When I go to MLA's Annual Meeting I always ask coworkers to browse through the program (including the posters and sections) to let me know if there is anything specific they want me to try and attend or ask questions about.

This year I am also asking all of you in the blogosphere who can't attend the meeting to do the same. MLA's Online Program Planner is up and running. (Currently it seems to be missing some key events such as the Plenary Sessions, hopefully that will be resolved soon.) In the meantime you can browse the poster and section programs as well as other events and tell me what you want to know more about.


Is there a poster addressing some key issues that your library is facing? Are you interested in a certain new product from a vendor? Do you have questions about a library service or how a librarian accomplished something? Please read through the program and submit your comments below. You can remain anonymous. I only ask that if you do so, please number your anonymous posts (anonymous1, anonymous2, etc.) so that I can keep track of the questions.


Think of me as your blogger in the field. I can't promise that I will get to all of your submissions, but if I have the opportunity I will try. Relevant questions and answers will be re-posted on the MLA 2009 Official Blog.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA

In the past the posters from the annual meeting have been available in PDF form on a website. Well this year MLA is introducing interactive posters.


This year, MLA is excited to have partnered with Trapeze Media Solutions, a small business out of the University of Utah, in an exciting new effort to display your poster electronically. In addition to presenting in the regular poster session, the PDF of your poster will be displayed on interactive kiosks at the conference. These kiosks will allow other attendees to view your poster throughout the conference.

The kiosks will allow attendees to browse posters, search for keywords, and even ask questions and provide feedback. When an attendee selects your poster, they will be presented with a full view. When they click on any section with the mouse, that section will zoom in and allow the attendee to read the detail. Another click will zoom the poster back to the full view. A menu allows the attendee to switch between your poster and abstract and the text from both your poster and abstract will be indexed for searching. In addition to this new way of presenting your poster online, this new service can allow for more interactivity than printed posters, so you will also have the ability to include additional functionality.



The following things can be added to posters:

• Movies, audio, PowerPoint presentations, and animations and attach them to specific parts of your poster


• Include datasets and attach them to graphs or charts on your poster.


• If a method and dataset is available, other researchers will be able to use that data and method to validate the results. Or they can use the data and their method. (Before making any dataset available, ensure that it is HIPAA compliant and allowed by your institution and IRB.)


• Additional documents can be attached to specific parts of your poster.

Wow this is like the posters are beefed up and on steroids. I really like this idea. In particular I like the idea of being able to ask questions ahead of time. All too often the poster sessions are chaotic and inevitably I never make to all of the posters I want to make it to. This allows me to contact and ask questions of all the posters I am interested in.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA, Technology

Do you have some great library promotional items and ideas? The MLA's Public Relations Swap 'n' Shop will feature samples and giveaways of successful library promotions. Consider submitting your samples of your promotional ideas with your colleagues. You don't even have to attend the annual meeting to submit your samples.

Contact Tomi Gunn at MLA headquarters for the submission form. If you are not attending the meeting but would like to submit samples, please send them to MLA headquarters by May 4.

Those who are attending the meeting and interested in learning more about promotional ideas and what type media to use, a PCI representative will also conduct a free marketing seminar, followed by a question-and-answer session. The seminar, "The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of Social and Traditional Media," will cover the best ways to use blogs, Twitter, local television, radio, and newspapers to get your messages to the right audiences.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA

Next week I am going to try a personal experiment. I am going to try and follow the HIMSS '09 conference on Twitter. I have a Twitter account and I used the "Find People" feature to find the HIMSS Twitter feed and I subscribed to it. There are over 1300 followers and 750 updates so far, and the conference has yet to start.

I am especially interested in following anything on the HIMSS Social Networking 101, Meet the Bloggers, and HIMSS Virtual Conference sessions.



HIMSS Social Networking 101
Facebook...Twitter...Linkedin...SharePoint...HIMSS Connect! With the numerous, and seemingly ever-growing, social networking sites available to us where does one go online to find HIMSS members? Join us for an in-depth exploration of the sites currently being utilized by HIMSS staff (and members) and learn how each provides their own unique way for you to connect online with your peers.



Meet the Bloggers
You've read their posts, you've commented on their ideas, now is the time to meet face-to-face. Join this uncommon experience and hear from bloggers themselves on what it takes to create, maintain and locate blogs regarding healthcare IT. This moderated roundtable is intended to discuss the responsibilities and dedication required to run a professional blog.



HIMSS Virtual Conference

What happens when you can't get away from work or simply don't have the budget to attend large, national conferences? Does it signal the end of learning, networking and professional development? No! Join us for a demonstration the attendee experience at a HIMSS' Virtual Conference & Expo as well as a discussion of the benefits of virtual conferences, such as: Synchronous online learning and live chat Dynamic, real-time participant movement in and out of exhibit booths and educational sessions Interactive attendee networking opportunities Vendor presentations.



The MLA has been working toward making meetings more virtual and available to those unable to attend. In 2008 the Annual Meeting had Webcast one of the Plenary Sessions, they had 10 Official Bloggers dedicated to blogging the meeting, and some some industrious fast fingered librarians started unofficially Twittering the conference which if my memory is right helped bring about the medlibs Twitter feed.



This year MLA will be trying to reach out to non-attendees again. Some of the developments that I know of are:

MLA 2009 Blog -I am still looking for more people. You know who you are, and you know you can blog. Applications are still being accepted so hurry up fill one out and blog.

MIS Top Technology Trends III Program Session - Has plans to have a virtual presenter, will be Twittering the session, and plans to accept Twittered questions.

MLA 2009 Twittered - You can follow the conference on Twitter using the MLA 2009 Twitter feed. It is an experimental method for us, twitterers will be your peers who happened to like to Twitter.



I am not sure of other plans, perhaps those who are in different areas of programing can share some of their methods to making the conference a little more available to non-attendees.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA, Social Software, Technology

T. Scott writes an interesting post on the MLA Connections blog about MLA President Mary Ryan's task force looking into MLA's Code of Ethics for Health Sciences Librarianship. Specifically Mary is interested in conflict of interest issues and how they might apply to the Code and MLA disclosure policies.
It would seem that institutions' policies on conflict of interest are varied across the United States. Scott mentions a story about a vendor withdrawing their sponsorship of a conference because of the organizing library's institutional conflict of interest policies prohibit it. I remember going to a conference (can't remember where and when) there was a bunch of us librarians on the airport shuttle going to the hotel. Once we found out we were all librarians we got to chatting. The topic came up about the free shuttle bus transportation, sponsored by a vendor, that provided attendees with a ride to/from the conference and the hotel. One of the librarians mentioned as a government employee she was not allowed to take the shuttle bus because it would be considered a conflict of interest. She had to either walk (too far), take public transportation, or rent a car.
I am all for full disclosure and trying to prevent conflicts of interest but this instance just seemed to be taking the policy to the extreme. I think MLA's Code of Ethics and disclosure policies are important. However, as Scott mentions "each of has to live within the rules established by the institutions that employ us" and I wonder how effective or helpful MLA's policies would be to deal with the broad range of institutional policies that its membership adhere to.

It is something to mull over. If you have any thoughts, consider registering with MLA Connections and commenting on the topic.

Labels: Leadership, MLA

Rikke Ogawa posted on Medlib-l today that there are some pretty good airfare deals right now to Hawaii. I found similar priced deals at airfarewatchdog.com.
Here are some sample fares:

• LA $335
• NY $593
• DC $499
• ST LOUIS $451
• DALLAS $503
• PHILADELPHIA $515
• CHICAGO $479
• CHAPEL HILL $523
• BUFFALO $500
• ATLANTA $533
• SEATTLE $322
• PHOENIX $327
• COLUMBUS $484
• ST PAUL $579

It is getting close to crunch time. If you were on the fence and you were waiting to see if you could get any good airfares, now is the time to jump.

Don't forget: WE NEED BLOGGERS!!!

If you are going to MLA and would like some AHIP points please consider blogging about your experiences. For those of you traveling with a laptop this an opportunity to get free wifi via a wireless card courtesy of MLA, you just need to make two posts per day to the blog during the meeting.

You can find more information about blogging at the MLA 2009 Blog http://npc.mlanet.org/mla09/. The application is http://tinyurl.com/b74lbm.

Deadline is April 24, 2009. Results will be announced May 1, 2009.

Please consider blogging. There will be a lot of people on the main land looking to the blog as a method to stay in touch with the Annual Meeting's events and information.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA

Are you going to Honolulu for MLA’s 2009 Annual Meeting? If so then consider becoming an Official Blogger for the 2009 meeting. While we can’t offer an “Official Blogger” t-shirt you will receive 3 AHIP points for officially blogging on the annual meeting.
In order to provide the most coverage MLA is looking for all types of people interested in writing about the events and activities occurring at the MLA. Potential bloggers do not need to be current authors of a blog, but must have experience using and posting with blogging software such as WordPress. Those selected as Official Bloggers will be asked to commit to authoring a specific number of posts per day.
MLA members traveling with laptops can apply to be an Official “Wireless” Blogger. Official “Wireless” Bloggers will be given a wireless card which will enable them to receive wireless access for the duration of the conference. There are eleven openings to be an Official “Wireless” Blogger. Bloggers with laptops and MLA sponsored wireless cards will be asked to author at least two posts per day. Since the number of wireless cards is limited the process will be competitive. A panel of judges will consider the blogger’s experience and previous online writing work (blog posts, newsletters, wiki entries, etc.).
Those who are traveling light and are not taking a laptop to the convention or those who already have a laptop and have their own wifi solution can also be Official Bloggers. These Official Bloggers may post their entries in the Internet Café or by other means such as by cell phone or by using their own wifi provider. These bloggers will be asked to author at least one post per day.
Both types of bloggers are eligible for 3 AHIP points. Bloggers will be posting to the central MLA 2009 Blog site http://npc.mlanet.org/mla09/. Bloggers will have the opportunity to sign up on a calendar http://npc.mlanet.org/mla09/?page_id=6 to blog about specific activities. This will serve as an aid to help bloggers and members know who plans on covering what aspects of the meeting and what areas might need additional coverage. Multiple people can blog about the same event (different perspectives are always welcome) but bloggers can use the calendar to view opportunities to post on something else. Bloggers are encouraged to post on items and events related to the meeting. This can be information from vendors in the exhibit hall, a new product, poster and paper sessions, section programs, lectures, continuing education, dinners and parties, discussions, etc.

Deadline is April 24, 2009. Results will be announced May 1, 2009.

Application to be an Official Blogger can be found at http://tinyurl.com/b74lbm, for more information please or questions please contact Michelle Kraft at kraftm[at]ccf[dot]org.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Blogs, Hawaii, MLA

The 2009 National Program Committee (NPC) invites submission of abstracts for a special late-breaking poster session at MLA '09. Submissions sought include new technology trends that have recently emerged, innovative library programs, and notable projects or research that has taken place (or been completed) since the original October poster submission deadline.

Priority will be given to original submissions. Previously submitted abstracts should only be resubmitted if they include new information or results.

Authors are encouraged to submit a structured abstract and should use the late-breaking poster submission form to submit your abstract by Monday, March 16, 2009.

Twenty-five posters will be selected. Posters will be presented during the regularly scheduled poster sessions. The primary author will be notified of acceptance by email the week of March 23, 2009. The lead or presenting author must be identified at the time of submission and is expected to pay for that day's registration. Presenters will be required to staff their posters at their assigned poster session time.

Posters will be available for viewing during MLA '09. Posters and related handouts will be posted to MLANET prior to the meeting.

See the original Call for Participation (PDF) for additional information about poster boards and other information about the exhibition space. For more information about posters, see the frequently asked questions on the MLA '09 website.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA, Technology

It is award week. Well yes, the Academy Awards presentation will take place this Sunday, but more importantly the winners of the 2009 MLA Awards have been announced.

Congratulations to those who won an Award, Fellowship, Grant, Scholarship, or became an Honorary Member.

Medical librarians are also some pretty creative people. The National Medical Librarians Month Creative Promotions Award Winners were announced as well. Congratulations to Debra Miler, Rosa Edwards, Loretta Merlo, and Jennifer Lloyd. You can read more about the 2008 winners in the March 2009 MLA News.

Finally, there is a call for nominations for the Friends of the National Library of Medicine: Michael E. DeBakey Award and a call for the Grace and Harold Sewell Memorial Fund grant award.

Labels: MLA

The deadline for the Hospital Library Section (HLS) Travel Award Grant is February 16, 2009!

If you are a member of the HLS and planning or considering going to the MLA meeting in Hawaii you should really take advantage of this opportunity. According to a recent email on the HLS-list the committee has received very few applicants.
The committee will provide 4 grants of $500 to winners. Grants will be awarded to HLS members based on the benefit to the section and financial need.

For more information and criteria go to: the http://hls.mlanet.org/ HLS web site and see Travel Award announcement: http://hls.mlanet.org/HLStravelgrant09.doc.



Personally, I think this is a great opportunity for any HLS member who is thinking about going to MLA. In previous blog posts I have lamented about the lack of funding for regular mid career librarians who have gone to at least one annual meeting. Until recently there just weren't a lot of grants out there to help fund those sort of medical librarians. With the economy and with the meeting located outside of the continental U.S. various MLA sections are really trying to provide many opportunities for librarians to get travel grants. I don't know whether other sections have had a lot of applicants, but I think it is sad that a section with 1043 members (statistics from HLS 2007-2008 Annual Report) has few applicants for the travel grant. One would hope this is because a lot of the members' institutions are paying for it. However, from the stories I have heard among various colleagues (academic, hospital, special, etc.) institutions are cutting back on travel not funding more of it.

There are still those librarians out there howling about how expensive it is to attend MLA (regardless of where it is held). Yet where are these people when there are more grants available?! I am extremely fortunate that my institution decided to fund my trip. Had they not done so or only funded it partially I would be applying for every travel grant I qualified for.

Not everybody can go every year nor afford to go every year but out of 1000+ members you would expect you would have a consistently large group of people wanting to go and wanting to get funding. We all have financial obligations but we also have a professional responsibilities and obligation to stay up to date and expand relevant skills in today's economy. MLA and its sections can help us achieve those professional responsibilities, but the individual must make a commitment too.

Labels: Annual Meeting, ContinuingEducation, Hawaii, Hospital Libraries, MLA

The 2009 National Program Committee (NPC) hopes to bring attendees at MLA '09 in Hawaii a fresh and timely update on what's hot and/or cool in our libraries. A special session, the "Speed UpDating Open Forum," will be held to get quick flashes of new ideas or useful tips and tricks on emerging topics of interest to MLA members.

The agenda for this event is a little different than others. Meeting participants will set the agenda and there will be no editorial evaluation in the selection process. Therefor the NPC will select the FIRST 12 submissions received.

This open forum will be Tuesday May 18 at 7:30am


Interested? Participants only have 5 minutes to speak and should be willing to share their stories without visuals. The only technology that will be used will be a stopwatch to keep everyone on time.



To ensure that these ideas are fresh, the NPC will have an open submission period beginning January 25, 2009. Send your topic or idea submissions to the NPC. The NPC will accept ideas until the first 12 have been received. Reminders will be sent via FOCUS. The participants will be named in the April MLA News.



What a great idea! I kind of think it is similar an oral "swap and shop" where each person quickly explains what they have done that is neat or that has worked for them. The best thing that participation is really easy (no Power Point slides, long speeches, etc.) and it looks to be interesting as well as fun.



So if you are going to MLA '09 and you or your library has done something neat, definitely submit your idea to the NPC and talk about it at the forum. Chances are you will be talking about it with your friends during the meeting, so why not spend 5 minutes talking about it so more people can hear about it too.

Labels: Annual Meeting, ContinuingEducation, Hawaii, MLA

(courtesy of HLS-list)

Did you know that there's no limit to the number of awards that can be presented at the MLA conference? Over the years, the number of awards given out has dwindled, even though it's a known fact that our members are out there making a difference! It can't be done without you! Nominate your colleagues! Nominate yourself! Let's give our members the kudos they deserve! This year they will even be honored by MLA at the awards luncheon!

It's a new year! Don't worry about resolutions right now….it's time to reflect on what you and your colleagues have been doing over the year since the MLA conference in Chicago in May 2008! Many of our Hospital Library Section members are out there making a difference in the hospital librarianship field. HLS strives to recognize these members whose accomplishments and successes serve to advance the profession.

Have you taken notice of an HLS member’s endeavors such as:

• Activity in publication, research, technological innovation or leadership?
• Management of a special project or event on the job or in their community?
• Making a difference by contributing to the profession of hospital librarianship in their institution, local organization, chapter or national association, even though they've only been in the profession for five years or less?

Look for deeds such as:

• Publications in newsletters or journals
• Research projects
• Grant proposals
• Development of user's aids or poster sessions
• Development of new uses for software programs or networking breakthroughs
• Leading campaigns
• Holding office in any division of an organization
• Performing services that contribute to the betterment of those around them
• Taking charge to solve a problem
• Offering easier access to quality information
• Other unique or innovative activities

Nomination forms have been updated, as well as criteria for awards clarified, so see the awards page at http://hls.mlanet.org/Awards/index.html to print out forms and find more information.

The deadline of February 15th is fast approaching, but extensions may be agreed to by contacting Karin Havens, Chair of the Professional Recognition Awards Committee at
karin[dot]havens[atsign]emory[dot]edu prior to the deadline.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hospital Libraries, MLA

Please check out MLA Connections to view the entire post regarding MLA Priorities for 2009-2010. The MLA president elect, Connie Schardt, has prepared her presidential priorities for approval at the February Board meeting and here is a peek of what she intends to present.

1. Cultivating New Leaders
2. Educating New Members
3. Connecting at the Annual Meeting
4. Connecting for Committee and Task Force Meetings
5 Connecting for Professional Development

Connie writes, "These priorities are grounded in previous initiatives and continue to build our community. Are these good ideas or bad ideas? Will they strengthen the association? Will they help you in your career development? Will they help you in your job? Please comment."

For more details and to add your thoughts go to MLA Connections and login to comment. If you haven't created a login account you can register and create one.

Labels: MLA

I have been planning on attending the MLA Conference in Hawaii. It won't all be fun in the sun, I am on a few committees and I plan on presenting. My library had originally told me they would support my trip, just like they did when I attended the conference in Chicago. Unfortunately yesterday an email was sent out to all hospital employees detailing some ways that the hospital will be tightening its financial belt in these tough economic times. One of those ways is to halt travel. "Travel should be limited to trips that are critical to our organization's mission." Uh oh.

So I immediately did what any librarian would do, I jumped on to the computer and started looking for travel grants. Fortunately I found quite a few grants that might work. Unfortunately it is too late apply for most of them. It is either past the deadline (MLA grants) or it will take too long to get funding, as is the case for the NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings grant, the process takes approximately 6 – 9 months from the application receipt date.

For me this has nothing to do with the fact that the conference is in Hawaii. Aside from airfare, the cost to go to the conference in Chicago and Hawaii are fairly close. Basically, I wouldn't be able to attend an MLA conference in any city (except Cleveland) without institutional support. I value that institutional support, without it I would not be able to be as active in the profession as I am. Note, there are no MLA grants for mid career librarians who have attended the conference before, even if it was 20 years ago.

Now I am looking for money in other places. CNN recently published an article, "Unusual and Legal Ways to Make Money" where a woman was paid $1,200 for 27 inches of her hair that she sold on HairTrader.com. That won't work, I just cut my long hair last month.

I have made commitments that require my attendance at the annual meeting. I agreed to them before the change in my organization's travel policies. I will stand by my commitments. Short of finding any money in the walls of my 90 year old house (note to all contractors I will split it with you 50/50 to avoid the legal craziness), I will just have to go with the tried and true method of trying to sock away a little each month to go. Easier said than done when there are life commitments, as anonymous points out.

For those of you going, how are you paying for it? Please share, because I am sure that the information will benefit more than just me.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA

(reprinted from MEDLIB-L)
Is MLA '09 in Your Future?
Let us know! Planning for MLA '09 is well underway, but 2009 National Program and Local Assistance committees still need your help. Please take five minutes to help the committees finish planning programs and events with our quick survey. We greatly appreciate your time and feedback. The survey deadline is December 15, 2008.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA

Today is Election Day in the United States. Although many states (including Ohio) allow registered voters to vote prior to the actual day, there are other states that don't allow this, and there are people who specifically wait until election day to cast their votes. So for all of you registered voters who haven't voted yet, get out there and vote.

Speaking of voting, don't forget that MLA has announced the Slate for the 2009/10 MLA Election. All MLA members with email addresses on file will receive ballots electronically.The election will be held November 5–December 10, 2008. Paper ballots will be mailed to members without email addresses on file.

Members will be voting for the MLA President-elect, two positions on the MLA Board of Directors, and nine representatives on the MLA Nominating Committee.

Go to MLANet for more on the election and a complete list of candidates

Labels: MLA

The time period for commenting on the MLA Strategic Plan Comments via MLA Connections Blog has been extended. Visit MLA Connections today read more about the plan and to register. After some initial comments, the MLA Board has decided first start with the vision and core values statement.
Specifically they would like your opinions on whether the vision statement still relevant and whether the core values are still appropriate?
Think about them and think about whether we need add or change them in some way.

Register to comment and post your comments before Nov 14th. Then they will move on to review the Strategic Plan's Goals.

Labels: MLA

MLA Board is reaching out to MLA members, soliciting opinions and comments on the strategic plan. The comment period began October 10 and ends on October 31, 2008. So you only have a few more days to read, comment and become involved in your profession.

So far there have been very few comments on the plan. But I encourage you to read it, think about it and make a comment. It is a big plan to think about all at one time. You don't have to comment on the entire document, but if you see one or two areas for improvement then submit your opinions.

As Scott Plutchak said on his blog about the MLA Board, "We're doing our part. But if the members aren't willing to take the time to participate, then what's the point?" I'll say it a different way, the board members aren't mind readers, they need your feedback. You can't complain about the way MLA is headed if you never bothered to be active and voice your opinion.

Labels: MLA

Do have great ideas bursting out of you? Or do you want to change the way things are done, shake things up a little bit? Get involved.

The Medical Library Association Board reviews MLA's strategic plan regularly and they revising it as changes in the profession and health care occur. "The strategic plan drives the association’s priorities for each year and is the basis for the association’s business plan." This year, the Board wants you (picture a board member pointing at you ala Uncle Sam) an MLA member to comment on the strategic plan and make suggestions. You can access the Strategic Plan at http://www.mlanet.org/about/strategic.html. You join the discussion through the MLA Connections members' blog. The comment period will end on October 31, 2008. Visit MLA Connections today to register.

Commenting and submitting your thoughts on the grand plan is great and nice way to get involved, but lets say you were thinking of other methods to be involved. If so, you should consider applying for a 2009/2010 MLA Committee Position. October 31, is the deadline for applications. Being on a committee will not only help develop your leadership and networking skills, but it is another way for you to become involved in the organization. You must complete the application available online. You will need your MLANET username/ID and password to enter this members-only section. There are a whole slew of committees to satisfy many varied interests.

Labels: Leadership, MLA

The dealine to submit a paper or poster for MLA 2009 Annual Meeting in Hawaii is October 6, 2009. That is less than two weeks away!

For more information go to http://www.mlanet.org/am/am2009/call.html

(courtesy of MLA)
Papers:
Contributed papers can explore the newest ideas, best practices, and fusion-related themes. Consider what is best in local practices, valid research results, current trends, use or development of innovative technologies, and future projects that highlight what is best about health sciences libraries and information centers and the role librarians and information professionals play in making health information available to all. Handouts and electronic presentations from the paper presentations will be posted to MLANET. Plan to submit your abstract, using the structured abstract guidelines at www.research.mlanet.org, by Monday, October 6, 2008.

Posters or Electronic Demonstration:
The 2009 NPC also invites proposals for best ideas expressed as a poster or electronic demonstration. The range of opportunities for self-expression is unlimited. Consider the use or development of innovative technologies, local best practices, valid research results, current trends, and future projects that highlight the power of partnerships, the best about health sciences libraries and information centers, and the roles that librarians and information professionals play in making health information accessible to all. Posters will be available for viewing during MLA ’09. Posters and related handouts will be posted to MLANET prior to the meeting. Plan to submit your abstract, using the structured abstract guidelines at www.research.mlanet.org, by Monday, October 6, 2008. Posters should not repeat information submitted for papers.

Are you working on a project that would make a good poster or paper but you aren't completely finished to have the results or the conclusion yet? Will you have the results by February 16, 2009? If so then please consider submitting a paper or poster based on your project. Authors of accepted papers or posters have the option to input the results and conclusions sections, not to exceed 150 words, to add them after acceptance no later than February 16, 2009.

Labels: Hawaii, MLA

I am forwarding the National Program Committee invitation to the 2009 MLA Annual Meeting in Honolulu Hawaii as a reminder to North American librarians as well as other librarians around the world to attend. For some people who live in other parts of the world such as China, Japan and Australia, Honolulu is closer than if they were to attend an MLA meeting on the mainland of the United States.

(forwarded from the NPC)

On behalf of the Medical Library Association's National Program Committee (NPC) we invite you to participate in MLA's 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition, May 15-20, 2009, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

The meeting promises to be one of the most important gatherings of medical librarians and related health information professionals. MLA's programming and exhibition hall have grown in size and scope, attracting over 2,300 attendees. Interest has already been expressed from librarians and information professionals from China, Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
MLA'09 will be your opportunity to explore new trends and paradigms in today's professional environment. Programming will focus on your concerns ranging from work-life balance and environmental issues to the impact of social networking, scholarly communication, space planning, curricular design, and strategic initiatives.

The NPC encourages international attendees to submit an International Poster abstract, which is due early December 2008. To submit an abstract, request a letter of invitation and view other important meeting information please see http://mla.hawaiiconvention.com/index.cfm

If you have not attended an MLA meeting and would like to see a session from MLA'08 see http://mlanet.org/am/am2008/events/plenary_webcast.html

The tropical island of Oahu, known as the gathering place, is the ideal global setting for MLA'09. From the moment you arrive you will be energized by fusions of floral air, breathtaking natural beauty and the warmth, charm and sincerity of Hawaii's people and aloha spirit. The theme "iFusions" connects our island to the fusions of events, opportunities and technologies that we face in today's explosive information world.

We look forward to seeing you in beautiful Hawaii for an enjoyable and professionally rewarding experience.
Best regards,
National Program Committee

Labels: Hawaii, MLA

(courtesy MEDLIB-L)
Do you have a scenario (story) about how your library has significantly helped the hospital financially or in other ways in one of the following areas.

• Research and Innovation -example: helped the hospital get a large grant (millions of dollars,) or integrate an innovative service
• Education -example: provided educational support services that saved a residency program
• Clinical Care -example: supported critical patient care, or provided information at the point of need
• Management of Operations -example: save a large amount of money, positively impacted the bottomline, or negotiated a great return-on-investment
• Service -example: contributed to customer service or patient safety in a significant way

The MLA Vital Pathways (Document Group) Task Force intends to include some of these scenarios in the Large Vital Pathways document. This is your chance to toot your own horn and let your colleagues know what a great job you are doing supporting your hospital. Please consider helping to identify supporting evidence to accompany the many skills and talents that we have identified in our document that substantiate the value of the hospital library and most importantly the hospital librarian. They are looking for stories about a paragraph or two in length.

Forward your stories to Rosalind Lett to share them with the group. If you will send your story by September 20th to mfprotts[at]yahoo[dot]com with the subject VPP Scenario, to send the collected works to the VPP group before their next meeting on Sept 24th.

Labels: Hospital Libraries, MLA

I am sure a lot of you are familiar with Mark Funk's OnlyConnect blog. Well MLA will soon debut the MLA Connections Blog as a method to keep memebers and others informed about MLA as well as generate discussions. According to Scott Plutchak, the blog is "another experiment in trying to make the organization more open and transparent. "

It will probably come as no surprise that I am all for the blog. I am the type of person who likes to pop the hood of a car to see what is going on. I like transparency. I like hearing other people's perspective on things. The blog will be open members as well as non-members allowing for discussions to be truely open (through comments) to the medical library community. Hopefully openness will generate some truely interesting discussions. As Scott mentions transparency and submitting posts can only go so far. It is a two way street. The Board members and headquarters staff will be posting, but for it to be a truely communicative process, readers must share their thoughts and perspectives through comments.

I think it is an exciting and interesting time to be involved in MLA.

Labels: MLA, Technology

I admit I kept forgetting to vote on all of the proposed MLA by-laws changes. With this cold that I am battling, my Olympic viewing obsession, and a whole host of life's daily events it just simply slipped my mind. Thankfully the good folks of MLA have reminded me once more by email to vote and I did. If it had been a snail mail ballot, it might not have made it back in time.

I received an interesting email on the Medlib-l listserv shortly after I voted. The email was from Jonathan Lord the MLA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Chapter Council Representative Alternate and it was about voting on dues increases.

According to the email, MLA has been gradually moving into the electronic age like electronic balloting for elections and bylaws changes. It was brought up at the September 2007 MLA Executive Board meeting to allow members to vote on dues increases electronically rather than in person at the Annual Meeting. While the motion was introduced, it was defeated. However the motion to take the idea into consideration and report to the Board at the September 2008 Board meeting was approved.

Jonathan feels voting on dues increases at the Annual Meeting is unfair to a majority of MLA members. Those who are unable to attend the Meeting are excluded from voting. I have to say I agree with him. There are many valid reasons why some people are unable to attend MLA each and every year. I don't want to get into all the reasons why somebody cannot attend, instead I the focus should be more on how those who cannot physically attend can still participate. Voting is one small but important way to participate. Allowing all voting to be done electronically not only allows more MLA members the opportunity to participate in MLA's direction but it gives everybody an equal chance at submitting their vote, not just the fraction that happen to attend the meeting.

Am I totally missing something? Is voting on a dues increase any different than voting online for the MLA elections? What are your thoughts on this?
If you have an opinion on this issue, Jonathan recommend you contact your MLA Chapter Council Representatives and let them know.

Labels: MLA, Technology

It is never too early to get your Nenes in a row for Hawaii. The MLA '09 Meeting schedule is available to glance at. It has been adjusted so that attendees have more open time in the afternoon to plan their own activities. You may want to consider visiting the USS Arizona Memorial, shopping for gifts, learning to surf (yours truly is planning on trying that), or just simply sipping your BOC (beverage of choice) and watching the surf.

Don't forget if you want to participate and present a paper or poster, you must submit your structured abstract at http://www.research.mlanet.org by October 6, 2008.

After the meeting you want to do a little touring around Hawaii but you don't know where to start, where to go, or what to see? You might consider going on a cruise of the Hawaiian Islands. MLA has arranged for discounts on a post meeting boat cruise touring some of the other islands. For more information go to:
http://www.mlanet.org/am/am2009/hawaii/cruise.html?focus_20080807

For more information about the meeting, travel tips, sight seeing, etc. don't forget to go to MLA '09 Wiki and MLA's website.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Hawaii, MLA

Just when you think you have heard enough about cadidates and elections, you are hit with it from another side, MLA. Rest assured you will not have to suffer through Paris Hilton commericals or talking heads on CNN. All you have to do is view the list of candidates, make some decisions, and vote between November 5 and December 10, 2008. You don't even have to go down to a polling place and wait in line, it is all done online. For those of you without email addresses on file a paper ballot will be mailed to you.

You will be voting for the MLA President, MLA Board of Directors (two positions), and members of the Nominating Committee (nine positions).

For more information including the list of candidates go to:
http://www.mlanet.org/newsroom/2008/aug08.html?focus_20080807


If you are looking for additional ways to be active in the profession, consider joining a committee. Do you want certain programming or do think MLA needs to focus on certain things? Change the system from within, join a committee.
Committees help create many of MLA's activities and policies. Check out the committee descriptions and apply is via MLANET. You will need your MLANET username/ID and password to enter this members-only section. Applications are due October 31, 2008, and appointments will be made beginning in February 2009. If you want more information about serving on a committee and answers to frequently asked questions, check out the article in the August issue of the MLA News by President-elect Connie Schardt, AHIP.

Labels: MLA

MLA in Philadelphia is just around the corner. If you are attending the conference you might want to consider not only attending the Roundtables but also volunteering as either a Facilitator or Recorder.

MLA is still in need of volunteers for the topics below:

Topics to Facilitate
#4 - Copyright Issues
#6 - Electronic Health Record
#16 - Library Space Planning
#18 - Management/Leadership
#19 - Managing Resources in Emergency/Disaster Situations
#22 - Open Access/Scholarly Publishing
#24 - Strategies for License Negotiations with Vendors
#25 - Talking to Administration/Communication Techniques
#26 - Technology Issues for Hospital Librarians

Topics to Record
#2 - Clinical Decision Making
#5 - Digitization Issues
#6 - Electronic Health Record
#12 - How to Start an Institutional Repository
#13 - Integrating You or the Library into the Curriculum
#16 - Library Space Planning
#18 - Management/Leadership
#22 - Open Access/Scholarly Publishing
#23 - So You Want to Publish?
#24 - Strategies for License Negotiations with Vendors
#25 - Talking to Administration/Communication Techniques
#28 - Virtual / Electronic Library

You do not need to be an expert on the topic to volunteer and facilitators and recorders will earn one point toward membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals.
If you are interested please email: Melanie Cedrone.

Labels: MLA