Quality Information for Improved Health

Medical Library Medical Library AssociationAssociation

law6z@virginia.edu(434) 924-0187

See the MLANET president’s site at www.mlanet.org/about/leaders/president_

02-03/index.html

MLA 2002/03 President Linda A. Watson, AHIP

2002/03 Theme2002/03 Theme

Extreme Librarians: Extreme Librarians: Champions for Quality Health Champions for Quality Health

InformationInformation

Recruitment Challenge

Task Force to Plan Recruitment of the 21st Century Workforce of Health Information Professionals

"The Medical Library Association's MLANET also outdoes ALA. This invigorating site offers medical librarianship brochures in both English and Spanish. There are also tip sheets, both for new librarians and for those entering the field as second careers. There are links for career exploration and resources and online career fairs, as well as a list of U.S. and Canadian library schools divided by state and province." Library Journal, February 1, 2003

Librarians considered a “hot ticket”!

February 24, 2003 USNews.com

New Career Website

Career exploration Career Resources Career fair Tip sheets and advice

www.mlanet.org/career/index.html

Diversity Initiatives

ARL Leadership and Career Development Program

Carla Funk: 312.419.9094 or funk@mlahq.org

Spectrum Scholar

Spanish language brochures

Descifrando el Lenguaje Médico

Pew Internet & American Life Collaboration

“Vital Decisions How Internet Users Decide What Information to Trust When They or Their Loved Ones are Sick”

www.pewinternet.org/reports/www.pewinternet.org/reports/

User’s Guide to Finding and Evaluating Health Information on

the Web

MLA’s “Top Ten” Most Useful Consumer Health Sites

Recommended cancer, diabetes, and heart disease sites

Visit:www.mlanet.org/resources/usersguide.htm

Health Information Literacy

Task Force Defining “Health Information Literacy” Potential partners Communications plan Members: Neil Rambo, Chair

Marie T. Ascher, Joyce Backus, Erica Burnham,

Joan Durrance, Marcia Horner, Sandra I Martin,

Susan Murray, Heidi Sandstrom, Carla Funk,

Evelyn Shaevel, Linda Watson

Making our Case

Information TherapyInnovators Conference– September 2002

– MLA “Elevator Story” wins 3rd prize!

URAC Web Accreditation Committee– MLA member Michelle Spatz

is quoted in a November 14, 2002 press release from URAC "Consumer health online: closing the credibility chasm": "Consumer health librarians and information professionals as a whole are very concerned about how consumers approach and use the World Wide Web for personal health research. They've developed tools, such as hands-on classes and posting quality criteria on their Web sites. The Consumer's Union report confirms what many librarians already know.”

Advocacy Efforts “The Role of Medical Librarians in Reducing

Medical Errors” in HealthLeaders News, Sept 16, 2002 www.healthleaders.com

“Value of Library and Information Services in Hospitals and Academic Health Sciences Centers”, May 2002

Value Toolkit – coming May 2003 ALA’s Campaign for America’s Libraries Interview about MLA in Research!America’s

member newsletter

Continuing Education Committee

Teleconferences:– Feb 2002 PDAs– Dec 2002 PATRIOT ACT– Mar 2003 HIPPA– Fall 2003 Consumer Health (planned)

Consumer Health Information Specialization Web-based learning New ways to earn CE credit

www.mlanet.org/education.index.html

Task Force to Develop MLA’s Center of Research

and Education (CORE) Extending MLA’s educational scope; building on

our current strengths Helping librarians achieve goals Reviewing Platform for Change Members: Connie Schardt, Chair

Prudence Dalrymple, Sharon Dennis, Jo Dorsch, Julie Garrison, Jeanne Gittings, Carol Jenkins, Barbara Rapp, Maxine L. Rockoff, Carla Funk, Jerry Perry, Kathleen Coombs

David A. Kronick Traveling Fellowship

Established by grant from Virginia Bowden Supports visits to libraries in US or Canada

to explore a specific problem or question affecting the health sciences information profession– 2002 Awardee: Patricia Nelson– 2003 Awardee: Michael Kronenfeld

Donald A. Lindberg Research Fellowship

$25,000 fellowship First Award: Catherine Arnott Smith to explore

"the mismatch between terms used by healthcare professionals and those used by everyone else: patients, those who care about patients, and health people in need of health-related information. The research is aimed at better understanding the language used by consumers to express their health information needs; the types of questions they ask in a virtual encounter; and the specific health-related context of their questions. It relies on emails submitteed to health reference services.“

$400,000 fundraising goal

Informationist Conference(May 9, 2002)

Remember another

“I” word - IAIMS -

that was not easily

understood?

Complete transcript available at: Complete transcript available at: www.mlanet.org/research/informationist/discuss.htmlwww.mlanet.org/research/informationist/discuss.html

What is it?

Task Force on Information Specialists in Context

Two year term, until 2005 Coordinate implementation of

Informationist Action Plan Members to be named in April

Informationist Action Agenda

more than just MLA involvementmore than just MLA involvement

many partners neededmany partners needed

will take time to implementwill take time to implement

will require funding sources will require funding sources

actions may change as progress is madeactions may change as progress is made

Action Agenda Objectives

1. Clarify informationist definitions and identify and promulgate descriptive roles for these professionals, be they health sciences librarians or other information specialists working in context.

2. Encourage systematic evaluation and dissemination of findings on the costs and benefits of providing in context information specialist services.

Action Agenda Objectives

3. Promote and support the entry of health sciences librarians and other interested health professionals into informationist positions. Effectively articulate informationist expertise domains to potential employers.

4. Obtain funding to implement objectives and fund pilots.

5. Identify and publicize opportunities for informationists training.

Legislative efforts

Institute of Museum and Library Services Two new Governmental Relations Committee

statements on Distance Education “Friend of the Court” brief Legislative Visits: Support NLM; TEACH Act;

Concerns about DMCA Support Digital Media Consumers’ Rights Act,

HR107 (Boucher-Doolittle Bill) More info at

www.mlanet.org/government/index.html

Publishing Issues

Highlight resource materials and position statements on electronic publishing and licensing issues already on MLANET

Increase MLA’s visibility in discussions of publishing issues and work with sister associations

Get input from members on the impact journal prices and licensing restrictions have on their libraries and their users

Hold an Open Forum at the San Diego Meeting Monitor the Faxon/Rowecom situation

Benchmarking Network

• 2002 – 385 members• Thanks to all of you who

participated!• Valuable data for you to use• 2003 – will you participate?• 2003 President’s Award to

Roz Dudden for her efforts

Standards and JCAHO

• Hospital Library Standards – revision finished summer 2002 (see October 2002 JMLA)

• JCAHO Information Management Standards review – Jeannine Gluck and Carla Funk, MLA Representatives

• DIFFICULT WORK!

MLA in the News

October was National Medical Librarians

Month!!! Creative Promotions Awards 1st Prize: Duke University

Medical Center Library 2nd Prize: Children’s Hospital of

Michigan, Detroit Medical Center

3rd Prize: Eastern Virginia Medical School Brickell Medical Library

2002 PR Swap ’n Shop

April 6-12 is National Library Week!

Promote Medical Librarians on April 11th

http://www.mlanet.org/press/411/index.html

May 2-7, 2003www.mlanet.org/am/am2003/

Revised Strategic Plan

MLA VISION: MLA believes that quality information is essential for improved health. MLA aspires to be the association of the most visible, valued, and trusted health information experts with proven positive influence on the quality of health in the world.

Much member input: web discussion forum; chapter meetings

Final Draft distributed April 2003

MLA Future By Fortune

MLA VISIONMLA believes that the future is within our control. The first

step to better times is to imagine them, and the beginning of wisdom is to desire it. Golden investment opportunities are

arising. We will inherit some money or a small piece of land so our financial outlook is excellent. We will travel to many places and our road will be made smooth for us by good friends. We

will be fortunate in everything we put our hands to and we can always find happiness at work on Friday.MLA CORE VALUES

We find beauty in ordinary things.A good evening is one spent in good company.

When we cannot invent, we must at least improve.We depart not from the path which fate has us assigned.

The world is a grand comedy to our sense of humor.

Quality Information for Improved Health

Medical Library Medical Library AssociationAssociation