NLM will be inviting DOCLINE libraries to participate in a survey on interlibrary loan practices and needs of the health science libraries in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) and Canada.  This is your opportunity to help shape resource sharing programs of the future.

NLM initiated this survey to investigate the reasons for the declining use of DOCLINE and current practices of libraries regarding resource sharing.  The number of ILL requests entered into DOCLINE has decreased 46% since 2002 while Loansome Doc requests declined 68% in that same period.  Your response to this survey is very important and will help us to understand the resource sharing needs of librarians in the NN/LM and Canada, and how NLM can best meet those needs now and in the future.  We look forward to your participation.

The survey has 30 questions that we estimate will take about 12 minutes to complete.  

NLM will be sending the invitation email via SurveyMonkey to the address of each library’s ILL contact reported in their DOCLINE institution record.  If the listed ILL contact has previously opted out of receiving emails from SurveyMonkey, please contact DOCLINE at https://docline.gov/docline/help/contact_nlm/ask.cfm  to receive a link to the survey.

If you are exhibiting or just sharing information about NLM resources, the GMR offers a variety of options.

• Visit the GMR Handouts page at http://nnlm.gov/gmr/training/handouts.html
  • Download brochures on a variety of topics including
    • PubMed®
    • MedlinePlus® and consumer health materials
    • Exhibition Program K-12 Resources on the Web
  • This one-stop page also links to a number of other Web pages including:
    • Emergency Preparedness and Response
    • SIS Outreach Activities & Resources with brochures for ToxTown and HIV/AIDS (for example)
    • Non-English Guides to PubMed
    • Planning and Evaluation
    • even NLM Traveling Exhibitions with their related brochures and handouts
• Go online to order NLM items for drawings and special events from the NLM Promo Shop
• Members may use the Promotional Materials Order Form to order up to 250 items for a single event

If you have questions, your State Contact will be glad to point you in the correct direction. Thank you for spreading the word about the wonderful and FREE databases and Web-available materials from the NLM!

The E-Licensing Working Group of the RAC has reviewed the findings from the questionnaire that was sent out to GMR members in May.   Along with choosing 3 products that had high interest from members, the group also has determined some next steps.   Onward!

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Happy summer to the members of the GMR! According to the National Weather Service, although astronomical summer is still days away, June 1 launched meteorological summer. Time to celebrate the season of sand, sun and fun(ding)! With the annual MLA conference over and Memorial Day a memory, if you’re like me, thoughts now turn to what else but great outreach and other projects.

On May 1, NN/LM GMR entered into its fifth year (May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011) of the 2006-2011 contract with the National Library of Medicine. As a result, there is no time for those larger, longer projects that the GMR funds as subcontracts to get underway and completed before the end of our contract year. However, if you have ideas for technology improvement, a small outreach opportunity or an exhibit showcasing NLM and other resources, the GMR might have just the sort of funding option to help. (more…)

Hello GMR Members!

The E-Licensing Working Group of the RAC at the GMR has been in contact with the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) about possibly offering group purchasing of health-related online packages (ebooks, ejournals, databases, etc) to all GMR members in the 10-state region. In order to determine which packages might be initially offered to GMR members, we would like you to complete a questionnaire.

All of these are the electronic versions – no print versions. Please submit your completed survey by 5/31/2010. These offers are for new business only. The vendors are not at this time willing to change pre-existing packages. However, if this project brings them enough new business, they may take notice of it and be more inclined to offer deals for pre-existing packages.

There are virtually no price lists for any of these products. As is the case with many vendors, we won’t know what price they are willing to come down to or discount they might offer, unless we know how many organizations are interested in the product in the first place. This is sort of the chicken/egg syndrome.

Please fill out the questionnaire, which can be found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/elicensing

Thank you!!
Max Anderson

The GMR Lending Library has just added two new items that should assist writers to put a little pop in their funding proposals. Whether working on a funding opportunity for a GMR Award [See: Current Calls for Applications (CFAs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs)] or branching out for other funding opportunities, seasoned writers or first-timers might want to take a look at Proposal Planning & Writing and Models of Proposal Planning as well other titles in the GMR Lending Library. Lending Library access is provided to GMR Members free of charge. (more…)

If you have not had a chance to enjoy the benefit of the GMR’s free Lending Library, be sure to take a look at what it includes.  Our lending library includes items on topics as diverse as systems librarianship, consumer health reference, copyright liability, conflict management and more.   There are also some great resources for you to earn MLA CE Credit.

Some items that have arrived recently:

• Tailoring Health Messages: Customizing Communication with Computer Technology, by Matthew Kreuter et al. (2000)
• Health Informatics for Medical Librarians, by Ana D. Cleveland and Donald B. Cleveland (2009)
• iFusions: MLA Annual Meeting 2009 2-CD Set
• Guía de recursos sobre la parálisis, Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (2003)
• Paralysis Resource Guide, Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (2003)
• Blueprint for Your Library Marketing Plan, by Patricia H. Fisher and Marseille M. Pride (2006)
• Information Literacy Assessment, by Teresa Y. Neely (2006)
• Creating Your Library Brand, by Elisabeth Doucett (2008)
• Is Consulting for You? A Primer for Information Professionals, by Ulla de Stricker (2008)
• Engaging the Community in Decision Making, by Roz Diane Lasker and John A Guidry (2008)
• Addressing Patients’ Health Literacy Needs, Joint Commission Resources (2009)
• Intellectual Property: Everything the Digital-Age Librarian Needs to Know, by Timothy Lee Wherry (2008)

If you have any suggestions of items to be included in the lending library, please email us at gmrlib [at] uic.edu.

Recent discussions on many of our library related discussion lists have revolved around library closings and librarians losing their positions. I have spoken to more than one of our colleagues during this time. When asked, I have made some suggestions that they could use to seek future employment. I would like to share these tips with you and encourage you to use this opportunity to comment on this post adding suggestions of your own to assist our friends in their efforts to find new employment in these troubled economic times.

Obtain a free email account and subscribe to GMRLIST@uic.edu, chapter-members@midwestmla.org and MEDLIB-L@LIST.UVM.EDU to remain abreast of upcoming trends, educational opportunities and job announcements. The Midwest Chapter discussion list requires active membership. 

Consider making immediate use of alumni and professional association avenues.  If you attend a meeting, remember there are often job clinics of one kind or another offered during the conference. Here are some online options:

ALA – Joblist http://joblist.ala.org/

SLA – Career Center http://careercenter.sla.org/search/index.cfm?

MLA – Career Development http://www.mlanet.org/jobs/

Top 10 Social Sites for Finding a Job

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=57419276669&h=VW5NS&u=7Xacs