In November 2007, I assisted as an NLM exhibitor at the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) Conference held at McCormick place in downtown Chicago. As an exhibitor, I welcomed attendees of the conference and instructed in one-on-one sessions about the usefulness of PubMed®. Watching the multitudes of international radiologists, I wondered at the information exchange of the combined knowledge of the world’s leading radiologists. I also marveled at how it was possible that many radiologists are not aware of useful, FREE tools such as PubMed.

Faces:
Although a computer networks seem to be the modus operandi for current communication, the one-on-one relationships built within the five or ten minutes spent in person with the radiologists was certainly a more enriching experience. Where else could a library professional discuss the fundamentals of a translated PubMed search query? Students certainly do not ask these questions on our campus; most of our faculty members are more interested in the data within the articles found. Certainly communicating personally with the radiologists has enhanced my library instruction skills beyond working in a traditional student-based medical library. And I believe they left the interaction with much more than an email answer.

Interfaces:
Perhaps it is my generation or my profession that provides me with the ability to easily grasp the concepts of database and Internet interfaces. While assisting radiology professionals within the classroom setting, it was obvious how confusing PubMed could become to someone who rarely uses it. Most were quick to adapt to the concept of PubMed, but someone who uses technological imaging on a daily basis can still become flustered when presented with different interfaces. The well-constructed questions the radiologists asked left me wanting to immediately record them for future reference in my own classes.

Newcomer’s Perspective:
I continue to be amazed at the energy and kindness of my colleagues. Working at such a small institution, I do not have the ability to work within reference departments. However, I was invigorated by working with high-caliber professionals with such a team-oriented spirit. Thank you to my colleagues Marilia, Rick, Dale, Lin, Wendy, Holly, Charniel and Jacqueline for making a newcomer feel welcome and appreciated.

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