If you have not checked the blog lately or do not subscribe to the blog feed, you may have missed out on these posts by GMR staff and Network members. Provided are brief overviews of regional projects, news items, training opportunities and more. Here are some of the posts from October and November, 2008:

• Geeks Bearing Gifts Distance Education Opportunity - FREE
• Tutorial on Using UMLS Available
• Recent Additions to the GMR Lending Library
• Bucky Helps Librarians Take the Byte Out of Wisconsin’s BadgerLink
• Opening Doors in Michigan
• Expanding Partnerships
• Exhibit: Live, Love, Laugh and Learn with Enthusiasm
• Advocacy in an Elevator
• Michigan, MedlinePlus and More
• I Made a Podcast

The blog feed can be found at the following URL: http://nnlm.gov/gmr/blog/feed/
The GMR encourages comments on most blog posts; your name and email address are required to post a comment, but your email address will not be published.

Jacqueline

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Jacqueline Leskovec, MLIS, MA, RN
Outreach and Evaluation Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine
Greater Midwest Region
1750 W. Polk St. M/C 763
Chicago, IL 60612-433
312.996-2464 Phone
312.996-2226 FAX

There will be an online version available of it by January 2009 where you can earn MLA CE credit. If I have confused anyone, please contact me at max@uic.edu or 800-338-7657.

Here is the information for the two non-MLA CE credit earning sessions coming up.
http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/lhs/services/virtualworkshops.shtml

Title: Can You Hear Me Now: How to Make a Podcast
Description: Thinking about how to promote your department or reach out to more people? Want to learn how podcasts can help and how to make your own? This online class is designed to provide a fun yet informative introduction to podcasting. You will learn how you can utilize this technology to enable your users to access the information whenever they want, wherever they want and however they want it. Basic steps and suggestions on how to make a podcast will be covered. This session is 2 hours in length.

Dates and Times
First session: Thursday, November 20, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (CST)
Second session: Tuesday, December 16, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (CST)

Method: Live Online

Cost: FREE

Information about registration is on the website above.

Thanks for your interest!
Max

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max C Anderson, MLIS
Technology Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine
Greater Midwest Region
1750 W. Polk St. M/C 763
Chicago, IL 60612-4330
312.996.2008 Phone
312.996.2226 FAX

Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping New Technology Trends Online is intended to provide an introduction to and update on today's hottest technology trends with an emphasis on social media and collaboration. Participants will be able to identify technology trends and understand how these trends will affect or can be integrated into traditional library services. Some of the topics to be covered include RSS, spyware, developments in mobile computing, blogs and wikis, social bookmarking and more.

Participants completing this course will be able to:
* Identify the precepts of the social web (i.e. Web 2.0, Library 2.0)
* Recognize and evaluate web-based tools for deployment in user's environment
* Evaluate and select web-based tools for dissemination of information and for assessing information for personal and professional uses
* Employ web-based tools for online collaboration

This month long distance learning opportunity includes a course shell you may access 24/7 during the month to complete readings, forum discussions and assignments at your own pace. Additionally, there will be 3 real time teleconferences held via Adobe Connect. The introductory session will be held on November 13 from 2-3 PM ET, 3-4 PM CT. This session will introduce Moodle, the platform upon which the class is hosted. The mid-session teleconference will be held on December 4 from 2-3 PM ET, 3-4 PM CT. The class wrap up teleconference will be held on Dec 18 from 2-3 PM ET, 3-4 PM CT. Participants will have until January 8 to complete their assignments.

There will be no assignments during Thanksgiving week.

To register, please contact Max Anderson at max@uic.edu.

This class is worth 8 MLA CE hours and is limited to 15 participants per region on a first come, first serve basis. All others will be placed on a waiting list for the next time the class will be taught.

Best Regards,

Max Anderson
_________________________________________
Max C Anderson, MLIS
Technology Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine
Greater Midwest Region
1750 W. Polk St. M/C 763
Chicago, IL 60612-433
Phone: 312.996.2464
Fax: 312.996.2226

Allina will be hosting the webcast, sponsored by the GMR. There is no charge, but it is helpful if you register in advance by contacting Jim Bulger: 612-863-5230, James.Bulger@allina.com

Place: Room 341, Allina Commons. Midtown Exchange. Chicago & Lake St. in Minneapolis.
Map & Directions

Please arrive early to allow for parking & getting an ID badge from building security. In fact, you might want to come really early & enjoy lunch at the Midtown Global Market.

For more information about parking, see below.

Additional information on the webcast is available on the MLAnet website

If you have questions, contact Jim Bulger.

Parking Information:
Visitors entering the Midtown Exchange ramp (on 10th Ave., north of Lake Street) will take a ticket to access the ramp. Bring the ticket with you; do not leave it in your car. The ramp is equipped with an automated payment system. There is no parking attendant at ramp entrances or exits. Upon leaving the Midtown Exchange or ramp elevator lobby and before entering their vehicles, visitors must insert their parking ticket into the “pay-as-you-go” machine to determine the fee owed. Visitors may pay for parking with cash or a credit card, after which the machine returns the ticket marked “receipt paid.” Visitors submit this receipt at the ramp gate to exit.

There are also a limited number of short term meters in the surface parking lot to the west of the building.

Instructions for how to request an administrator letter are found on the GMR "Promoting Your Library" Web page at: http://nnlm.gov/gmr/member/advocacy/index.html

Please use "Hospital Administrator Letter" in the subject line of your email request to GMR4U@uic.edu. Also let us know if the administrator should be addressed as "Dr" if appropriate. We personalize the letters.

If we get your request by October 29th, we can get the letter out during National Medical Librarians Month.
Thank you for working with us on the important advocacy effort.

Ruth

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Ruth Holst
NN/LM, Greater Midwest Region
UIC Library of the Health Sciences
1750 W. Polk Street, MC763
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-996-6872
rholst@uic.edu
Fax: 312-996-2226

Position Vacancy

Hardin Library for the Health Sciences
COORDINATOR OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Position Description: Reporting to the Assistant Director of the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, the Coordinator of Education and Research is responsible for all aspects of reference including clinical and research support services and oversight of the Library’s liaison program. The incumbent:
* Supervises six librarians and one library assistant
* Establishes policies, procedures, priorities and goals for the Education and Research unit;
* Oversees Education and Research unit activities, work assignments, and special projects;
* Plans, develops and assesses programs, services and policies designed for users;
* Coordinates, develops, promotes and assesses the library liaison program;
* Oversees consultations, reference and research assistance including staff training;
* Monitors and stays abreast of reference trends and practices in health sciences libraries;
* Monitors and stays abreast of education (information literacy) trends and practices;
* Serves on committees at the five health colleges and the affiliated hospital;
* Serves on University Libraries’ committees; and
* Contributes to and learns from the profession through such avenues as local, state and national professional organizations and publications.

Qualifications:

Required:
* ALA accredited master’s degree in library or information science or foreign equivalent;
* Three years post-Masters experience in a health sciences or life sciences library;
* Supervisory experience;
* Knowledge of trends and practices in instruction, reference services and information access;
* Experience providing advanced information services, including searching biomedical literature and full-text databases;
* Demonstrated commitment to diversity in the workplace or community;
* Excellent oral and written communication skills;
* Strong customer service and public services orientation;
* Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as part of a team; and
* Demonstrated involvement in an area or areas of professional interest that will enhance the candidate's value to the Libraries, the University, the profession of librarianship, or the scholarly community.

Desired:
* Three or more years of supervisory experience;
* Experience managing professional staff;
* Experience implementing a library liaison program and/or working as a library liaison;
* Experience with a “single service desk”;
* Experience with and/or knowledge of the Informationist or embedded library professional concept;
* Knowledge of and interest in integrating emerging technologies into instructional and/or research services;
* Knowledge of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and EBM resources;
* Experience developing instructional sessions and employing effective teaching technique.

Salary and appointment: Appointment will be made at the Librarian II or III level with a salary range of $44,000 to $59,400. The University of Iowa offers an attractive package of benefits including 24 days of paid vacation per year, TIAA/CREF retirement, and a flexible selection of medical, life, and dental insurance, childcare credit, and additional options.

Application Procedure: To apply for this position, please visit the University of Iowa Jobs@UIOWA website at http://jobs.uiowa.edu. To help facilitate your application process, note the requisition number – 56232. Applications must be received by November 14, 2008.

For more information about the University of Iowa Libraries and community, please see
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/ and http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/about/employment/recruiting.html

For more information about the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, please see
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/

The Advocacy Working Group for GMR Regional Advisory Council has been working with the GMR to help you bring awareness about the worth of libraries and librarians within your organization. Several initiatives are underway and your input and participation are needed to make this a success!

Advocacy in the Elevator
Visit The Cornflower (http://nnlm.gov/gmr/blog/2008/10/07/advocacy-in-an-elevator/#more-485) for a blog posting on using Elevator Speeches to quickly and concisely convey your message to busy administrators. Do you have a speech you already use? Do you have ideas for one you’d like to try? Share it will your colleagues by adding a comment to the existing post. Help us as we all learn to better advocate for our libraries. You can write-in your speech in a form online, or send your digital .mp3 recording to Jacqueline Leskovec (leskovec@uic.edu) at the GMR.

GMR Letters to your Administration
Back by popular demand, hospital librarians can once again request that GMR send a letter to your designated administrator(s). The intent of the letter is to inform hospital administrators the invaluable services medical librarians provide to their institutions and community. The letter will be signed by Kathryn Carpenter, Director of the NN/LM GRM office. You can see a sample of the letter by following this link: http://nnlm.gov/gmr/member/advocacy/letter08.pdf . Request a letter for your hospital administration by emailing the recipient address to GMR4U@UIC.edu. Watch for more information about this letter from Ruth Holst, Associate Director at the GMR.

Promoting Your Library
The GMR has updated links and add information on the “Promoting Your Library” web page: http://nnlm.gov/gmr/member/advocacy/. Visit this site to order promotional materials, find links to information and resources from a variety of library sites.

Best Wishes with Your Advocacy & Celebration!
The Advocacy Working Group of the GMR Regional Advisory Council
Denise Rumschlag MLS AHIP– working group chair
St.Vincent Hospital Library
Indianapolis, IN

The Library of Rush University Medical Center is seeking an innovative, friendly, and enthusiastic professional in its Public Services area for a Reference Librarian / Online Search Services and Outreach Coordinator to continue and expand our service of excellence to the Rush community. Located just west of the Loop in downtown Chicago, Rush offers an ideal atmosphere for professionals to fulfill their career goals.

The job responsibilities are as follows:

● Provide expert level mediated database searches and facilitate end-user searched in response to specific information request from Library users on the National Library of Medicine, EBSCO, OVID, Dialog, and other vendor systems. Coordinate the mediated online search service of the reference section.

● Coordinate the communication outreach program of the Library, and prepare print and online material which promote Library activities.

● As a member of the Reference staff, provide general biomedical reference service to faculty, staff, and students, perform mediated literature searches on DIALOG, OVID, EBSCO, NLM, and other platforms. Teach workshops and attend clinical meetings as Library liaison.

Required: Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited program. Excellent interpersonal, oral / written communication skills.

Preferred: Experience with teaching and experience in a health care setting. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, familiarity with MS Publisher. Degree life sciences a plus.

Salary Range: $45,000 - $49,000 annually. Rush had a comprehensive benefits package including tuition reimbursement. Apply online at https://rush.igreentree.com/CSS_External/CSSPage_Welcome.asp for job number 2008-1599. Please include letter of application, resume and the names of three (3) professional references.

The library maintains an up-to-date clinical collection of books and journals, including e-books and e-journals and a number of other electronic resources and serves the entire University and Medical Center. There are 30 FT Library Staff.

Rush University is the academic component of Rush University Medical Center. Founded in 1972, the University currently has over 1,500 students in Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences, and the Graduate College.

Rush University Medical Center is committed to hiring and employing without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, ancestry, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.
**************************************************
Christine Frank, M.L.S., A.H.I.P.
Director, Library of Rush University Medical Center
600 South Paulina Street
Chicago, IL 60612
312-942-8735 (voice)
312-942-3143 (fax)
Christine_Frank@rush.edu

*******************************
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is accepting applications for its Associate Fellowship program, a one-year training program for recent MLS graduates and librarians early in their career.

In the first half of the year, a formal curriculum offers exposure to library operations, research and development, intramural and extramural research, development and lifecycle of NLM’s web-based products and services and the extensive outreach and education program reaching consumers, special populations, health professionals and librarians. In the second half of the year, Associate Fellows have the opportunity to choose projects based on real-world problems proposed by library divisions and work with librarians and library staff over a six-seven month period. Successful projects have led to peer-review publications and to services that have become a regular part of library operations.

The September through August program also offers professional development and an introduction to the wider world of health sciences librarianship that may include:

· Supported attendance at national professional conferences, often including the Medical Library Association’s annual meeting, the American Medical Informatics Association annual meeting and others
· One week Spring Practicum at a health sciences library in the contiguous United States
· Additional brown bags, seminars, field trips and learning opportunities available on the National Institutes of Health campus
· Opportunities to meet and interact with senior management at the National Library of Medicine
· Experienced preceptors from National Library of Medicine staff
· Potential to compete for a second year fellowship at a health sciences library in the United States

The Fellowship offers:
· A stipend equivalent to a U.S. Civil Service salary at the GS-9 level ($48,108.00 in 2008)
· Additional financial support for the purchase of health insurance
· Some relocation funding
· Assistance in finding housing

Who is eligible?
All U.S. and Canadian citizens who will have earned a MLS or equivalent degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited school by August 2009. Both recent graduates and librarians early in their career are welcome to apply. Priority is given to U.S. citizens.
Applications and additional information are available on the Web at www.nlm.nih.gov/about/training/associate/. Application deadline is February 6, 2009.
Feel free to contact me for further information. I can be reached at 301-435-4083 or dunnk@mail.nih.gov.

Kathel Dunn
Associate Fellowship Coordinator
National Library of Medicine
Bldg 38, Rm 2N-19
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
301-435-4083
dunnk@mail.nih.gov

Instruction for applying are in this post: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lmcguire/hslm/2008/09/from_the_gmr_gmr_sponsorship_o.html

I am writing to update you on the progress of the My Health Minnesota à Electronic Health Library (eHL) project. I am happy to report that with Erinn Aspinall's leadership and assistance by Mary Parker and Rita Baladad at MINITEX and Katherine Chew on my staff, we have completed the feasibility study and are taking initial steps towards project implementation, with an estimated launch date in Summer 2009.

Based on a Request for Information issued to select vendors, we have determined the dollar amount that will be necessary to initiate the eHL as a two-year pilot project. It is not inconsequential as you can imagine, so I am working with Dr. Frank Cerra (Senior VP for Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota) on strategies to raise the necessary funds for the pilot. Given the volatility of the economy at the moment, this might prove difficult, but we’ll give it a try! I will send out another update when a funding strategy emerges.

Should you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Linda Watson

Linda Watson, MLS, AHIP, FMLA
President, Assoc of Academic Health Sciences Libraries
Director, Health Sciences Libraries
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
450B Diehl Hall / 505 Essex Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-626-7039 (voice) / 612-626-5822 (fax)

Please see the following information from NLM about the aftermath of Hurricane Ike and library services. It doesn't affect us directly, but it's a nice example of a disaster plan in action.

Liz

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Disaster Information Resources from the National Library of Medicine:
Hurricane Ike, South Central Region Medical Libraries, Hurricane Web Links, and a New Listserv.

As many of you are aware, the South Central RML is currently closed, and will remain closed until Thursday, September 18th, due to affects of Hurricane Ike. In accordance with the NN/LM National Emergency Preparedness & Response plan, South Central’s buddy RML, the Middle Atlantic Region (MAR), is backing up the office by taking calls and redirecting DOCLINE, when necessary. A special thanks to MAR staff for temporarily taking on this important responsibility.

For information on emergency preparedness planning for libraries as well as some post-disaster updates, see the NN/LM Emergency Preparedness & Response Toolkit at http://nnlm.gov/ep/. I am pleased to report that the toolkit received a lot of traffic the day before Hurricane Ike struck the Gulf Coast, which shows that libraries are using the toolkit as a preparedness resource. To see additional updates (or provide a status report), check the SCR blog, Blogadillo, at http://nnlm.gov/scr/blog/.

Also of note, the National Library of Medicine home page has added a news item on hurricane resources, “Online Resources for Hurricanes, Floods, and Disaster Preparedness and Recovery” at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/news/disaster_resources_online.html.

Finally, a new listserv, DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB, is now available as a discussion forum for librarians, information specialists and others interested in disaster information outreach to their communities and responding to information needs for all-hazards preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. It is also the primary source for information announcing the activities of the National Library of Medicine’s Disaster Information Specialist Pilot Project. List members may post comments and resources of interest to those involved in disaster information outreach as well as relevant announcements of meetings, training, conferences, job openings, etc. The listserv is provided by the National Library of Medicine's Disaster Information Management Research Center. You can sign up for the list and view the archives at https://list.nih.gov/archives/disastr-outreach-lib.html.

Please contact Cindy Love, lovec@mail.nlm.nih.gov, if you have any questions or comments about the listserv.