Cynthia McClellan

Looking to expand your horizons and get involved? There’s no time like the present, as we look forward to the upcoming Board transition.

We are currently seeking nominations for election for the upcoming 2011-14 terms of Chapter Council Representative and Chapter Council Alternate. To quote the MLA Chapter Council’s website, “Chapter Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Medical Library Association’s Board of Directors. The Council promotes interchange between chapters, and between sections and chapters.” <http://www.chaptercouncil.mlanet.org/index.html>

We thank Anne Seymour (Representative), and Nancy Calabretta (Alternate) for doing a fine job for the expiring term. Now, it’s your turn! If you’ve been looking for the chance to give back to your profession and local community, enhance your AHIP portfolio, add to your experience–and get to know your wonderful colleagues!—then this is the perfect opportunity.

For more information, please feel free to contact me at cm057@lghealth.org or 717-544-5697, or Anne Seymour at seymoura@mail.med.upenn.edu or 215-898-4115.

Cynthia McClellan
Chair, Nominating Committee, 2010-2011

Cynthia McClellan

Do you have an outstanding colleague you feel is worthy of recognition by the Chapter? Know an exceptional student entering the profession whom you would like to encourage? Do you know someone who would benefit from a professional development grant?

If so, I urge you to consider a nomination for one of our Chapter awards or grants <http://www.mlaphil.org/wp/15/grants-and-awards/>. We will announce the winners at the Chapter’s 60^th Annual Meeting, which is rapidly approaching (April 6). To guarantee consideration, please send in all applications and/or nominations to me by Wednesday, March 23.

Included are:

• Beatrice Davis Education Award
  At least every other year the Philadelphia Regional Chapter/MLA will offer an award of $600.00 to an individual pursuing a career in health science librarianship.
• Chapter Achievement Award
  The Chapter Achievement Award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the Chapter and to the field. This is the Chapter’s highest award and is reserved for outstanding individuals.
• Grant Program for Professional Development
  A description and application for Chapter members who wish to apply for assistance in furthering their continuing education.
• Honorary Life Membership
  A Chapter member may be given an honorary lifetime membership on his/her retirement in recognition of his/her contributions to the Chapter.
• Randy Brenner Memorial Consumer Health Award
  This award is given to an individual (or group of individuals) in recognition of outstanding contribution to consumer health information services and patient education.
• Robert Preston Lee Memorial Award
  This award is given to an individual (or group of individuals) in recognition of outstanding contribution in the application of technology to the delivery of technical services

Feel free to contact me at cm057@lghealth.org or 717-544-5697 if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance. I look forward to your submissions!

Cynthia McClellan
Chair, Nominating Committee, 2010-2011

Barbara Henry

Barbara J. Henry, AHIP, Community Health Librarian at Christiana Care Health System, has just been named by the Medical Library Association as the 2011 recipient of the Lois Ann Colaianni Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship.Presented for the first time in 1991, this award is given to a member of the association who has made significant contributions to the profession through overall distinction or leadership in hospital library administration or service, production of a definitive publication related to hospital librarianship, teaching, research, advocacy, or the development or application of innovative technology to hospital librarianship. It was renamed in honor of Lois Ann Colaianni in 1999. This career achievement award recognizes all Barb has contributed to her profession and to her hospital organizations for the 21+ years of her career.  She will be presented with the award at the MLA Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon and Ceremony on May 16 in Minneapolis, MN.

Linda Katz

Linda Katz, AHIP, Associate Director, Drexel University Health Sciences Libraries, had a letter to the editor published in the NYTimes Magazine. She wrote it in response to an article that discussed consumer health websites, specifically comparing WebMD with MayoClinic.com. You can read it here: <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/magazine/20Letters-t-APRESCRIPTIO_LETTERS.html>.

The Wistar Institute’s Library has a new Library Assistant, Andrea Kyer. Andrea is a student of Drexel’s IS school and has also completed an internship at the UPenn Biomedical Library.

Cynthia McClellan

Cynthia McClellan has accepted a position as the Director of the Health Sciences Library for the Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

Sheryl Panka-Bryman

Sheryl Panka-Bryman is now the Systems & Cataloging Librarian for the Connelly Library, La Salle University.

Priscilla Stephenson

Priscilla Stephenson, AHIP, is a co-author of the paper, “Rethinking Our Value: Federal Libraries Value Project” to be presented at the 2011 Medical Library Association Annual Meeting and Exhibition. With Terrie Wheeler from the NIH Library and Ed Poletti from the Central Arkansas VA Medical Center, she developed a research project involving federal libraries from five agencies in an assessment of their reference services. This study sought to determine whether information seekers consider that the information provided by their federal libraries has positively affected their patients’ care, research project development, or health care decision making.  The combined population included researchers, clinical health care providers, and health administration managers from over eighty-one facilities. The survey tool was designed to capture immediate evaluations of the value of material provided in response to specific reference questions. An initial analysis of the 1590 survey responses (response rate = 61%) indicated that federal library users valued information provided by library staff, as reflected by its impact on their decision making, time saved, or revenue garnered.

The report on the Federal Libraries Value Project will be presented in one of two sessions sponsored by the Federal Libraries Section and the Library Marketing SIG. Priscilla’s paper and others will be presented during the first session on Monday, May 16 (10:30 am -12 noon).

Pat Wynne

Patricia Wynne joined the Scott Memorial Library at Thomas Jefferson University on January 3, 2011 as the Associate University Librarian for Information and Clinical Support Services. Pat had worked as a Registered Nurse prior to obtaining her degree in Library & Information Science from Drexel University. She was employed as an Information Professional in the Pharmaceutical industry for the past fourteen years.

Chris Wieman joined the J.W. England Library at the University of the Sciences in January as Reference/Systems Librarian. He received his MS from Drexel University and had worked at Drexel as a Systems Technician.

Cynthia McClellan

My year as Chair has been personally and professionally fulfilling.  I have greatly enjoyed working with the wonderful Board members who energize our Chapter through their hard work and creativity.   It is a privilege and an honor to have collaborated with so many stellar librarians in order to provide educational and networking opportunities, as well as foster collegiality and communication among our membership and beyond.

The Chapter’s last event was the 59th Annual Meeting and Reception, held on April 27th.  The membership came together to honor our awardees, and to welcome newly elected officers.  It was an evening of fun that featured a sumptuous buffet, plus an enlightening and powerful presentation by nurses Karen Slutsky, RN and Dominic Parone, RN, that detailed their medical relief work in the wake of the recent earthquake in Haiti.

For further details about Chapter activities over the past year, please consult the 2009-2010 Annual Report, which was submitted to MLA National and is posted on the Chapter’s website <http://www.mlaphil.org/wp/chapter-documents/2010/04/27/chapter-report-2009-2010/>.
Have a great summer, everyone.  Thanks to all for a great year!

Cynthia

Cynthia McClellan

Wow! Have you found yourself humming the tune “Let it Snow,” as I have? With record-setting snowfall, 2010 certainly has supplied plenty of “winter wonderland” so far. And, while the snow may have kept us indoors—and often telecommuting—this period of quiet has provided the opportunity to recharge. For me, the winter has provided the time to clear out some clutter, complete existing projects, learn a few new things, and also to consider and plan new undertakings. And although (as of this writing) we are still chilled by Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow, the first inklings of spring are all around. To the first fat robin I saw in my yard last week, to the commencement of the Flower Show, it surely won’t be very long before our crocuses start popping up.

It is my pleasure to report that the Board has discussed the topic of merger with another MLA Chapter at length. We were unanimous in our desire to remain as we are for the foreseeable future. While we may be a small chapter, we are certainly a unique and lively organization, headquartered in a historically significant location, abundant in healthcare information resources and leaders.

In other Board news, we welcome Christina Daley to the Board (Director, Health Sciences Library at Lancaster General Health) as Development Co-Chair. Christina volunteered for this position in response to a request from Development Chair Ellen Justice in advance of her maternity leave. Thanks to you both for your contributions, and for coordinating the sharing of these duties. (And of course, we all extend Ellen and her family the happiest of wishes with their new bundle of joy!)

I also want again to say how much I appreciate our Board members for all of their “thankless” work. Their innumerable “behind the scenes” efforts greatly benefit our Chapter. I am very grateful for everyone’s recent hard work on revamping our organizational Policies & Procedures Manual as a dynamic wiki. Progress on updating this publication is moving swiftly, and we anticipate that it will be very helpful to us and to future Boards of Directors. Sincere thanks to all of you!

Additionally, I am pleased to report that:

• The final financials on 3 by the Sea have been issued. An astounding $18,150 was gained in overall profits, translating to $3993 (22%) for our Philadelphia Chapter–a very nice boost to our Treasury!
• We are offering a $500 Continuing Education grant this year to one of our members.
• We were able to contribute $2000 in support of the Middle Atlantic Region of NN/LM’s important study on “The Value of Library and Information Services in Patient Care.”
• Furthermore, we have pledged our support and participation for an upcoming series of MAR Leadership Institutes, to be coordinated among three Mid-Atlantic Region Chapters: NY/NJ, UNY/OC (Upstate New York and Ontario Chapter) and our Chapter. Anne Seymour will serve on the Planning Committee. (Details will follow as they become available.)

In closing, I would like to remind you to visit MLAPhil.org for updates and events. We will be hosting an MLA Distance Education Webcast on March 24^th, entitled “Understanding the Electronic Health Record Maze and Health Sciences Librarians’ Roles” <http://www.mlaphil.org/wp/ce/2010/02/18/ehr-webcast-will-be-march-24th/>. We will also be posting details on our upcoming Annual Meeting, which is shaping up to be an informative and sumptuous event. And, as ever, I urge you to become involved through volunteering with our organization. It’s a great way to do something worthwhile for our profession, and to get to know some of your wonderful colleagues. Curious? I welcome any questions you might have—feel free to contact me any time.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy winter’s end, and a wonderful new spring beginning (soon)!

Cynthia McClellan
Chair, 2009-2010