Darlene Kaskie followed, joining as an Outreach Specialist, then we hired on Jacqueline Leskovec as our Network Librarian. In July, Molly Olmstead was hired as the Finance and Communications Coordinator and Bobbi Newman was hired as the Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist. Our most recent hire, Derek Johnson, joined the staff as the Health Professionals Outreach Specialist in mid-October. The new GMR staff is compiled from a diverse array of backgrounds, including health science, law, and public librarianship, public health consulting, nursing, and libraries administration.

Associate Director Liz Kiscaden visited many of the Network’s Resource Libraries during these first six months. She traveled with Linda Walton to the Chicago area to visit several institutions, including the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, and Loyola. Liz has also traveled to visit resource libraries in Minnesota, Michigan, and Kentucky.

Our staff have exhibited across the region, promoting funding opportunities and demonstrating National Library of Medicine resources to librarians. Exhibits have included the North Dakota Library Association, Minnesota Library Association, the Iowa Library Association, and the Health Sciences Librarians of Illinois conference. Our staff also exhibited at the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association, sponsoring two activities on the program.

During these first six months, our office sponsored several educational webinars, including the first installment NN/LM Resource Picks Webinar series, titled “Don’t Wait, Communicate about Disaster Preparedness!” Additionally, we presented an outstanding webinar on data management and another on emergency planning for collections, collaborating with our own Nancy Kraft from the University of Iowa libraries. Educational offerings have reached nearly 200 members across the ten-state region.

The GMR has already funded 16 outreach projects across seven states, allocating over $75,000 of funding toward this outreach. One example of a funded project is awarded to the Oakland University Kresage Medical Library, for their project titled “Health Information Outreach to Homeless Patients at the HOPE Recuperative Care Center.” The Kresage Library Staff, led by principal investigator Misa Mi, will use funding to provide computer and health information access to homeless patients discharged from the HOPE Adult Shelter. By providing these individuals computer access they will be able to use NLM Resources, such as MedlinePlus or NIHSeniorHealth.gov to seek valuable information and learn information searching skills.

Our office is currently planning for the second year of funding, which will offer more awards and educational opportunities. Upcoming awards will place an emphasis on providing health literacy outreach to medically underserved areas and populations. We’re looking forward to continuing to support the mission of the NN/LM and will share our activities with you!

To keep up with the GMR’s latest activity, follow our Facebook, or join our listserv (GMRLIST@list.uiowa.edu).

Posted in Midwest Regional News | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Leadership Development: Mayo Clinic Librarians Meet in Kansas City, November 15 – 18, 2016

Submitted by Anna Beth Morgan, M.L.S., M.S., AHIP, Executive Director, Mayo Clinic Libraries

March 7, 2016 marked the beginning of new leadership for the Mayo Clinic Libraries. Anna Beth Morgan, Executive Director, accepted the challenge of leading the multi-type, multi-state library system that comprises the Mayo Clinic Libraries.  Headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota, the Plummer Library is the largest of Mayo’s libraries and includes the largest group of library personnel.  The Mayo Clinic Historical Unit, the W. Bruce Fye History of Medicine Library, and the Mayo Clinic Archives are also significant components of the libraries. Rochester library locations also include one professional hospital library, two patient libraries in hospitals, a medical school library, a health sciences library for various medical training programs and remote warehouse storage for assorted library collections and archives.  Additionally, the Mayo Clinic Libraries includes five libraries in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; one library in Jacksonville, Florida; and two libraries in Eau Claire and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Total staffing for the Mayo Clinic Libraries is 60.

Shortly after a visit to Arizona in the spring of 2016, one Arizona librarian recommended a leadership retreat to Morgan as an opportunity for library leaders to meet and get to know each other better.  There was also a desire to build strategic relationships among the librarians and develop methods for better implementing the developing strategic plan for the Mayo Clinic Libraries.  A second recommendation was made to get away from the physical locations of any of the Mayo Clinic Libraries.  The goal was to learn completely new ideas, meet new colleagues, and learn new ways of professional library practice, by going elsewhere and outside of Mayo Clinic.  The new Executive Director coordinated the Library Leadership Trip initiative.  The primary administrator over the library was supportive from the very beginning and gave Morgan the “green light” to start planning the leadership trip.

Selecting the right city was the first focus. Morgan decided the trip should involve a city where one, preferably two medical schools were located.  In addition, the city should have one, preferably two busy hospital libraries and at least one or more successful special libraries or museums. With this criteria established, six locations in the middle of the United States were identified as possible places to visit. Cities investigated for their “fit” with the trip criteria and the availability of prospective host libraries and museums included Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Kansas City, KS/MO; Omaha, NE; and St. Louis, MO.  A prospective itinerary for each city was shared with the library leadership team. In late summer 2016, Kansas City was selected by the leadership team as the city they would like to visit together.

Those participating in the Library Leadership Trip included the following job titles:

  • Coordinator, Mayo Clinic Historical Unit, W. Bruce Fye History of Medicine Library and Archives, Rochester, MN
  • Coordinator, St Marys Hospital Library, Rochester, MN
  • Supervisor, Technical Services, Rochester, MN
  • Supervisor, Hospital Library in Eau Claire, MN
  • Supervisor, Hospital Library in Jacksonville, FL
  • Library Director, Arizona Mayo Libraries
  • Executive Director, Mayo Clinic Libraries

A total of seven library leaders from Mayo participated in the Library Leadership Trip, all flying from their home city to Kansas City (five from Minnesota, one from Florida and one from Arizona). The trip stretched from Tuesday, November 15 to Friday, November 18, 2016.

Everyone left home early on November 15th and arrived safely in Kansas City before noon. Adventures in Kansas City began by renting a passenger van for librarian transport around Kansas City.  Lunch followed at a Cracker Barrel restaurant near the Kansas City international airport. The tour itinerary included:

 

Tuesday, November 15

Steamboat Arabia Museum (Kansas City, MO)

Park University Library (Parkville, MO)

 

Wednesday, November 16

Children’s Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, MO)

Family Resources Center

Professional Library

The Linda Hall Library (Kansas City, MO)

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum (Independence, MO)

 

Thursday, November 17

University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City, KS)

Archie Dykes Library

Clendening History of Medicine Library and Museum

KUMC Archives

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences D’Angelo Library (Kansas City, MO)

 

The leadership team for the Mayo Clinic Libraries finished their “learning trip” with the consensus that much had been learned from our colleagues in Kansas City.  There was a free exchange of information and ideas at each location.  In several cases, our host librarians in Kansas City confirmed they face many of the same challenges faced by Mayo librarians such as:

  • Donor gifts that often create ongoing collection management problems
  • Fewer staff members are often available to handle the many projects and clever programs we want to initiate
  • Processing collections can take years, even decades, to accomplish
  • Print vs. electronic resources – concerns of costs, storage, access, etc.

Everyone agreed that visits to Kansas City area libraries and museums were beneficial to the Mayo Clinic library leadership team.  On November 18, 2016, library employees returned to their home libraries.  On Tuesday, November 22, the employees of all Mayo Clinic Libraries held their monthly Library Forum, a meeting to gather and share information among all library employees and all Mayo campuses. The findings of the leaders, along with photos from the Kansas City area libraries and museums were shared.

At some future time, it would be great to visit another city and learn from our colleagues there. We have no promise that a second Library Leadership Trip will occur or be funded in the future.

All in all, the experience of meeting with and learning from colleagues in November 2016 was both helpful and valuable in developing our library staff.  We are glad to have had the opportunity to get to know our Mayo colleagues better and we are pleased to have learned from our colleagues in Kansas City.

Posted in Member News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ramblings from the Representative-at-Large

Submitted by Patty Lunsford, Representative-at-Large, Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, and Rensselaer, Indiana

“The State Liaisons Committee shall serve as a conduit for communication between the chapter and state health sciences library associations, local library groups and library science educational programs. It shall serve as a mechanism for chapter officers and committees to distribute information and receive feedback at the state and local level.”

 I am sure at the end of every year, whether it be a calendar year, or an academic year—or semester—we all reminisce, not only on the immediate past year or semester, but also, perhaps especially, on the previous years and all the experiences—those we love to remember, and perhaps some which we prefer not to remember, but all of which are forever burned into our souls.

Most of us work with students in some capacity—so we likely experience the milestones of their entry orientations, when they approach us with trepidation and wonder and awe—even terror—at the experiences and challenges ahead of them—and they rely upon us in ways regarding, not only their academic and professional research, but also as a haven and a respite—often a “neck-saver,” especially on a Friday evening when that research paper or clinical assessment is due Monday morning.

We also have the honor and privilege of experiencing their Commencement—their final accomplishment with us—before venturing out into the real world or preparing for their Boards or embarking upon their residencies—and that is especially when we ponder with our own wonder and awe at how much they have grown and matured, gained confidence and mastered skills, even library and research skills—and we realize how attached we have grown to them over they time they spent with us.

At St. Elizabeth School of Nursing and Franciscan Health here in Lafayette, IN, our classes are small enough that I have the privilege of knowing our students even more personally—such that when they graduate, I sense a deep respect and awe for them, but also the ache of saying goodbye—except when they work in our hospitals; and I then have the joy of seeing them as professional employees, actively practicing and thriving in their professions.

And what do we teach and say to our students—how do we send them off into the real world—what counsel do we give them when they now ask, not for research assistance but for guidance to send them forth?

Live and serve sincerely— and gently— and purely— and simply. Share your joy and your compassion—believe in yourselves—and in your God-given talents, remembering well that even during the hardest and most challenging times, the grace of God, or whomever you acknowledge as your Supreme Being,  and your own courage and strength will carry you through.

And always, always remember to be grateful, to have a sense of humor, and to live with the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

As your Representative-at-Large, I enjoy writing to our State Representatives and Presidents and encouraging them to share among us all various questions and situations which arise—either as a presented question or issue or challenge…please—share with us all experiences of this kind—how you have planned, gotten the job done, what worked and what did not, and how you coped…and succeeded.

 

Posted in State Associations | Tagged | Leave a comment

New Member Profiles

Submitted by Mary Taylor, AHIP, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL

Photo of new MW\MLA member Julie Cvik

Julie Cvik

Julie Cwik is the CME Accreditation & Certification Manager for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Her job involves ensuring “ACCME-compliance of all Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities, which means there is a separation of promotion from education, and planning/development is based on sound educational theory. Our activities range from Journal-CME to online modules to an Annual Meeting.” Julie formerly worked for the American College of Surgeons in continuing medical education from September 2012 to May 2016. She states that “I switched to my current position to take on more responsibility, and to reduce my commute from 4 hrs per day, to 2 hrs. I am currently writing the self-study for our organization’s re-accreditation with the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). I am always on the hunt for how I can bring more innovative educational experiences to physicians, without scaring them off because it’s “new.” Her professional interests include “instructional design, content strategy, UX design, and creating innovative continuing medical education experiences.” Julie has an undergraduate degree in Biology and adds that she spent three years at Marquette University but received her degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She earned her MSLIS degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2014. Julie is a native of Batavia, IL. She says she enjoys fishing (surf perching, float tube fishing, kayak fishing), watching “cheesy Christmas movies,” and reading and listening to audiobooks on her commute to work. She will be taking quilt-making classes in February. Julie adds, “My 16-year-old daughter, Eleanor, and I live with my boyfriend, Jeff, and our fearless leader, Takoda Joe (our yellow lab).”

 

Heather Healy is a Clinical Education Librarian at the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences at the University of Iowa. She also serves as the liaison to the Carver College of Medicine and a variety of departments in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Her professional interests include instruction, information literacy, curriculum development, evidence-based practice, and systematic reviews. She states, “I come to University of Iowa via positions in the libraries at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas State University. Before making a career change to libraries, one of my previous jobs was being a Developmental Editor at Human Kinetics for more than seven years.”  In addition to earning a MLS from Emporia State University (2013), this Lincoln, KS native holds a BA in English & BA in English & Theatre from McPherson College and a MA in English from Kansas State University. Heather’s leisure activities include “reading, keeping up with my ever expanding list of podcasts, and generally being a PBS & NPR junkie.”

 

Photo of New MW\MLA member Rachel Hinrichs

Rachel Hinrichs

Rachel Hinrichs is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University Library at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. She is a liaison librarian to the School of Public Health and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Her professional interests include research impact metrics, mobile technology, and systematic reviews. She received her MSLS from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2016. This St. Louis, MO native states that she plays the violin and piano, and is starting guitar lessons soon.

 

Jeffrey Murdock is Digital Resources Librarian at Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA. He says he “is responsible for the implementation, administration, and maintenance of all library-related technologies at DMU. I serve as the Library’s liaison to DMU IT Services to coordinate cross-departmental projects. I also provide library training for students and faculty to introduce them to our electronic resources and how to get the most out of them.” He is interested “in learning about new and exciting electronic resources. Content/ knowledge management and digital archives are also on my list of things to learn more about and apply in my role here at DMU. I’ve also recently been doing some research in the applications and use of 3D printing in medical education, which is really interesting and something I’d like to get more experience with.” Jeff received his Masters of Library Science from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2009. This Hobbes, NM native states that “I recently relocated to Iowa from Arizona for my position at DMU. As part of that move, I brought some of my succulents and cacti with me for a little taste of the desert in the Midwest, so indoor container gardening has become one of my pastimes. Hopefully I can get them through their first “real” winter now that the temperature is dropping and the days are getting shorter!”

 

Janette Ransom is Coordinator of the Community Health Library at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, MI. She says that her main responsibilities include managing “a small, two-person, rural library with various duties that include research for consumer health information, book ordering, cataloging, and program planning.  I also collaborate with local libraries and non-profit organizations.” She adds that “our library recently moved from under the management of the hospital’s medical library to under the management of the hospital’s Community Health department.  This was a good move and was logical because both the library and the Community Health department provide education and services to the community about consumer health-related matters.” Janette’s professional interests include consumer health. She is a native of Lake Ann, MI. She earned an undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University, and received a MLS from Western Michigan University in 1981. Her hobbies and interests include “reading (of course!), swimming, biking, hiking, kayaking, nature/outdoors, my three grandsons, and my three Chihuahuas.”

Posted in New Member Profiles | Tagged | Leave a comment
http://midwestmla.org/midline/?paged=2
midwestmla.org
crawl=CC-MAIN-2017-17
77196
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:ESP33G2PMPAZDLV34SJEVCZXXWDXRJ6T
<urn:uuid:1d93c84f-b0b8-4b29-a73d-e51fff1fcf49>
2017-04-27T22:29:55Z
216.92.61.186
sha1:Y3OF7V47C7JGO7RIJFVROXTJS7W5C7Y3
<urn:uuid:a33e76a4-8326-4ab3-92b8-de9c0d0e4ef1>
http://midwestmla.org/midline/?paged=2
length
response
<urn:uuid:d06fd8ff-b5e9-4420-af21-1dd5b72afe49>
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-17
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for April 2017
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf