MLA ‘08 Blog

On behalf of everyone on the National Planning Committee ’08, thank you for volunteering for the first annual community service events! We also want to thank the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region, Rush University, and the Medical Library Association (MLA) for their generous contributions.

We had 15 health sciences librarians and 10 public librarians from the south side of Chicago participate in the Each One Teach One event on Friday, May 16th at the Wrightwood-Ashburn branch of the Chicago Public Library. Medical librarians shared their favorite health information websites or latest outreach projects. Public librarians shared their strategies on thinking outside the box for outreach to their communities. We believe that our event can be a model for future cross-reach collaboration, creating partnerships between medical and public librarians.

The Rush University Free Health Fair: Spring into Health and Fitness took place on Saturday, May 17th, at the Chicago Christian Industrial League with 24 health sciences librarians working as volunteers. Some volunteers staffed the MLA table conducting literature searches and giving away pens and brochures while others assisted at the Fair’s book drive and information or interpreters desks.

These community outreach events are the first to be held at an MLA annual meeting and we greatly appreciate your help in making them successful!

If you would like to participate in future community service projects for the 2009 conference, please write this in the online MLA evaluation form.

Each One Teach One participants
Rhonda Allard
Ene Belleh
Ulrike Dieterle
Ruth Fenske
Laurel Graham
Carol Hartmann
Lisa Jacob
Deborah Jameson
Andrea Lynch
Tammy Mays
Patricia Mongelia
Diane Nordeng
Linda Robinson
Faye Williams

Health Fair participants
Margaret Alexander
Wanda Anderson
Judi Bergjord
Sharon Brown
Kristina Flora
Christine Franks
Samanthi Hewakapuge
Kristine Hughes
Deborah Jameson
Shannon Jones
Ellen Justice
Darlene Kelly
Heather Kish
Tammy Mays
Sarah McCord
Ivonne Martinez
Vijay Padwal
JoAnn Sparks
Erin Stuart
Karla Van Kessel
Sandra Wenner
Ely Whitaker
Faye Williams

Thank you supporting MLA!

Tammy Mays and Deborah Jameson
Community Outreach Chairs, 2008 MLA NPC

Volunteers are needed to help staff the Placement Center/Member Resource Room along with a MLA staff member. Two volunteers per two hour shifts are needed, but arrangements can be made for one hour shifts, as well. The Placement Center/Member Resource Room is open the following times:

• Saturday 5/17, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Sunday 5/18, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Monday 5/19, 9:00 – 11:45 AM and 2:00 - 5:00 PM
• Tuesday 5/20, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Volunteers will assist members with the placement books, photocopiers and message boards. Non-MLA members are welcome to volunteer as well. Non-MLA members receive one complimentary day registration for each four hour shift worked.

To volunteer, please send the following information to Rhona Kelley at rkelley@siumed.edu:

• Badge Information: Name, Institution, City, State
• Mailing Address
• Email Address
• Cell Phone Number

If you are a non-MLA member, please mention that in your message.

-Rhona Kelley

The Medical Library Association (MLA) Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee (PRRC) is pleased to announce the Annual Meeting’s (Chicago) Personalized Résumé Clinic.

Call for volunteers and participants:

The PRRC needs volunteer reviewers willing to spend 1 hour minimum, assisting participants (reviewees) with the creation of their cover letters and résumés. Each reviewee will have 15-20 minutes with a reviewer. During that time, the reviewer will critique the résumé and cover letter and offer tips and advice for improvement.

If you routinely receive cover letters and résumés (e.g., directors, associate directors, human resources officers, etc.), we encourage you help out. The hours of the Résumé Clinic are: Sunday May 18th, 3:00pm-5:00pm; Monday May 19th 10:00a-12noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm and Tuesday May 20th, 10:00am-1:00pm. These hours have been selected to avoid conflict with major conference events.

Volunteer Reviewers:

If you would be willing to serve as a reviewer, please contact Carolyn Warmann Carolyn.warmann@usd.edu , who will work with you to schedule a time slot for service.

Participants:

If you would like to set-up an appointment to have your résumé and cover letter reviewed, contact Craig Haynes, chaynes@ucsd.edu. Drop-ins are also welcome—just bring along a hard copy of your cover letter and résumé.

Want to become more involved at the Annual Meeting and have fun too? Receive AHIP points for exhibiting at the health fair. Show your passion and commitment to community service by participating in these activities at MLA ‘08! The National Program Committee is collaborating with local Chicago organizations for two exciting events:

1) Only Connect: Each One Teach One on Friday, May 16, 2008, noon – 2:00 p.m.: MLA members will visit the Wrightwood-Ashburn branch public library to meet with public librarians interested in finding out more about healthcare information. We need volunteers who have outreach and teaching experience to exchange expertise with a team of public librarians on health information and community outreach. Each volunteer will present for 15 minutes on their favorite health web site and/or share information on their latest outreach project relevant for public librarians. We see an opportunity for connecting medical librarians and public librarians! Round trip transportation provided from the Hyatt. Pick up at 11:00am in the hotel lobby. Participants will return to the Hyatt about 3:00pm. Maximum: 15

2) Only Connect: MLA health information table at the Rush University Free
Health Fair on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at the Chicago Christian Industrial League: MLA members will offer free literature searches to the approximately 1,000 residents who are expected to attend from the city’s underserved communities. Spanish-speaking librarians are encouraged to volunteer. We will need volunteers for 2-hour shifts each:

1. Morning, 8:00a.m. pickup at Hyatt (in the lobby), return at noon, Maximum: 20
2. Afternoon, 10:30a.m. pickup at Hyatt (in the lobby), return at 2:30 p.m., Maximum: 20

To volunteer, please check the appropriate box on the MLA ‘08 Registration Form (page 27). Round-trip bus transportation from the Hyatt Regency Chicago will be provided. These community outreach events are the first to be held at an MLA annual meeting, and we need your support to make them successful! For additional information contact Tammy Mays, AHIP at tmays@wisc.edu or Deborah Jameson, AHIP, at djameson@partners.org.

Thank you for supporting MLA!

Tammy Mays and Deborah Jameson
Community Outreach Chairs, 2008 MLA NPC