Perspectives on the Internet Librarian Conference 2003
Our shifted roles
By Ana Macias, M.L.I.S.
Medical Library Technician
Weed U.S. Army Community Hospital
[Editor's Note: Ana Macias attended Internet Librarian 2003 with support from a PSRML Professional Development Award. Shortly thereafter, in December 2003, she received her MLIS degree from San Jose State University specializing in health sciences libraries. She did her practica with Marilyn Schwartz and Jan Dempsey at the Thompson Library, Naval Medical Center, San Diego and with Laura Brown at the Jesse Library, Loma Linda University. We wish to congratulate Ana on her graduation!]
The role of librarians has changed over the years, but just how much was clearly evident at the Internet Librarian Conference, held in Monterey, CA. My initial apprehension in attending the conference, fearing it would be too technical, was overcome after attending my first session, Blogging 101. The concept was vaguely familiar to me, and I had not realized how this application not only applies to medical libraries, but that the easiness of establishing a blog, as demonstrated by the facilitators, is amazing. Medical librarians have so little time that making use of any available tools, which enhance their productivity and enable them to keep current, are always welcomed. The course showed users how to consolidate all pertinent updates into one site, rather than jumping from web site to web site. Of particular interest was the idea of tailoring blogs to specialties. For example, you could create an internal medicine blog that includes updates from different web sites and make these blogs accessible to the staff through the hospital's intranet. Through this blog, they'd be reading the most current information within that day, as opposed to several sites and several days.
Opening sessions ranged in topic, and I found them all to be very relevant to the profession. Whether it was XML, HTML, or RSS feeds, all presenters addressed the changes taking place within the information world and how these changes will affect current practice as well as future areas for the profession. Teaching information literacy has now become the focus of many in the profession. Consumers more often than not use Google solely to access health care information, and the results are - well... we know what they are.
The Health track portion sponsored by MLA, Cool Tools for Health, was an excellent presentation. The health information needs of consumers were addressed, as was the importance of teaching and referring consumers to quality health sites on the Internet. Their search skills and information competency levels are all factors that affect access to the type and quality of information they find. Only by analyzing consumer search patterns and method of thinking will professionals be better able to serve them. Analyzing how consumers search for health information establishes trends, which can be used to enhance existing web sites, to analyze information layout or architecture, and to focus on the needs of the user.
The track on eLearning was also interesting. It addressed the pros and cons of establishing a distance education (DE) program whether it is for curriculum or continuing professional education (CPE). DE is among the preferred methods of teaching across campuses today, but implementation has not come without complications. The need for continuously assessing what is learned is key to establishing a good DE program. This data is then used to make improvements and allows the facilities to continuously alter both the content and mode of presentation.
The conference has given me both new directions in where technology and information needs tie in to the profession, what changes are coming, how they will affect not only the information professional but the user as well. The sites from the MLA sponsored track will be implemented in my library's consumer health page. I hope that these changes will facilitate consumers' search for quality health information.
Thank you PSRML for giving me the opportunity to attend this conference!
[Editor's Note: For more information about these awards and for a copy of the application form, go to PSRML web site at Professional Development Award.]