Member Profiles
Foundation for Blood Research Biomedical Library:
In Transition
Transition — the process of moving from one plane of existence to another — is essential for success in today’s world. To be in constant connection with new trends and information opportunities, applying each where applicable, is a process we must all undertake. Since the world is in a constant state of transformation, it is vital that we transform ourselves and our libraries along the way.
The Biomedical Library at the Foundation for Blood Research (FBR) is currently going through its transformation. With the help of a National Library of Medicine Library Improvements/Collections Award, the Library is moving from the traditional library of print, brick and mortar to a virtual online service accessible to patrons and other libraries from multiple access points.
The Foundation for Blood Research is a nonprofit medical research and education institute composed of laboratory, public health, biostatistical, and education experts. Staff works diligently to find more effective ways to identify, manage, and prevent human disease through laboratory investigation, epidemiology, outreach science education, computer-based analysis, public health program design, and clinical testing. Results of research studies are published in the scientific literature each year - twenty nine in the last two and one half years.
In early 2006, I was hired as the Librarian for the Foundation. It was clear at this point that the Library needed significant upgrading, in terms of materials and format; and a revitalizing vision to carry it into the future. A plan was put together to move the Library into a digitized world, expanding services to meet the needs of patrons in an electronic age.
The first activity, of course, was to assess those needs. A user survey was performed. The results confirmed previous assumptions that the user population preferred journal information over texts, and desktop online access as opposed to physically visiting the Library. In addition to the expected results, there was also an expressed desire to have an online repository of works published by the Foundation for Blood Research.
In line with these findings, I have spent the last year reshaping the Library. The reference collection has been updated by replacing 46 items. 345 outdated or un-needed materials have been culled from the print collection. Eight books and sixteen journals have been converted or added in online formats.
To assist patrons in accessing these items, vehicles were needed that would allow patrons to electronically find out what was included in the collection and be able to click to available full text. Two vehicles were actually created. With the help of our Computer Services department, the Library page on the FBR intranet was converted to include a complete list of ebooks and ejournals, with links to full text. This page has been and continues to be a quick access point for many patrons; however, it only provides access to electronic books and journals, not the complete collection nor the institutional repository. As a compromise between full automation and what patrons are used to, it functions as a stopgap measure until patrons become totally familiar with the second vehicle, the online catalog.
The online catalog, LOLA (acronym for "Library Online Access"), was activated
this year. LOLA is a totally automated, single access point for all the books,
ebooks, ejournals, and journals owned by the FBR Library. Links to full text
are provided for FBR patrons within the FBR network. All other information
in LOLA is available to patrons from any location — work or home and also to libraries around the world. LOLA assists members
of the NNLM NER region and HSLIC, BHSL and others in locating items owned by
the FBR.
LOLA has also been instrumental in allowing patrons to access an institutional repository. A previously created database of FBR citations was helpful; but, did not contain the full text of the publications and was not available institution-wide. Many patrons expressed a desire to access the full text of these items from their desktops. Since the online catalog easily provides this functionality, citations along with the full text of each publication are being created and uploaded to LOLA. Access to these items is available to any FBR Staff member with an assigned user name and password.
While still in the process of transforming the Library, advertising and orienting patrons to the new services has begun. A brochure announcing LOLA has been distributed and is posted throughout the building. Classes orienting Staff to LOLA and all the electronic resources are planned for the near future. A follow-up survey will be completed later in the year.
Although the transformation is not yet complete, verbal feedback and usage statistics to date show a positive response from patrons, leading hopefully to success in reaching the stated goals.
Patricia A. Williams, MLS
Librarian, Foundation for Blood Research, Scarborough, Maine
pawilliams@fbr.org
LOLA Website: http://www.slk080.liberty3.net/fbr
Standardizing Medical Abbreviations:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Knowledge Services
Margo Coletti, Director
Boston, MA
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Knowledge Services (formerly Medical Library Services) is a division of the Information Systems Department at BIDMC. Margo Coletti is the Director of Knowledge Services.
One year ago, the Director of Health Information Management (HIM) asked the staff of Medical Library Services to help the HIM Forms Committee locate an authoritative list of medical abbreviations for use at BIDMC.
Upon investigation, we found that even authoritative lists contained several definitions for almost every abbreviation and that abbreviation-definition pairs were not weighted. Criteria, such as frequency of use or number of years in use, would indicate how the abbreviations might be interpreted by the reader.
We evaluated various “acronym resolvers,” which offer statistical data on the use of abbreviations in the medical literature. We determined that the Acronym Resolving General Heuristics (ARGH) database would best serve the needs of the HIM Forms Committee.
We presented our findings to the Committee and proposed formal procedures and criteria for approving abbreviations for use at BIDMC. We also proposed that Medical Library Services provide data for abbreviations that are pending approval, maintain an approved abbreviations database, and screen patient-readable forms, such as informed consents, for “plain language.” After approving all of our proposals, the Committee invited Margo Coletti to become an active member.
Recognizing the expanding role of Medical Library Services, the Chief Information officer of BIDMC changed the name of the division to Knowledge Services in August, 2007. Today, in addition to providing traditional library services, Knowledge Services staff members collaborate with the Forms Committee, work with the Ethics Committee, index online course materials for Harvard Medical School, and serve as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) agent for BIDMC.
Participants:
Margo Coletti, MLS, Director, Knowledge Services
Michelle E. Micale, Project Director, Health Information Management
Jay Daly, MLS, Information Specialist
Henrietta W. Green, MLS, Information Specialist
Nathan Norris, MLS, Information Specialist
April Silver, MLS, Information Specialist
Diane E. Young, MLS, Information Specialist
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