The new issues of Medical Reference Services Quarterly (volume 24, issue 3, 2005) and
Journal of Hospital Librarianship (volume 5, issue 2, 2005) are available.

Each journals had one article were of particular interest to me:

HOSPITAL INFORMATION SERVICES Marketing the Hospital Library
Medical Reference Services Quarterly volume 24, issue 3, 2005
Page Range: 81 - 92
DOI: 10.1300/J115v24n03_07
Jane Bridges ML, AHIP

Abstract:
Many librarians do not see themselves as marketers, but marketing is an essential role for hospital librarians. Library work involves education, and there are parallels between marketing and education as described in this article. It is incumbent upon hospital librarians actively to pursue ways of reminding their customers about library services. This article reinforces the idea that marketing is an element in many of the things that librarians already do, and includes a list of suggested marketing strategies intended to remind administrators, physicians, and other customers that they have libraries in their organizations.


Reinventing the Library Catalog: Making Your OPAC Indispensable to the Organization
Journal of Hospital Librarianship volume 5, issue 2, 2005
Page Range: 73 - 81
DOI: 10.1300/J186v05n02_07
Christina Wallace

Abstract:
Justifying budget money for OPACs, Databases and other immaterial items that hospital boards don't understand is difficult. Instead of making administration understand how important the cataloging module is to the library system, reinvent the system to fit the needs of the hospital and increase OPAC usage. Corporate dependence on the library OPAC will ensure budget money for product renewal and system upgrades. This article discusses creative ways to use the hospital library OPAC and the corresponding issues hospital librarians should consider arising from the reinvention of the OPAC.


I think both are timely articles that actually fit into the whole idea of making you and your library indespensible to your hospital. We librarians don't do enough marketing and it seems always to be something that is done as after thought as we pass out paper bookmarks.