Medical Library Association Mosaic '16 Program Session Abstracts
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Medical Library Association Mosaic ’16 Program Session Abstracts Any unsolicited abstracts for the annual meeting undergo a process of blind peer review. Abstracts of papers intended for section programs are reviewed by members of a panel of reviewers from the sections sponsoring the programs. The final decision on program speakers rests with the section program planners. 1 Sunday, May 15, 2016, 3:00 PM – 4:25 PM Room: 201D Session: Lightning Talks #1 Around the World in Sixty Minutes: Launching an English Language Learners Conversation Group Emily Couvillon Liaison Librarian, TMC Library, Houston, Texas Rachel R. Helbing, AHIP Liaison Librarian, Client Relationship Management Department, Houston, Texas Objectives: Our goal for the English language learners conversation group is to provide international students and staff within our medical center the opportunity to practice English for free in a low-stress environment. We also aim to facilitate networking and cross-institutional collaboration among our international patrons by offering them an informal space in which they can discuss their research interests. Methods: We identified a need in our medical center for programming that supports practice of conversational English. By attending several sessions of a successful ESL conversation group at a nearby organization, we received advice and resources to help us prepare conversation topics and marketing materials for the launch of our own group. We contacted international student services departments at our patron institutions to spread the word and received enthusiastic responses. We launched the program in the fall semester. English language learners meet for one hour every week in a library conference room. At least one librarian facilitator attends each session to lead students through a variety of conversation topics and ice-breaker activities. Facilitators also answer questions about pronunciation, vocabulary, and idioms. We provide additional information about ESL classes available through local universities for those interested in more formal training. Results: Although growth in attendance has been slower than expected, retention for patrons who attend is very good. The group has shed light on questions international patrons have about language as well as job seeking, etiquette, and American customs. Each discussion reveals information gaps the library can work to fill for future patrons. The group has also opened opportunities for closer collaboration with international services departments in our governing institutions. Conclusions: Hosting a conversation group in the library provides international 2 patrons with a relaxed and supportive environment for improving their English language skills. It also reveals ways to better support the information needs of this population and improves their perception of library services. Crafting a Mosaic: Partnerships Between Health Sciences Libraries, Postdocs, and More Karen Gau, AHIP Research and Education Librarian, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, Richmond, Virginia Pamela M. Dillon Research Liaison, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Richmond, Virginia Teraya Donaldson Assistant Director of Educational Programs, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Richmond, Virginia Carrie L. Iwema, AHIP Information Specialist in Molecular Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Objective: To describe the benefits of a How-to Talks by Postdocs series that was launched at two health sciences libraries to support their academic research communities. Methods: Libraries at two public research universities implemented a recurrent workshop series, How-to Talks by Postdocs, for which postdocs were invited to submit talk proposals and present on “how to do” something related to the health sciences. Past talks include “How to detect and isolate stem cells,” “How to use 3D printing for tissue engineering,” and “Ethical considerations for scientific image manipulation.” Through this series, libraries are able to offer their health sciences campuses specialized education on important tools, and a space for researchers to engage in interdisciplinary discussion and networking. Additionally, postdocs are able to add formal teaching experience to their CVs, an opportunity that is not often available due to time primarily spent on lab work. This talk will focus on the benefits of this program for postdocs, other researchers, and the library. Microaggression in Medical Libraries RESEARCH 3 Lynn Kysh Clinical & Research Librarian, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Nancy Olmos Head, Metadata and Content Management, Norris Medical Library, Los Angeles, California Annie M. Thompson Director, Wilson Dental Library, Los Angeles, California Rebecca O. Davis Information Services Librarian, Wilson Dental Library, University of Southern California/ Jennifer Ann Wilson Dental Library, Los Angeles, California The amount of academic literature published on racial microaggressions has increased drastically since the early 2000s. However, the majority of the literature published is in the psychology field. There is a gap in the current library literature regarding racial microaggressions in the medical library community. A recent study in the Journal of Academic Librarianship measures racial microaggression experiences in the academic library setting, however, the study does not include medical librarians as part of the population. The speakers will share information about what microaggressions are, the group’s research process, and their work towards developing a good tool to measure racial microaggressions among medical librarians and library staff from colleagues and the library’s community of users. The speakers will also share their future plans for the project which include an outreach plan for the tool and a call for participation in the study. On the Right Foot: Development of an Onboarding Program for New Staff Jeff D. Williams, AHIP Associate Director, NYU Health Sciences Library, New York, New York Aileen M. McCrillis, AHIP Head, Information Services and User Experience, NYU Health Sciences Library, New York, New York Objectives: To promote rapid, thorough, and successful training and acculturation of new staff, the NYU Health Sciences Library developed a required onboarding program. New staff follow a customized, multi-month program designed to help them quickly become comfortable and productive in their roles. Responsibility for success is shared between the new employee, supervisor, team and/or unit colleagues, and the entire library staff. 4 Methods: Supervisors develop the onboarding plan in advance of the new employee’s arrival. The plan sequences training and orientation, as well as promotes social interaction with colleagues and development of overall familiarity with the Library. As the staff member becomes comfortable in the new environment, the plan’s focus moves to new staff meeting with units across the Library to understand their diverse responsibilities. They then meet with the director to learn about the overall medical center, and how the Library fits within the organization. Formal training for the new staff member runs in parallel with the onboarding process, with emphasis placed on learning tasks and responsibilities through exposure and mentoring from colleagues. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring the new staff member maintains progress on the plan, and supports their success through collaborative refinement of the program. Results: As of early 2016, five staff have progressed through this onboarding program. In each case the supervisor has worked closely with the new staff member to adjust the program’s pace and content based on individual needs and preferences. Feedback was solicited from staff that underwent the onboarding program to determine elements perceived as most useful and gather suggestions for improvement. Conclusions: From the perspective of the supervisors, this required onboarding program has helped new staff become comfortable and productive in their roles more quickly than former ad hoc methods. The emphasis on balancing social interactions with training and orientations has diminished the typical stress of a new position, and this allowed new staff to absorb and retain more from their training. Another benefit is supervisors have objective measures for progress and development, and the process of working with new staff to adjust the plan helps build trust and comfort in the supervisor/supervisee relationship. Mentoring: Making a Difference Tami A. Hartzell Senior Librarian, Werner Medical Library, Rochester, New York Michelle L. Burda Network and Advocacy Coordinator, Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Objectives: The Hospital Library Special Advisory Group of NN/LM MAR wanted to provide a mentoring program for hospital librarians within the Middle Atlantic Region. This presentation will highlight the development process for the program which includes: • Identifying and recruiting mentors/mentees 5 • Thoughtful matching of mentors with mentees • Establishing roles, expectations and goals of the participants • Project evaluation Methods: A variety of methods were employed to develop the mentoring program. A call went out to National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region (NN/LM MAR) members to recruit both mentors and individuals seeking the experience and expertise of a mentor. Once mentors and mentees were identified,