Resource Library Directors Meet in Irvine
The Jack Langson Library at the University of California, Irvine, provided a beautiful setting for the September 29 meeting of the directors of the eleven resource libraries and the regional medical library of the Pacific Southwest Region of the NN/LM. Carol Ann Hughes, Associate University Librarian, Public Services, UCI Libraries, graciously hosted the meeting and assisted the RML with hotel, dinner, and meeting logistics.
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Joining this group for the first time were Jim Curtis of Savitt Medical Library, University of Nevada School of Medicine; Debra Ketchell of Lane Medical Library, Stanford University Medical Center; and Christine Scott-Smith of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Library, University of Guam.
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Attending his last Resource Library Directors meeting was John Breinich of Hawaii Medical Library. John will be retiring in March 2005, after serving as director there for 29 years. His many accomplishments and contributions to the NN/LM program were celebrated at a farewell dinner the night before the meeting. |  |
As most of you know, Resource Libraries are designated institutions within the Pacific Southwest Region whose quality and size of collections or uniqueness of materials add significantly to the region's resources. The Libraries participate in resource sharing activities, making materials available to libraries at a charge at or below the national maximum for lending within the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. They also serve as backup reference resources for smaller regional libraries
At this meeting, the directors had an opportunity to hear about outreach, library marketing, and resource sharing issues. Because resource libraries also assist the Regional Medical Library in planning, coordinating and implementing a variety of Network programs, the directors were also asked for their input on some key aspects of the NN/LM PSR program.
Various outreach initiatives and funding opportunities were discussed at the meeting. This included regional projects targeting Native American and Pacific Islander populations; the NN/LM PSR Medical Digital Reference Project; the National Online Mapping Center and its role in outreach; MedlinePlus Go Local projects in Arizona and California; and the NN/LM Public Health and Public Library initiatives (for links to the various outreach programs and sources of funding discussed go here).
Gary Freiburger, Director of the Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona, shared AHSL's experience with developing and implementing a strategic marketing plan. At a time when many libraries are seeing fewer customers coming through their doors, they are looking at new approaches to reaching those that don't, and to reaching new audiences not aware of what libraries have to offer. Gary gave a presentation which was originally presented at MLA '04 by Joan Schlimgen, Head Access Services & Marketing Coordinator at AHSL.
Following Gary's presentation, the directors were given a tour of the UCI Science Library by Elaine Hernandez, Reference Librarian. The Science Library, located on the main campus of UCI, is one of the largest consolidated science, technology, and medicine libraries in the nation. The library, designed by James Stirling, Michael Wilford and Associates, has two distinct architectural features, the Drum and the Bar, which separate the collection into book stacks and journal stacks.
After lunch, the directors had the opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions on the NN/LM PSR program. After hearing a brief overview of the program, the directors commented on six aspects of the program: outreach, program areas that needed more attention, subcontracts and funding, communication mechanisms, new trends, and program structure as it relates to our resource libraries. These comments will inform planning for the final year of our contract, as well as for the next contract period (2006-2011). The resource library directors will continue their discussion at a subsequent meeting in February 2005.
Resource sharing issues discussed included resource library fill rates, ejournals & DOCLINE, an EFTS update, and DOCLINE update. Resource Library fill rates have been dropping in recent months. As of 9/23, EFTS has 100 members in the region. The introduction of the EFTS Online Transaction File feature will likely result in an increase in this number, particularly among hospital and smaller libraries. Key information about the ISO/ILL protocol was also presented to the directors. Detailed information on Document Delivery Service (DDS) options is available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/linkout/doc/docdel.html
We have a superb group of resource library directors in our region, and appreciate the services they provide to the Network, and their guidance and support of the NN/LM program in our region.