Coming soon: To improve the look of the PubMed Summary results Web page, as well as to make it easier to scan titles, the positions of author names and the title of the article will be reversed. The article title will soon display on top and serve as the link to the AbstractPlus format. Author names will appear under the title; the rest of the citation remains the same.

Read the Technical Bulletin article.

From the “About Reference Extract”

Intel is ready to begin trials of their new platform for remote patient care with Aetna and others. Their platform encompasses a touchscreen unit, the Health Guide PHS6000, that has a touchscreen, built in webcam and licensed content from the Mayo clinic and others.

Read more about Intel’s endeavor.

To reflect pricing changes between the award notification and receipt, a few minor changes had been made to the items purchased; instead of a four-tiered book display, we purchased a three-tiered display, instead of two packages of gifted bookplate sheets, we purchased one package. As a result of damage during shipping, we were able to obtain another 12-pocket literature display. After sanding down the rough plastic edge of the damaged display, we were able to use display in the administrative area rather than the public area. Now there are fewer brochures laying down on a table allowing more room and more information for the public’s perusal. Also because of the new displays, we were able to expand our brochure exposure to the seating area directly outside of the Library, as well as the seating inside the door. So far, the brochures have been taken with some frequency and the chairs are being used more by those walking by.

The intention of this award was to bring more exposure to the Library, enticing staff and members of the public to visit and check out the resources that are available. I would venture to say that that goal has been met – following the time that I put the new displays up more brochures have been taken home than previously, gauging by the number of times I’ve refilled the displays. In the past few weeks, I have talked to and met many more staff than in the year prior, partially because of the new placement of the displays. Also contributing to new conversation is the rearrangement of furniture of the circulation desk. Once the new displays were put out, I realized that it was difficult to strike up a conversation with someone if 1) I did not have a view of the Library door and 2) all they saw was the side of my face – it was much more difficult to make eye contact. Enlisting the help of coworkers, the main desk for circulation was turned so that it faced the incoming traffic, and pieces of the modular circulation desk were removed so that the result was an outward facing, functional area, receptive to conversation and meeting the needs of patrons.

Circulation of in house books has increased as well in response to the ‘conversation starters’, and the barcodes and call numbers have been well protected by the label protectors. I received a large donation of periodical titles two weeks ago and was able to create gift bookplates for first issues of each volume – the donator was pleasantly surprised by this courtesy and has recommended donation to her coworkers.

Overall, this award has not only done what it was intended to do, but it has also opened pathways to new ideas and possibilities for the Library – there are many changes on the horizon. A before and after photo will be posted on the DSAMH Medical Library webpage as soon as the page’s edits go through the approval process and can be found here: http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsamh/medical_library.html

Susanne Ingle, MSIS, MLS -Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Medical Library

New Castle, DE 19720

Due to the lapse of time between confirmation of award receipt and the actual receipt of the payment, some modifications had to be made to the item order. The shredder was a different brand, but the same quality, and several hundred dollars less (we were unable to get the original quoted price because of a state contract renegotiation). As a result of that major different, an additional toner cartridge was ordered, and two of the ‘regular’ cartridges were upgraded to the ‘extra’ toner cartridges. Lubrication sheets for the shredder were also purchased. Also because of the time delay and contract changes, two of the three printers ordered where of a different series due to discontinuation of the previous series (there was minimal price difference).

The purpose of improving the technology in the Library was to increase the patronage of the physical library, as well as to encourage patrons to use the space for research and discourse. By upgrading the existing printers, and adding a new printer to the computer lab, patron satisfaction has been significantly improved. No longer are there ink stained, illegible print outs from the previous dinosaurs of printers, and no longer are there patrons waiting for the printer to ‘warm-up’ (previously a ten minute process). In the computer lab, students are now able to print out class work, tip sheets, or screenshots, adding value to the attended workshop. The shredder is in a central location, in a locked file room, easy and convenient for the shredding of confidential papers. The scanner has already seen quite a bit of use, as it was immediately converted to upon receipt – the old scanner was given to another team because it was still in usable order, just not for high volume use.

Receiving new public printers has made us rethink the organization and layout of the Library and how useable it is for its patrons. The three public access computers are not in the line of sight from the front entrance so people are surprised to learn that there are computers in the Library. In a similar fashion, there are several public study tables in the back of the Library that are tucked out of the way and are not often used. There are plans in place to rearrange the furniture of the Library before the end of the year, moving the computers and the tables to the front of the Library and the shelving units to the back, with the intention of making patrons aware of the technology improvements and creating a more user-friendly and inviting space.

A before and after photo will be posted on the DSAMH Medical Library webpage as soon as the page’s edits go through the approval process and can be found here: http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsamh/medical_library.html

Susanne Ingle, MSIS, MLS – Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Medical Library

New Castle, DE 19720

A new version of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Drug Information Portal was released in October.  The portal now covers over 16,000 drugs.

http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov

The update includes:

1. Direct searching of drug categories, which are derived from the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH®) Pharmacological Action field
2. Name and category suggestions, to eliminate common spelling errors.
3. Phrase parser that assists users in finding drug names within phrases
4. The addition of the MeSH notes, when available, to spell checker results to make selection of a possible answer easier
5. Searches retrieving multiple results now sorted by frequency of citation in PubMed®, from highest to lowest. This tends to show the most commonly used drugs first.

The Drug Information Portal is a free Web resource from the NLM that provides an informative, user friendly entry-way to current drug information for over 16,000 drugs. Links to sources span the breadth of NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies. Current information regarding consumer health, clinical trials, AIDS–related drug information, MeSH pharmacological actions, PubMed biomedical literature, and physical properties and structure is easily retrieved by searching on a drug name. A varied selection of focused topics in medicine and drug–related information is also available from displayed subject headings.

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), Middle Atlantic Region (MAR), is pleased to announce the following two winners for the MAR Planning Awards.

The purpose of the Planning Awards program is to plan or determine the feasibility for future library improvement and outreach projects. Library improvement includes strengthening the technological capabilities of libraries to respond to changes in the health information environment and to users’ needs, the ability of libraries to share resources, share and build on best practices, identify emerging opportunities and threats to libraries and develop a plan to address them. Outreach includes reaching out to communities that a library does not usually serve, or expand services to communities that are underserved and offering training, document delivery partnerships, collaborative programming and reference and research support. Planning is the foundation for success of any project.

Planning Award recipients:

1. Kathleen M. Miller

Rochester Regional Library Council, Fairport, NY

Project: Getting the (Healthy) Word Out: A Train-the-Trainer Approach for Nurses

2. Andrea Markinson

Medical Research Library, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY

Planning Grant for the “Learn More. Live Healthy!” Consumer Health Project

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region, is looking for librarians within the four state region to volunteer to be members of the Technology Committee.  Librarians from member libraries in Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are eligible to serve on the committee for a tenure of 2 years.

The committee undertakes a variety of responsibilities based on the RML’s strategic plan goals, but the main responsibilities include evaluating applications for the technology awards offered by the RML and writing short blog articles on technology in libraries for our web site.  The committee will also aid in shaping future technology award offerings.  Most meetings are held by teleconference so you won’t be limited by distance.

You don’t have to be a tech-head to be a member of the committee, but an interest in technology and how it affects the work of libraries is essential. If you are interested in volunteering to be a member of the committee simply email gregg.headrick@med.nyu.edu with the following information:

• Your name
• Your title
• Your library and type of library (e.g. hospital, academic, public etc..)
• A brief statement of interest on technology and libraries.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Microsoft’s electronic personal health record system has just reached an agreement with Aetna to offer its services to all of Aetna’s clients.  Kaiser Permanente is also, apparently, working on a similar deal with HealthVault.

Read more about the deal at Ars Technica

Over 250 information professionals attended the Delaware Library Association’s Annual Meeting in Dover, Delaware on May 9, 2008.  Delaware Health Source’s three consumer health librarians exhibited promotional items (featuring new logo and tagline) at a designed table.  These items were: jumbo tote bags (distributed exclusively at this event), pens, bookmarks, and table banner.  Consumer health librarians interacted with librarians and library staff members from libraries statewide, emphasizing distribution of new bookmarks within their host libraries.  Meeting attendees who visited our exhibit table also received brochures about the consumer health libraries, reminding them of the information services we offer statewide.  On a related note, the Delaware Academy of Medicine was honored during the day’s conference as an outstanding library in the state of Delaware.  Also, the Academy’s electronic resources librarian presented a 10 minute overview of DelMIRA (www.delmira.org) e-resources at the DLA Business Meeting.

PJ Grier- The Delaware Academy of Medicine, Newark, DE