President's Page
It doesn’t seem quite possible that another CAHSLA year has come and gone! We had a truly wonderful year of programming, and I’d like to extend great thanks to the members of the Program Committee – Brigid Almaguer, Regina Hartman, Amy Koshoffer, Val Purvis, and, Edith Starbuck – for organizing such enjoyable meetings.
As we announced at the summer picnic, we have once again found ourselves in a position of not having an individual to fill the Vice-President role for the upcoming year. On a more positive note, numerous CAHSLA members have stepped forward to volunteer to be on the Programming Committee – thanks one and all! After discussing the situation at the picnic, there were no objections by members present to the recommendation to extend the term of the current Executive Committee by one additional year. New members of the Program Committee will be selected shortly; my only recommendation was that those selected for the Program Committee not be currently filling another elected position. Additionally, it has worked well to limit the number of members on the Program Committee to two or three individuals, so we will continue with this model for the upcoming association year beginning September 2012.
Complementing our wonderful programming this year have been the exciting additions on the CAHSLA technology front. We officially added a Technology Committee, and Amy Koshoffer and I have some exciting things planned for next year. Similarly this past year, we made an effort to be more active on Twitter (@CAHSLA), and we established a private blog site ( http://cahsla.wordpress.com). The blog site is our forum for a monthly online journal club article for discussion amongst CAHSLA members. In the next year, we hope to redesign the CAHSLA website, as well as establish either a LinkedIn or a Facebook presence for the organization.
These new avenues of marketing might help us to reach out to some potential new CAHSLA members, but there’s nothing more powerful than word-of-mouth advertising. If you believe, as I do, that CAHSLA is a wonderful means of networking with your health sciences library colleagues, then please don’t hesitate to encourage your friends and coworkers to join CAHSLA. Hope everyone has a wonderful summer, and I’ll see you at the next CAHSLA event!
-- Emily Kean
CAHSLA Meeting Minutes
End of the Year Picnic – June 14, 2012
Submitted by Brigid Almaguer, Secretary
Attendees: Brigid Almaguer, Cathy Constance, Regina Hartman (and daughter Gabrielle), Emily Kean, Amy Koshoffer (and daughters Isabella & Vianne), Sandy Mason, Lisa McCormick, Diana Osborne, Sharon Purtee (and dog Chester), Val Purvis, Cecil Rahe, and Emily Rahe, Barb Slavinski and family, Edith Starbuck, and Jane Thompson and husband.
The CAHSLA End of the Year Picnic was once again held at the Daniel Drake Park in Kennedy Heights. It was a potluck dinner with Val Purvis providing chicken from KFC.
The business meeting was called to order at 7PM.
It was unanimously decided that the slate of officers would remain the same as last year, so an election will not be necessary. There are plenty of volunteers for a Program Committee so that will be confirmed at a later date. This was our speediest meeting to date – lasting no more than 5 minutes – keeping it simple for 2012!
Regina presented CAHSLA President, Emily Kean with a gift card to High Street a “design studio and urban lifestyle store” on Reading Rd. Emily presented the outgoing (and incoming) officers with beautiful Gerber daisies.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Attendees: Brigid Almaguer, Cathy Constance, Regina Hartman (and daughter Gabrielle), Emily Kean, Amy Koshoffer (and daughters Isabella & Vianne), Sandy Mason, Lisa McCormick, Diana Osborne, Sharon Purtee (and dog Chester), Val Purvis, Cecil Rahe, and Emily Rahe, Barb Slavinski and family, Edith Starbuck, and Jane Thompson and husband.
The CAHSLA End of the Year Picnic was once again held at the Daniel Drake Park in Kennedy Heights. It was a potluck dinner with Val Purvis providing chicken from KFC.
The business meeting was called to order at 7PM.
It was unanimously decided that the slate of officers would remain the same as last year, so an election will not be necessary. There are plenty of volunteers for a Program Committee so that will be confirmed at a later date. This was our speediest meeting to date – lasting no more than 5 minutes – keeping it simple for 2012!
Regina presented CAHSLA President, Emily Kean with a gift card to High Street a “design studio and urban lifestyle store” on Reading Rd. Emily presented the outgoing (and incoming) officers with beautiful Gerber daisies.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
CAHSLA Leadership 2012-2013 -- "Election" Results
In a move to keep CAHSLA operational, the Executive Committee presented a proposal at the end-of-the-year picnic on June 14th to meet our ongoing leadership needs. We found ourselves in the position where no members were willing to “run” for leadership positions for the 2012-2013 association year. In response to this situation, the Executive Committee proposed that those individuals currently in leadership roles continue in their position for the upcoming association year. After a lively discussion by those at the picnic meeting, the proposal was accepted. Emily Kean announced that she would appoint new members to Program Committee.
2012-2013 Officers
President: Emily Kean, The Christ Hospital James N. Gamble
Library
Past President:
Regina Hartman, The Christ Hospital James N. Gamble Library
Treasurer/Membership Coordinator: Cathy Constance, VA Medical Center
Secretary: Brigid
Almaguer, Cincinnati State Technical Institute Johnnie Mae Berry Library
Archivist: Jane
Thompson, Retired: University of Cincinnati Donald C Harrison Health
Sciences Library
Sciences Library
Newsletter editors:
Lisa McCormick, Jewish Hospital-Mercy and Barbarie Hill, Retired: Pratt
Library Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Library Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
CAHSLA Financial Report 2011-2012
Checking Account
Balance as of 6/9/2011 $2577.76
Balance as of 6/9/2011 $2577.76
Deposits
Dues (20 regular) $500.00
Dues (20 regular) $500.00
April
meeting – 21 dinners $121.00
Withdrawals
Sept
meeting, food & water $112.29
Holiday
party, beverages & supplies $ 56.59
Tram
car reservation, Apr mtg at Spring Grove$ 75.00
Apr
meeting – catering & water $217.08
Drake
Park shelter reservation, June picnic $ 50.00
President’s
gift $ 50.00
June
picnic – food $ 52.47
Balance
as of 6/19/2012 $2585.33
Cash
Balance
as of 6/9/2011 $ 35.52
Withdrawals
Postage $ 1.08
Balance
as of 6/19/2012 $ 34.44
Total Assets $2619.77
Paid members
Regular 20
Student 0
Life members 12
Total 32
Submitted by:
Cathy Constance, Treasurer
6/19/2012
Linkedin Workshop
I attended
the May 17th SLA workshop LinkedIn Workshop: Refresh Your Online
Professional Presence!. It was presented by Leslie Schick and Kristin
Burgess from UC Health Science Library. The
workshop started with a video describing Linkedin:
Leslie and
Kristin described features of Linkedin that helped professionals get
information about themselves out to others and gather information relevant to
their career interests. Some tools
mentioned were how to import your resume to build your profile, create
informative profiles, follow companies and news events, and network using
Linkedin. Leslie and Kristin emphasized
building quality and authentic connections by ensuring you have relationships
with your connections outside of Linkedin.
After the presentation, participants were given the opportunity to have
a profile picture taken by a professional photographer.
I enjoyed
this practical approach to using Linkedin.
Though I have had an account for several years, I have not made full use
of it potential. I made several new
connections for my network during the workshop and I have started to improve my
profile using the tools and advice provided in the workshop.
I had recently
read “The Start Up of You” written by Reid Hoffman (co-founder and Chairman of
Linkedin) and Ben Casnocha. It was an
interesting read especially for the history of several social media tools such
as twitter and flicker. The book focused
on the need for people to embrace change and be flexible and adaptable to the
new and changing workplace. Though the
book pushed Linkedin as a necessary part of one’s tools for transforming
careers, it had some good advice. As
Leslie and Kristin also emphasized in the SLA workshop, the authenticity of
relationships and the quality of these relationships is crucial. Beyond one’s profile in Linkedin, this book
addressed some ways to network with people and ways to create wide and diverse
networks. Each chapter ends with
practical advice about building your network and career tools. One piece of advice was to pay it
forward. Give of yourself and your time
to the things that matter most to you.
It was interesting to have the book and the workshop to
compare and learn from. I recommend the
read as well as several books mentioned in the SLA workhop: The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success -
Wayne Breitbarth, ISBN: 9781608320936, Publication Date: 2011-03-01, Linkedin
for Dummies - Joel Elad, ISBN: 047094854X, Publication Date: 2011-03-01,
Windmill Networking: Understanding, Leveraging and Maximizing LinkedIn - Neal
Schaffer, ISBN: 1439247056, Publication Date: 2009-09-24
-- Amy Koshoffer
Exhibits of Interest at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
BookWorks13,
The Cincinnati Book Arts Society (CBAS) 13th annual exhibit of traditional and
contemporary handmade books is on view in the Atrium of the Main Library from
June 12 to September 2. According to the
Public Library's website: “This
year’s exhibit showcases a selection of handmade books that demonstrate a
variety of techniques and approaches used in traditional and contemporary
bookmaking. The artist’s contributions range from traditional bindings to
conceptually playful books that incorporate mixed media to books composed of
found objects or crafted from handmade paper.”
The
Keith Kuhn Memorial Artists’ Book Exhibit
In
conjunction with the Cincinnati Book Arts Society’s Bookworks exhibit, the
Keith Kuhn Memorial Exhibit, which showcases artists' books from the Library's
permanent collection, will be on view in the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Main
Library from June 12 through August 12. Many of the books are hand-made, unique
objects from well-known international, national, and local artists. The show
is organized annually in the memory of former Library Services Director Keith
Kuhn, under whose direction the collection grew to be widely admired by art and
book lovers from all over the region.
Plan to Attend the 2012 Books by the Banks
Books by the Banks is an annual celebration of books and reading,
takes place every October in downtown Cincinnati. A full schedule of activities
for the entire family to enjoy (crafts, costume characters, storytelling,
musical performances, author readings, etc.) can be found at the Books
by the Banks website. The event
will be held on October 20, 2012 at the Duke Energy Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Midwest Chapter/MLA Call for Papers and Posters
There's a month left to submit your paper and poster abstracts for the Midwest Chapter meeting in Rochester! New this year will be an option to compete for a new Research Award. (See http://midwestmla.org/midline/
The Program Committee invites proposals for contributed papers and posters for the conference theme of “Growing Opportunities.” Papers and posters may highlight practical problem-solving approaches, document collaborative efforts or outreach activities, describe innovative programs, or report on research in librarianship, resources or services. Contributed paper and poster topics are as unlimited as your imagination.
Contributed papers will be presented on Sunday, October 7. Posters will be on display on Monday, October 8 from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm. Presenters should be available to discuss their posters during the poster reception from 11:00 am – noon on October 8. For inspiration, take a look at the abundant and varied papers and posters presented at the 2011 Midwest Chapter meeting.
For contributed
paper proposals and poster proposals submit a 250 word abstract
describing your paper or poster. Include your name, position title,
address, phone number and email address on all submissions. Email your
abstracts to Ann Farrell (farrell@mayo.edu),
or snail them to her at Plummer Library, Mayo Clinic, 2001st SW,
Rochester, MN, 55905. The deadline for abstract submission is July 13,
2012. Notifications of paper/poster acceptance/rejection will be made by
July 27, 2012.
For more information on the Midwest Chapter meeting, see the conference web site: http://midwestmla.org/
CAHSLA Colleagues
Brigid Almaguer (Cincinnati State Technical Institute Johnnie Mae
Berry) reported that she will have an unusually long summer break this year. CSTI is in the process of changing from quarters to semesters. The transition will impact the time-frame for the summer session which will result in more down time for the library than in previous years. Brigid also reported that she has been more active in presenting information literacy and CINAHL searching classes to the nursing students at CSTI in this past year, which is something she really enjoys.
Barb Slavinski recently landed a PERMANENT position at Pratt Library (Children's hospital). This is on-call project oriented, but it's not temporary or sub work. Barb writes, "Of course, I could still be fired or laid off at any time, but TODAY, I get to work with people I know and love, and they agree to pay me, too. I can always hope to find useful things to do, which will entice the powers that be to offer me more time and opportunities doing what I love. What I love is improving personable customer service, offering information, reassurance and support to families/patients/caregivers, providing the right information at the right time to support evidence-based-practice/ quality medical care, providing the pieces that researchers need to do their work, and promoting a sense of community to support and encourage everyone involved in the system. There have been wrenching changes over at Pratt library, which could be distressing to experience; I try to remember that all things change, both the good things you want to hold onto and the hard things which you must endure.
Barb Slavinski recently landed a PERMANENT position at Pratt Library (Children's hospital). This is on-call project oriented, but it's not temporary or sub work. Barb writes, "Of course, I could still be fired or laid off at any time, but TODAY, I get to work with people I know and love, and they agree to pay me, too. I can always hope to find useful things to do, which will entice the powers that be to offer me more time and opportunities doing what I love. What I love is improving personable customer service, offering information, reassurance and support to families/patients/caregivers, providing the right information at the right time to support evidence-based-practice/ quality medical care, providing the pieces that researchers need to do their work, and promoting a sense of community to support and encourage everyone involved in the system. There have been wrenching changes over at Pratt library, which could be distressing to experience; I try to remember that all things change, both the good things you want to hold onto and the hard things which you must endure.
And what about my previous/present job as the solo medical
librarian at Drake Center? I'm still
there half time, and have been assured several times that my position is
secure. As far as I know, decisions
about Drake's future are made by distant unknown people in UCHealth. Every day that I come to work and am NOT met
at the door by a stranger who requests my badge and keys and I have 5 minutes
to leave... those are good days. So
every day is a good day, so far.
I enjoy listening to clinical discussions during rounding,
and finding ways that library resources might help the situation at hand. So IS stopping the tube feeding for a ventilator
patient 15 minutes before a therapist wants to come in and lay the person down
or do therapy long enough to avoid aspiration pneumonia when the stomach
contents back up into the lungs? How
about half an hour? So far, the best I
can find in the literature is 4 hours, to let the contents clear through to the
intestines. That seems like a long time
to interrupt feeding. So I'm still
looking for supporting docs in literature to bring back to the clinicians who
are concerned. It's an intellectual challenge
and I get to learn more everyday.
Recently I have been permitted to set up a tabletop display
at conferences being held at Drake. It
has been a thrill to hear members of the general medical public say "I
didn't know we had a library" or "I didn't know a library could do
that" or "You mean you would just find the information and GIVE it to
me?". Generally I have the display
of library services (publicizing all medical libraries) a selection of articles
supporting the conference topic, and instructions on how to find more if
they're interested. As a side benefit, I
get to attend the conference and hear the speakers. It's a great privilege.
I am grateful for the people who have encouraged me along
the way, especially those in CAHSLA.
This has been a very supportive group to me. When I wandered into the library at Jewish
hospital and Lisa McCormick kindly told me what librarianship was about and
encouraged me to come in this direction,
she set me on my present path. I
cherish those who laugh and provide friendship.
Thanks to all."
Kudos
Congratulations to Kristen Burgess, NLM Associate Fellow at the UC HSL for her poster that was
accepted for the Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association. MedlinePlus Connect: Planning for Clinical
Coding System Changes. Authors: Kristen
Burgess, NLM Associate Fellow, National Library of Medicine, Health Sciences
Library, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; Stephanie N. Dennis,
Reference and Web Services, Public Services Division, National Library of
Medicine, Bethesda, MD; Naomi Miller, Public Services Division, National
Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD
ETC.
Behind-The-Scenes Tour of the
National Library of Medicine
Leslie
Schick (UC HSL) recently had a behind the scenes tour of the National Library
of Medicine. Leslie and Kristen Burgess
were attending a meeting of the NLM Associate Fellows at NLM. Leslie reports that NLM has adopted
heightened security precautions for all visitors. While touring, Leslie spent too brief a time
viewing the newest exhibit "Native Voices Native Peoples' Concepts of
Health and Illness." Dr. Donald A.
G. Lindberg, Director of the National Library of Medicine, had a significant
role in the development of the exhibit.
If you can't visit NLM in person to see the exhibit, they recently
released a free iPad app for a
virtual experience of the exhibit. New Dean for UC Libraries
Xuemao Wang has been named the new Dean of UC Libraries
From the
UC website: Mr. Wang currently serves as associate vice
provost of university libraries at Emory University in Atlanta and has enjoyed
a 30-year career within both public and academic library systems integrated
with information technology experience. Before serving at Emory, he was head of
library systems at Johns Hopkins University and director of information
technology at the Metropolitan New York Library Council.
Mr.
Wang, who holds an Executive MBA from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., a
master's of library and information science from the University of South
Carolina, and a master's of library science from Kutztown University of
Pennsylvania as well as an undergraduate degree from Wuhan University in China,
has held leadership positions in the International Federation of Library
Associations (IFLA) and the American Library Association (ALA).
In the Literature and on the 'Net
Expert blackjack players have more 'risk intelligence' than doctors: As physicians age, they become overconfident
A new book suggests that physicians
have relatively low "risk intelligence"—or the ability to make
accurate educated guesses—leading to overconfidence and inaccurate diagnoses,
especially as they age.
Scholar and psychologist Dylan Evans, who has previously written on the power of the placebo effect, reviewed how different individuals estimate probabilities. In his new book, "Risk Intelligence: How to Live with Uncertainty," Evans cites findings that physicians estimated their patients had a 90% chance of having pneumonia when only about 15% actually had the condition—a "huge degree of overconfidence," he says.
“One explanation is that doctors have to make so many different decisions about so many different things they don't get a chance to build up a good model,” Evans says. “Maybe if you have to make life and death decisions, you feel you have to exude confidence ” to avoid being paralyzed by uncertainty. Evans found that there are pockets of RQ genius in gamblers, weather forecasters, bridge players and horse-race handicappers (George, Slate, 5/22).
**********
A Sharp Rise in Retractions Prompts Calls for Reform
The New York Times recently
published an article reporting the results of a review of the
increase in the number of retraction of scientific articles from
publication. The NY Times article
describes the work of Drs. Arturo Casadevall and Ferric Fang measuring the rate
of retractions in 17 journals from 2001 to 2010 and compared it with the
journals’ “impact factor,” a score based on how often their papers are cited by
scientists. The higher a journal’s impact factor, the two editors found, the
higher its retraction rate.
The article by Casadevall
and Fang doesn’t stop at reporting on the rise in retractions and
other forms of scientific mis-conduct, but suggests cultural reforms to reverse
this disturbing trend. Casadevall, now
editor in chief of the journal mBio, said he feared that science had turned
into a winner-take-all game with perverse incentives that lead scientists to
cut corners and, in some cases, commit acts of misconduct. His co-author commented on the phenomena as
“a symptom of a dysfunctional scientific climate.”
When asked for reasons why
scientific research has taken this unhealthy road , Dr. Fang suggested, “One
may be that because journals are now online, bad papers are simply reaching a
wider audience, making it more likely that errors will be spotted. You can sit
at your laptop and pull a lot of different papers together.”
The highest “retraction index” in
the study went to one of the world’s leading medical journals, The New England
Journal of Medicine.
A Sharp Rise in Retractions Prompts Calls for Reform. Carl Zimmer. New York Times April 16, 2012. And Reforming Science: Methodological and Cultural Reforms. Casadevall, A., Fang, F.C. Infection and Immunity, March 2012, 80(3):891-96.
**********
More worries about publication fraud
Facts in Scientific Drug Literature
May Not Be
ScienceDaily (May 29, 2012) — A
growing concern with fraud and misconduct in published drug studies has led
researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago's Center for
Pharmacoeconomic Research to investigate the extent and reasons for retractions
in the research.
"We were surprised to find the
proportion of retractions due to scientific misconduct in the drug literature
is higher than in general biomedical literature," said Simon Pickard,
associate professor of pharmacy practice and senior author of a study published
in the journal Pharmacotherapy.
Nearly three-quarters of the
retracted drug studies were attributed to scientific misconduct, he said,
"which includes data falsification or fabrication, questionable veracity, unethical
author conduct, or plagiarism. While these studies comprise a small percentage
of the overall literature, health care professionals may rely on this evidence
to make treatment recommendations."
These studies can affect the
treatment of thousands of patients, since scientific publications are often
printed months in advance. There is an average lag in time of 39 months between
the original publication and a retraction notice, Pickard said.
The UIC team found that a
considerable number of the retracted papers were attributable to two authors,
one based in Japan and the other in Germany.
Little attention was paid to the
implications of scientific publication retractions until a 1998 review
documented 235 instances from 1966 to 1997; 37 percent of the retractions were
due to scientific misconduct.
Since the 1998 study, more interest
has been given to retracted studies. In 2009, the Committee on Publication
Ethics released the first set of guidelines to editors on issuing retractions.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120529181145.htm
*********
Notes Recount Doctor's Bid to Save Lincoln
A discovery of historic importance
was recently made when the hand written notes of Dr. Charles Leale, the first
responder to tend to President Lincoln
after he was shot while attending a performance at the Ford Theater, was found
among hundreds of boxes of old medical reports languishing in the National
Archives.
Leale, 23-year old physician,
documented his attempts to save the president in a 21-page handwritten
report. The document was found by a
researcher, Helena Iles Papaioannou who is part of the historical group The
Papers of Abraham Lincoln Project. It is
possible to view the full hand-written report by Dr. Leale at the group’s
website.
Source:
http://news.discovery.com/history/abraham-lincoln-history-death-shoot-doctor-120611.html
**********
CDC Makes Bold Proclamation: Zombies not a threat, but cannibalism is
“CDC: Despite wave of cannibalism,
no zombie threat” was the headline of an extraordinary public statement issued
by the Centers for Disease Control.
According to the CDC spokesperson, recent reports of horrific crimes
including cannibalism “were not caused by a virus that would present
zombie-like symptoms." [Co-Editor:
Whew! What a relief.]
**********
A "Contrarian" View Of Electronic Health Records
Escaping the EHR Trap — The Future
of Health IT. Kenneth D. Mandl, M.D.,
M.P.H., and Isaac S. Kohane, M.D., Ph.D.
N Engl J Med 2012; 366:2240-2242June 14, 2012
Excerpts:
It is a widely accepted myth that
medicine requires complex, highly specialized information-technology (IT) systems.
This myth continues to justify soaring IT costs, burdensome physician
workloads, and stagnation in innovation — while doctors become increasingly
bound to documentation and communication products that are functionally decades
behind those they use in their “civilian” life.
We believe that EHR vendors
propagate the myth that health IT is qualitatively different from industrial
and consumer products in order to protect their prices and market share and
block new entrants. In reality, diverse functionality needn't reside within
single EHR systems, and there's a clear path toward better, safer, cheaper, and
nimbler tools for managing health care's complex tasks.
Loss of technological leadership
reflects apathy and even opposition by EHR vendors to promoting liquidity of
the data they collect. This attitude has thwarted medicine's decades-long quest
for an electronic information infrastructure capable of providing a dynamic and
longitudinal view of the health care of individuals and populations. EHR companies
have followed a business model whereby they control all data, rather than
liberating the data for use in innovative applications in clinical care.
Health IT vendors should adapt
modern technologies wherever possible. Clinicians choosing products in order to
participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs should not be
held hostage to EHRs that reduce their efficiency and strangle innovation. New
companies will offer bundled, best-of-breed, interoperable, substitutable
technologies . . . that can be optimized for use in health care improvement.
Properly nurtured, these products will rapidly reach the market, effectively
addressing the goals of “meaningful use,” signaling the post-EHR era, and
returning to the innovative spirit of EHR pioneers.
**********
MIT professor: In the workplace, the Web makes us 'alone
together'
Studies have not yet determined the
impact of workplace Internet use
May 29, 2012
Using technology in the
office—ranging from putting on headphones to browsing the Internet—is creating
a new kind of workplace communication, experts tell NPR.
Increasingly, many employees keep
their eyes on their laptops or handheld devices as others speak in meetings.
Moreover, many workers communicate with colleagues that sit only a few desks
away using email or instant messenger, or wear headphones at their desks to
tune out conversations.
"We're getting used to a new
way of being alone together," says Massachusetts Institute of Technology
professor Sherry Turkle. She argues that by communicating through short
snippets of information, texts, and posts, workers are connecting but not
conversing.
"People can't get enough of
each other—if and only if they can have each other at a distance, in amounts
they can control," Turkle recently said at a TED talk. "I call it the
Goldilocks effect. Not too close, not too far, just right."
However, NPR notes that studies have
not yet determined the impact of the Internet in the workplace; while some
studies suggest that the Internet and social media boost feelings of loneliness
and depression, others show that it may increase conversation and productivity
(Goetz, NPR, 5/28).
Source:
http://www.advisory.com/Daily-Briefing/2012/05/29/Web-makes-us-alone-together
**********
When lady librarians always wore skirts and you didn’t dare
make noise...
A recent Chiropractic Librarians
listserve post:
From: Anne Taylor-Vaisey
[mailto:ATVaisey@cmcc.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
1:30 PM
To: 'chirolib-l@palmer.edu'
Subject: When lady librarians always wore skirts and you didn’t dare make noise...
Subject: When lady librarians always wore skirts and you didn’t dare make noise...
Dear colleagues-
This is an obituary about Alice Moulton, who
started working as a librarian at the University of Toronto in 1942. She died
recently at the age of 100. It brings back memories of what libraries were
like in “the olden days”.
Cheers - Anne
Cheers - Anne
Anne Taylor-Vaisey MLS
Reference Librarian
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic
College
6100 Leslie Street, Toronto ON M2H
3J1
T 416 482 2340 ext. 205
T 1-800-669-2959 x205
atvaisey@cmcc.ca ;
http://www.cmcc.ca
Co-Editor and Web Editor:
http://www.chiroindex.org
**********
Reference Question of the Week –
5/20/12 - May 26th, 2012 Brian Herzog
It's been a very slow week in the
library (school winding down + beautiful weather), so this week's question
isn't an actual reference question - but it is something I recently learned.
Did you know Wikipedia has a
reference desk?
The Wikipedia reference desk works
like a library reference desk. Users leave questions on the reference desk and
Wikipedia volunteers work to help you find the information you need. Questions/answers are broken up into categories,
and are both interesting and sophisticated. I also like the format of
crowdsourcing answers - even when someone had given what I thought was a great
answer, subsequent responders added new information or aspects that were
useful.
Actually, it reminded me of any
other online forum, which I use all the time for answering questions
(especially for coding problems or frustrating technology issues). No one
response provides a complete answer, but putting all the bits and pieces
together often solves the problem. Not that using the internet as a big
Help archive is anything new - I was just happy to find another source to
search when I get a real stumper. But if nothing else, the Wikipedia Reference
Desk Guidelines does make for interesting reading.
**********
Library Paste Kills
This
gravestone marker is from the Goldfield Pioneer Cemetery in Goldfield, Nevada.
It marks the grave of the "Unknown Library Paste Man" who was a
starving vagrant who dug up a tub of library paste out of the trash and
consumed enough to be a lethal dose. In addition to the flour and water, the
paste contained small amounts of alum, which is poisonous when consumed in
large doses.
Brian also has a link to an
interesting article on the blog Letterology
Please Don’t Eat the Library Paste published on June 11, 2012 describes
various forms of the popular library pastes and adhesives of yesteryear. The article has some lovely 20th century
catalog reproductions of popular paste jars.
**********
Unshelved
Another website link from Brian Herzog, the quirky view of the library world as told by cartoons.
**********
Not Running a Hospital blog
This is a blog
by a former CEO (Paul Levy) of a large Boston hospital to share thoughts about
hospitals, medicine, and health care issues.
Levy writes (excerpt): "We are
all familiar with the cartoon image of a light bulb glowing or flashing as
representing a good idea that has occurred to someone. There are other types of bulbs, including
those used in medicine, which are also good ideas, except when they are left in
the wrong place.
A case documented in the Journal of
Robotic Surgery (2009) 3:45-47, entitled, "To forget is human: the case of
the retained bulb," presents a whole new category of retained foreign
objects in people who have undergone laparoscopic surgery. In this case, a 34-year-old woman had a
robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy.
An asepto bulb was placed in the vagina by the surgery technician "to
maintain the pneumoperitoneum during the laparoscopic closure of the vaginal cuff
.... Here's the interesting aspect of the case.
Unlike sponges and other operative supplies, "No verbal or written
account was made of this action."
And then the non-hand-off occurred, "Subsequently, the scrub
technician left the room prior to the end of the case in order to help with the
next case."
"The procedure was uneventful
and the patient was discharged the same day." Except for one thing. The bulb was left behind. A few days later, the woman and husband came
back, the object was found and removed, and after some ensuing complications,
she was fine.
Note from the co-editor: Is this from the patient's perspective that
the procedure was” uneventful"?!?
