Beyond the library: IAIMS at Georgetown University

The strategic planning process and the pilot phase projects undertaken by Georgetown University for an Integrated Academic Information Management System (IAIMS) are described. Emphasis is placed on core services such as a local area network, an academic information management center in the library, and expansion of health sciences databases for improved access to biomedical information. Special applications in education and clinical care are highlighted. The library, a key to IAIMS activities, has emerged in a leadership role at Georgetown.     

The MAClinical Workstation Project at Georgetown University

The intent of the MAClinical Workstation Project is to develop computer workstations for medical students of the sort they will use in future medical practice. The idea is to instill information query habits in the daily clinical activities of these young physicians-in-training. The Georgetown University Medical Center Library spearheads the project in conjunction with the School of Medicine. The library handles technical support, including software development, user training, equipment maintenance, and network installations. The project began in 1988 with nine Macintosh computers; today thirty machines are distributed throughout the Georgetown University Hospital conference rooms, faculty and resident offices, and at four affliated hospitals. The Macintosh computers are connected to the medical center's local area network (LAN) with access to the Integrated Academic Information Management System (IAIMS) and Library Information System (LIS) databases. The MAClinical workstations serve multiple educational purposes in the clinical setting. Primarily, students gain experience in medical informatics by using a variety of software systems installed at the stations: the H&P Writer, a history and physical system written in the C programming language, can be used by students to prepare the admission record on patients they examine; also, students can keep patient records, check findings against a diagnostic system, look up drugs and treatment protocols, develop medical sketches, and find additional information when needed in the medical literature.     

Vocabulary Mapping of Subject-Headings of Medical and Health-Related Government Documents at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center Library

The University of Massachusetts Medical Center Library is embarking on a project that will identify, integrate and map subject-heading vocabulary of medical and health-related government documents. The vocabulary will be derived from National Library of Medicine, Library of Congress, Government Printing Office and local subject-headings, and including acronyms, initialisms, SU DOC #s and jargon.     

Medical library development at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

While libraries of all kinds in Nigeria have many problems, some medical libraries are well established and are giving the services expected of such libraries anywhere. In current conditions of restricted finance and distance from metropolitan countries, consultation and cooperation in serials acquisitions together with union catalogs of serials would be of great value. Modern copying methods make this practical. Union catalogs of monographs would also be valuable. Two new major medical libraries are projected-one half-built, the other still at the planning stage. Each must be planned to give area services rather than purely local and internal services.     

Disconnected in a connected world: knowledge and understanding of Web 2.0 tools at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center

This article outlines five Web 2.0 resources and looks at the use of these tools among medical and nursing professionals and students at the Hospital, Medical School, and Nursing School of the University of Pennsylvania. Questionnaires showed that a majority of the individuals surveyed were unfamiliar with Web 2.0 resources. Additional respondents recognized the tools but did not use them in a medical or nursing context, with a minimal number using any tools to expand their medical or nursing knowledge. A lack of time to set up and use the resources, difficulty of set-up and use, skepticism about the quality of user-generated medical content, and a lack of perceived need for Web 2.0 resources contributed substantially to non-use. The University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Library is responding by increasing the availability of basic, quick, and easy-to-use instructional materials for selected Web 2.0 resources.     

Analysis of one year's circulation at the Downstate Medical Center Library

A survey of the circulation of books and journals at the Downstate Medical Center Library was conducted, based on cancelled circulation cards accumulated during a one-year period. Analysis of the results shows the frequency of use of various materials by several groups of borrowers and brings out important differences between circulation of books and that of journals. One of the results was the compilation of a list of most frequently used journals. The findings are graphically represented by several tables and charts.     

Implementing the unthinkable: the demise of periodical check-in at the University of Nevada

Librarians generally assume that serial check-in is an essential function. The authors challenge this assumption, maintaining that the practice does not stand up to thoughtful scrutiny. The check-in process does make possible such practices as routine claiming, binding, and the tracking of title and frequency changes, but many of these ancillary functions do little to help library patrons gain access to journal content; the functions can be accomplished by other, less time-intensive means. The authors believe that in the vast majority of cases, staff time currently devoted to check-in could be much more effectively utilized and patrons better served if check-in were eliminated in favor of a much more abbreviated and pragmatic process. Librarians at the University of Nevada, Reno, have conducted a year-long experiment in eliminating serial check-in, and found that doing so enabled them to reallocate staff time in ways that significantly enhance patron access to serial content without any appreciable negative impact on patron access to print issues.     

New library buildings: the University of Michigan Medical Library and Learning Resource Center

The University of Michigan opened a new medical library in July 1980. The five-story structure combines the library with a learning-resources center. Overall, the building has operated smoothly and has been well accepted. The combining of two facilities designed to support the teaching and learning objectives of the health sciences curriculum will ensure long-term cooperation between them.     

Setting the Stage and Keeping Sane: Implementing ArchivesSpace at the University of Minnesota

As the University of Minnesota's Archives and Special Collections began the daunting task of migrating into ArchivesSpace over 5,000 finding aids from fifteen different units, a clearly defined workflow provided clarity and success. This article outlines how staff developed an implementation timeline and workflow, harnessed support from partners in IT, provided training, and what the benchmarks to success were. By sharing this well-documented and thought-out implementation workflow, it can provide guidance as others try to navigate the many moving parts of implementing new collection management technology.     

Collaborating with Information Technology: Implementing Web Search at the University of New Mexico

The University of New Mexico (UNM) has used the Google Search Appliance (GSA) to provide search for the University's Web content. When the GSA license expired, the campus Information Technologies (IT) department and the University Libraries (UL) took the opportunity to collaborate on a re-launch of the service as a joint project. By collaborating closely with IT, the UL personnel gained insight and first-hand information on how to optimize the Libraries’ Web presence. Outcomes were positive, both in the resulting product and in building bridges between the work cultures.     

Promoting an awareness of retractions: the Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport experience

The current mission statement of the Medical Library Association states that it is "dedicated to improving health through professional excellence and leadership of its members in the ... provision of information services and educational programs ..." With this goal in mind, retractions offer medical librarians a professional challenge to become involved in the scientific process. Through results of a survey conducted among the consortium of South Central Academic Medical Libraries (SCAMeL), this paper reveals opinions on the importance of retraction awareness and who is responsible for disseminating this knowledge. The paper also reports what the Louisiana State University Medical Center at Shreveport Library and other SCAMeL member libraries are doing to promote awareness.     

Observations on the AIM-TWX service at the University of Virginia Medical Library

This paper is an analysis of 100 short questionaires which were completed by patrons of the AIM-TWX computerized, on-line bibliographical search service at the Medical Library of the University of Virginia during the period from August 1971 to January 1972. The survey indicates strengths and weaknesses of the new system.     

Revision of the Wayne State University Medical Library subject catalog using the 1966 Medical Subject Heading system

Wayne State University Medical Library (WSUML) revised its monograph subject catalog in 1961 utilizing the 1960 edition of MeSH as an authority list. With the introduction of MEDLARS in 1963 by NLM, all topical subheadings were omitted from MeSH. Inasmuch as this omission could not accommodate the needs of WSUML, the 1960 edition of MeSH was retained as a guideline.In January 1966, when MeSH resumed the incorporation of topical subheadings, WSUML was faced with a decision whether to continue the current policy or to adopt the form as presented in the latest edition of MeSH. This report describes the methodology employed in adopting a new policy, the findings which resulted from the change, and an evaluation of this reorganization.     

Making lemonade from lemons: a case study on loss of space at the Dolph Briscoe,Jr. Library,University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

The setting for this case study is the Dolph Briscoe, Jr. Library, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, a health sciences campus with medical, dental, nursing, health professions, and graduate schools. During 2008–2009, major renovations to the library building were completed including office space for a faculty development department, multipurpose classrooms, a 24/7 study area, study rooms, library staff office space, and an information commons. The impetus for changes to the library building was the decreasing need to house collections in an increasingly electronic environment, the need for office space for other departments, and growth of the student body. About 40% of the library building was remodeled or repurposed, with a loss of approximately 25% of the library''s original space. Campus administration proposed changes to the library building, and librarians worked with administration, architects, and construction managers to seek renovation solutions that meshed with the library''s educational mission.     

The Implementation of a Renewal-Limits Policy at University Libraries,Northern Illinois University

Abstract

In 1991, the University Libraries of Northern Illinois University implemented a revised policy for renewals of library materials. Various system, staff, and patronrelated concerns required the access services department to adapt to immediate demands, then to seek longterm solutions. This case study examines the initial impact of the new policy, corrections, and new procedures that were adopted over time. It also examines ongoing issues related to renewals policy.     

New medical library buildings. I. The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Library of the Pennsylvania State University

This paper discusses a new medical library. The physical plant, the development of the collection, and special activities are described. The budget is presented.