For all of you who were interested in the Knowledge Management workshop, but couldn’t attend, you can read all about it at http://nnlm.gov/psr/newsletter/2013/03/18/knowledge-management-workshop/  This article was written by Sunny Sritongsook, librarian at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, CA.  (bbj)

What will it take to reach your goals this year? Well, you could wait around for the politicians, economists and technology geeks to dream up with some fancy new program, but really, if that’s your plan, you’d be better off hitting the casino. Don’t worry – we have a better idea – thirteen of them, in fact. Even if you only try half of them, you’ll have a better chance of reaching your dreams than, well, just dreaming.

So, let’s get started!

1. Write down four goals. One for each quarter. Be specific. No fuzzy “have more time, make more money” stuff. Identify targeted, measurable goals: A new car, paid off credit cards, fourteen sales, more sleep.
2. Do a time study. Manage your time, not your task list. Study last month and analyze what you did each day: Know where your time goes, exactly, so you can use it, purposefully.
3. Talk to one influencer a day. Pick a past client or a current one, or maybe someone in your industry. Build a “listening period” into your schedule – a few minutes regularly to hear important feedback and see potential growth opportunities.
4. Measure something. Stop just doing things, and start measuring them. How many leads did you generate? From where? Who were they? Why did they contact you? Learn about what’s happening, to discover how to do it more, or better.
5. Try four new things. Like goals, set a quarterly learning objective. Adding four new skills or techniques to your personal or professional abilities is an ambitious plan for any year.
6. Take time off. Humans are not machines. We don’t compute all day, all night. Turn stuff off. Take a break. Make recharging your body and mind as important as any other activity in your growth plan.
7. Be yourself. Whatever job you’re doing, it’s made better because you’re you. You’re not a brand or a logo or a flyer. Incorporate yourself into your job. Lead, manage, sell or service with all of yourself, not just the part that was trained for your job.
8. Systematize. Take time to “un-chaos” any part of your day that have become harder because they’re disorganized. Get control of paperwork, task lists, even co-workers, by establishing a process and sticking to it.
9. Practice focus. Work on one thing at a time. You might be surprised how hard it has become. We’re used to “being distracted” by writing, talking, eating and watching simultaneously. Slow down, my teacher used to say, and you’ll get more done. More important stuff, at least.
10. Mentor someone. An excellent way to improve your own actions is to teach them to someone else. As you explain the “best” approach to them, you often realize ways to spiff up your own performance, too.
11. Team up. Find someone who will has similar growth plans and collaborate. Team up while prospecting, marketing, and learning new technologies. Practice, motivate and support each other as you grow.
12. Plug in. Every day there’s a new and exciting way to leverage technology to work smarter, healthier, more effectively. Or to simply work less. Find one or two and master them next year.
13. Create. Don’t just produce things, like sales, deals, reports and websites. Create something every week. Leverage your non-work passions: Cook, dance, sing, photograph, write, paint. Make something, express something, and you’ll find it easy to create better outcomes at home and work, too.                                       by Matthew Ferrara  (bbj)

In order to keep pace with the continuing advances in web technology, PubMed Central has launched PubReader, an alternative web presentation that offers another, more reader-friendly view of the articles in the PMC archive. Designed particularly for enhancing the readability of PMC journal articles on tablet and other small screen devices, PubReader can also be used on desktops and laptops and from multiple web browsers. For more information visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/about/pubreader/. [da]

A ten week online Advocacy discussion group will start during the first week of December, 2012.  The group will be reading “Winning the Story Wars” by Jonah Sachs. It is a thought provoking book that is guaranteed to generate lots of ideas and discussion.  Plan now to engage in a lively dialogue with your colleagues on how stories impact our profession!

To register for the group go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DMD25M9 and complete the registration questionnaire.  Registrations must be submitted by November 19.  MLA CE credit is being sought for this activity. (bbj)

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is pleased to announce the release of a new educational resource, GeneEd. Developed in collaboration with the National Human Genome Institute (NHGRI), teachers and experts in genetics and genetic counseling, GeneEd is a safe and useful resource for students and teachers in grades 9 – 12 to learn genetics. GeneEd allows students and teachers to explore topics such as Cell Biology, DNA, Genes, Chromosomes, Heredity/Inheritance Patterns, Epigenetics/Inheritance and the Environment, Genetic Conditions, Evolution, Biostatistics, Biotechnology, DNA Forensics, and Top Issues in Genetics.

Teachers can use the site to introduce topics, supplement existing materials, and provide as a reliable source to students conducting research. The site links to categories such as research articles, animation, games, videos, interactive tutorials, and labs and experiments. 3D images, illustrations and text from NHRGI help to enrich the user experience by providing vivid imagery to reinforce genetic concepts. Text varies from easy-to-read to advanced reading levels, which makes this a versatile tool both in and out of the classroom. Specialty pages including Teacher Resources and Labs and Experiments highlight those tools that teachers may find particularly helpful.  Other specialty pages such as Careers in Genetics and Highlights allow students to see what is new and noteworthy in the field of Genetics along with links to different careers related to the science of Genetics. [da]

Upcoming Webinar Announcement:
This Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) webinar session will highlight health disparities among American Indian and Alaska Native populations, with a focus on strategies and challenges to achieve health equity for Tribal and Urban AI/ANs.

Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
Date: September 6, 2012
Opening Remarks: Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health (Acting)
Speakers: Patricia Parker, President/CEO, Native American Management Services; Ralph Forquera, MPH, Region X Health Equity Council, Seattle Health Board, Urban Indian Health Institute
Register Here: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/487463951  (bbj)

Donna Beales, librarian at Lowell General Hospital, Lowell, Mass has published an excellent article on library advocacy and the responsibility of health sciences librarians for advocacy in the current environment.  The citation is:

Beales, Donna L.  Areas for Improvement in Medical Library Advocacy: In Our Own Words. Journal of Hospital Librarianship, 12: 208-217, 2012.  (bbj)

A new disaster topic page is now available on Droughts and Health. Learn about the human health effects of drought conditions including waterborne disease, respiratory distress, crop and food contamination, hygiene issues and suicide. Information compiled by the Disaster Information Management Research Center of the National Library of Medicine. [da]

Registration is now open to attend the Ethical and Legal Aspects of Disaster Response class.This is an advanced course and part of the Disaster Information Specialization Program. Space is limited to 20 participants for this 2-day; web-based course to be held Thursday, August 23, and Friday, August 24, 2012, 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m., Central time. This course is offered at no cost to attendees. [da]

Check out the August issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research. In this edition:

Dizziness Can Be a Drag
Coping with Balance Disorders
Most people feel dizzy now and then. But if that feeling persists or interferes with your daily life, it could be a sign of a balance disorder.
Read more about balance disorders.

Red in the Face
Understanding Rosacea
Some people think of a rosy complexion as a sign of good health. But red patches on the face may point to something more troubling—a long-lasting skin disorder called rosacea
Read more about rosacea.

Health Capsules:

• Food Allergy Reactions in Kids
• Considering Hip Replacement?
• Featured Website: Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Click here to download a PDF version for printing.

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