MLA ‘08 Blog

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The Pediatric SIG is a group of librarians from children’s hospitals throughout the nation that communicate regarding their special pediatric library interests. The group maintains an active listserv among members and meets at each annual MLA meeting. The group also collaborates on an ongoing basis to produce a core list of books for pediatrics and the pediatric subspecialties. This list is a guideline for book selection for children’s hospital library collections. The group also collaborates on interlibrary loan issues among the group.

Do you have a website and/or list-serv?
Pediatric Special Interest Group Website - http://pedsig.mlanet.org/
Pediatric Special Interest Group listserv – pedhosplib@tamucc.edu

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
The Pediatric SIG Meeting is at the Hyatt on Monday, May 19, from 3:30-4:30 PM, in the New Orleans Room.

Agenda:

1. Pediatric Core List – including books and journals in pediatrics
2. Discussion and evaluation of new electronic products – Nursing Consult, Mosby Nursing Skills with Pediatric Content, OVID SP
3. Discussion about use of CINAHL on Ebsco
4. PubMed Linkout
5. Discussion of Mark Funk’s Task Force on Social Networking Sites (Facebook, YouTube, Second Life, Blogs, Wikis, etc.
6. Library resources and the Electronic Medical Record

Is there anything else about your SIG that you’d like to share with MLA blog readers?
The Pediatric SIG is a group that is very supportive of each other and member’s needs. We also try to get together for dinner or lunch at the annual MLA meeting.

And just for fun, what’s on your must see/do list for Chicago?
My “must see” in Chicago is the Komodo dragon at the Shedd Aquarium. I’d also like to see “Jersey Boys” or “Wicked”.

- Thanks to Carol Jeuell for the news about the Pediatric SIG at MLA ‘08.

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The Library Marketing SIG serves as a network for sharing ideas and successes in marketing ourselves, our services and our libraries.

Do you have a website? a list-serv? other means of communication?
Our website is hosted at MLAnet.org. We have a discussion list, and the website links to original articles contributed by members and recommended sites. We welcome new material and new members!

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when? and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
The SIG will indeed be meeting at MLA, and is open to all attendees. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend MLA this year, but Bradley Long will be running the SIG meeting for me. It’s scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th, from 7:00-9:00am in the New Orleans room.

Is there anything else about your SIG that you’d like to share with MLA blog readers?
SIG memberships are no cost to MLA members, so sign up and get involved! Non-MLA members are welcome to join the discussion list, as approved by Section Council.

- Thanks to Mindy Robinson-Paquette for the info on the Library Marketing SIG!

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The African American Medical Librarian’s Alliance (AAMLA) SIG is committed to providing leadership and support on issues such as recruiting and retaining diverse librarians, developing mentoring and leadership for minority librarians, and creating a repository of information on the expert skills and special abilities of minority librarians in MLA, particularly those of African American descent.

Do you have a website? a list-serv? or other means of communication?
The AAMLA web site is available on mlanet. AAMLA members engage in lively discussions and exchange information via the AAMLA listserv. Please subscribe online on the AAMLA web site.

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when? and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
AAMLA is meetings and co-sponsored programs at the Annual meeting, visit our events calendar.

The Official AAMLA Business Meeting will be held on Monday, May19th from 7:00am-9:00am in the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Acapulco room.

Is there anything else about your SIG that you’d like to share with MLA blog readers?
AAMLA is co-sponsoring three exciting events at the 2008 Annual Meeting:

Connecting the Dots: Strategies for Building a Portable Career (Leadership, Networking, Professional Development & Career Building and Career Reinvention) and Speed Mentoring.
Date: Monday, May 19th
Time: 2:00-3:00PM
Location: Hyatt Regency Columbus IJ.
(You can read a description on this post from the session co-sponsor, the New Members SIG; be sure to register online)

Opening Doors: The African American Connection in Medical Librarianship
Date: Sunday, May 18th
Time: 4:30 to 6:00 PM
Room: Columbus GH.

Health Disparities: Bridge, Gap, or Chasm?
Date: Monday, May 19th
Time: 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Room: Columbus CD.

[Complete abstracts are available in the online program].

- Shannon Jones

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The purpose of the New Members Special Interest Group is to provide a forum for librarians with less than three years of experience to engage in information exchange and discuss information important to new librarians and new MLA members. Our goal is to foster learning, cooperation and support amongst new librarians and new MLA members. The New Members SIG is sponsored by the Leadership and Management (LMS) section. The New Members SIG was featured in the New Members Column of MLA News in the May 2006 issue.

Do you have a website? a list-serv? other means of communication?
The New Members SIG website is available on mlanet. New Members are encouraged to join the discussion on our listserv. We are also on Facebook as well. All interested are invited to be our friend on Facebook.

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when? and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
For more information about SIG meetings and co-sponsored programs at the Annual meeting, visit our events calendar. Membership in the New Members SIG is open to ALL MLA members who are interested in issues and concerns affecting new librarians and new members.

~ Business Meetings ~

The New Members SIG is sponsoring two meetings at the 2008 MLA Annual Meeting. All new association members are invited to attend our business meeting on Monday, May 19, 2008 from 6:00 – 8:00PM in the Hyatt Regency Toronto. The agenda (6:00 – 7:00PM) includes greetings and introductions, a review the NM SIG purpose, goals, and objectives, selection of SIG conveners, and suggestions for programming to co-sponsoring at the 2009 Annual Meeting. The meeting will conclude with a discussion forum (7:00 – 8:00PM) focusing on Leadership Development for New Librarians.

We will also be meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 from 7:00 – 9:00AM in the Hyatt Regency Gold Coast. All interested attendees are invited to join us. Several seasoned librarians will offer tips on preparing or retooling your professional portfolio. The discussion will begin at 8:00AM.

~ SIG Dinner ~

Join Us for Dinner in Chicago on Sunday, May 18th, 6:00pm at the Webber Grill, 539 N. State Street, Chicago, 60610. The restaurant is a short distance from the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Please RSVP to Ely Anderson. Need Directions? Click here to view the Google Map.

~ Co-Sponsored Program ~

Connecting the Dots: Strategies for Building A Portable Career (Leadership, Networking, Professional Development & Career Building and Career Reinvention) and Speed Mentoring.
Date: Monday, May 19th
Time: 2:00-3:00PM
Room: Hyatt Regency Columbus IJ.

“Connecting the Dots” is a two-part, hands-on session. In part one; attendees will participate in roundtables on professional development and job-searching skills and techniques. Part two is a speed mentoring session, in which mentees will have ten minute meetings with two to three library administrators to review resumes and discuss professional development opportunities. Attendees are encouraged to reserve their space at preferred round-table online.

• Table 1: Leadership
  Facilitators: Lisa Boyd and Neville Prendergast
• Table 2: Professional Networking
  Facilitators: Gabriel Rios and Meredith Solomon
• Table 3: Career Reinvention
  Facilitator: Mary C. Congleton and Molly Knapp
• Table 4: Professional Development/Career Building
  Facilitators: Julia Player and Heidi Sandstrom

Sponsored by the Leadership and Management Section, the Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee, and the New Members and African American Medical Librarians Alliance SIGs.

- Shannon Jones

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The OCLC SIG was formed when the Health Sciences OCLC Users Group [HSOCLCUG] disbanded in 2005. MLA-ers with continuing interest in OCLC products and services attend the sessions, the highlight of which is an update from the MLA Representative to OCLC Members Council.

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
The OCLC SIG will meet Sunday, May 18, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, in the Hyatt Water Tower room. The agenda will include the OCLC Members Council update, introduction of the new MLA rep’ to OCLC Members Council, and suggestions for future programming. Non-members are welcome! The meeting is immediately before the Technical Services Section business meeting and is in the same room, so TSS folks should come early and join us!

Thanks to co-convener Ginger Saha for the OCLC SIG update!

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The Mental Health Special Interest Group is a gathering of librarians who are
interested in mental health resources and services. This group includes
librarians who work with behavioral sciences programs such as psychiatry,
psychology, substance abuse, social work, and related disciplines.

Do you have a website and/or list-serv?
Since we have a common mission, we share an electronic discussion list with
the Association of Mental Health Librarians. This allows us to interact with a
larger group of colleagues with similar interests. Information about the list
can be found here. The Mental Health SIG’s website is hosted by the University of Miami Pomerance Psychiatry Library. It includes a lot of helpful resources like a core list of recommended journals for mental health.

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
We will be meeting Monday, May 19th at 3:30 PM (between our two sponsored
programs) to brainstorm ideas for next year’s meeting, to share the wonderful
things that are happening in our libraries and lives, and to provide a
sounding board for challenges. The meeting is not limited to members of the
SIG; all are welcome to come. Co-conveners for this year’s MH SIG informal
meeting will be Toni Yancey (University of Maryland) and Carmen Bou-Crick
(University of Miami Miller School of Medicine).

Is there anything else about your SIG that you’d like to share with MLA blog readers?
If you can’t attend our meeting, please drop by our sponsored programs to hear excellent information about mental resources. Our first program is titled “Interconnections: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Medical History”. The program will explore ways in which human physical health has been historically impacted by collateral fields such as veterinary medicine, psychiatry/psychology, and other disciplines outside the strictly biomedical sciences. Our second program is “Connecting Veterans, Military Personnel, and Families to Mental Health Resources.” This session will highlight how libraries are helping assist Citizen soldier families and veterans in accessing mental health resources and services. Please check the official program for times and locations.

And just for fun, what’s on your must see/do list for Chicago?
For fun, some of us are planning to visit the Mythic Creatures: Dragons,
Unicorns, and Mermaids exhibit at the Field Museum, and maybe take a boat ride
down the river to see the beautiful architectural designs of Chicago’s
buildings. And, we definitely are going to go have some deep dish pizza,
Chicago style!

- Thanks to co-conveners Toni Yancey and Carmen Bou-Crick for the inside scoop on Mental Health SIG activities at MLA ‘08!

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Health Science Librarians SIG was founded in 1995 to identify, collect, and disseminate gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgendered health care information to enhance the quality and quantity of information available to our colleagues within the Medical Library Association (MLA) and our institutions.

Do you have a website and/or list-serv?
Our Web site is available at http://lgbt.mlanet.org, and information about our email discussion group is available here. We also publish an annual/semi-annual newsletter, sharing information about the SIG’s activities at the MLA Annual Meeting.

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when, and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
The SIG will hold an informal business meeting on Tuesday, May 20, at 11:30 a.m. in the Atlanta Room at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The meeting is open to non-members, and while we do not have a specific agenda prepared as yet, we typically talk about our program activities at the current meeting and begin discussing the types of activities in which we would like to be involved at next year’s meeting.

Is there anything else about your SIG that you’d like to share with MLA blog readers?
The SIG’s membership is not limited to gay persons but rather is open to any member of the Medical Library Association who supports anti-discrimination and is pro-human rights.

And just for fun, what’s on your must see/do list for Chicago?
Chicago is home to the Center on Halsted (COH), the city’s premier lesbian, bay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) destination. The COH opened in April 2007 and is located in the center of Lakeview on “Northalsted”, a bustling, diverse commercial district. For a less intense yet still colorful venture, check out Andersonville on North Clark. Andersonville is a historic Swedish district with small-town charm.

- Thank you to co-convener Jon Crossno for sharing info on LGBT SIG activities at MLA ‘08.

Thanks to co-conveners Ruthann Gildea and Mariana Lapidus for sharing with us info on CAM SIG activities at MLA ‘08. Be sure to check out the Chicago sites on their “must-see” lists . . .

Tell us briefly about the purpose and/or background of your SIG.
Our mission statement can be found at http://camsig.mlanet.org/purpose.html

Do you have a website and/or list-serv?
Our web site is at http://camsig.mlanet.org/. We welcome anyone interested in CAM to join our list-serv; please use this link to subscribe.

Will you be meeting at MLA? If so, when and what is on your agenda? Is the meeting open to non-members?
We will meet Sunday, May 18, 3:30-4:30 P.M. in the Hyatt Regency’s New Orleans Room. Our meeting is open to non-members.

Is there anything else about your SIG that you’d like to share with MLA blog readers?
Yes! Section Council and the CAM SIG are co-sponsoring a Tai-Chi class. Please join us 7-8 am, Sunday May 18th in the Hyatt Regency’s Buckingham Room. Our instructor is Marie-France Collin, L.Ac., MSTOM, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Chicago IL. Wear loose fitting clothing, such as sweat clothes, sneakers, socks or bare feet. Ms. Collin will introduce Tai Chi, briefly explaining it’s purpose, benefits, and underlying principles, then lead the group in a simplified form. For introductory info on Tai Chi, see the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s ‘Backgrounder’ entitled Tai Chi for Health Purposes (pdf).

And just for fun, what’s on your must see/do list for Chicago?
Ruthann: Visit with friends, see the ‘bean’ sculpture (Cloud Gate) in Millenium Park, visit the Art Institute . . .
Mariana: Since this is my first time in Chicago, I would love to see lots of places there, but I think The Art Institute of Chicago is on the top of my list.

[LAC note: see our post on the Art Institute here.]

Group meetings provide a great networking opportunity at the MLA Annual Meeting. As you start to plan your activities at MLA this year, don’t forget to consider whether there is a Special Interest Group (SIG) that matches your interests.

We contacted SIG conveners and asked them to share with us information about their planned SIG activities at MLA ‘08. (You can also browse for SIG meetings in the online program planner). And because the annual meeting isn’t all business, we also asked them what they are most looking forward to seeing/doing in Chicago.

Stay tuned for their responses . . .