We are now in Year 3 of the five-year NN/LM contract (2006-2011). The member needs assessment for the Middle Atlantic Regional network (MAR) was completed in Year 1, followed by the development of the Strategic Program Plan in that same year. Let’s take a look at the strategic plan objectives for Year 2 to identify those that have been achieved so far, those that are in progress, and the actions that have been taken in support of each objective.
Stay tuned to the MAR website for achievement updates: <http://nnlm.gov/mar/>.
2007-2008 (Year 2) Library Improvement
1. Begin focused program for librarian mentoring and coaching in management, advocacy, and marketing the library through one or more pilot programs.
STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: Planning Awards incorporating this objective were announced in August 2008 but there were no applications. This objective will be incorporated into the Library Improvement objective (#2) in Year 3, which outlines a MAR Leadership Institute.
2. Conduct planning for a Value of Libraries Study to be conducted in the region in Year 3.
STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The Value of Libraries Planning Committee has worked for the past year planning for a research study. Currently the committee is in the final stages of putting the research study together including the development of a questionnaire instrument. The Value of Libraries Planning Study website documents the committee activity: <http://nnlm.gov/mar/about/value.html> .
3. Create an information and education program on e-resources for hospital libraries and consortia. Address both licensing issues and resource evaluation. Suggest best practices for licensing and identify cost effective e-resources with emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Add a section to the MAR website on e-licensing tips and experiences.
STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: A new online class, Licensing Electronic Resources, will be offered in March 2009. A web page on e-licensing tips and resources is in the works.
4. Create a virtual forum as a new way for librarians to keep up with technology innovations, licensing trends, and open access initiatives and their impact on health sciences libraries.
STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: A new Technology Resources tab on the MAR website, <http://nnlm.gov/mar/technology/>, features freely available innovative tools. The new MAR Electronic Journals and Open Access web page, <http://nnlm.gov/mar/rsdd/openaccess.html>, provides links to open access resources in the health sciences field. Technology Committee members provide blog entries in the MARquee (http://nnlm.gov/mar/blog/ ) about how they use current technology in their libraries.
5. Create a MAR informational tool about regional consortia to encourage individual hospital librarians to take advantage of local expertise and opportunities and to give existing consortia members or those considering consortia practical information and guidance on common issues.
STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The MAR Resource Sharing Committee developed a useful webpage with up-to-date information on regional consortia, <http://nnlm.gov/mar/rsdd/consortia.html>.
6. Strengthen hospital library capability to provide remote access to their electronic resources through training and technology awards. Investigate the need for central hosting of e-resources and Websites for hospital libraries for remote access by their patrons.
STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: Based on results of the investigation, MAR is developing an informational webpage to include a directory of resources and services available for remotely hosting e-resources. Awards to promote this objective will be available in winter 2009.
2007-2008 (Year 2) Outreach
1. Communicate to all network members the outreach priorities established by the RAC through the MAR blog, Website, and RML consultants.
STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The MAR Strategic Plan is mounted on the MAR website, <http://nnlm.gov/mar/about/pdf/marstrategicplan.pdf>; additionally, the outreach priorities are included in the description of applicable outreach award announcements.
2. Frame awards in terms of the outreach priorities and change the review process to include value for priority programs.
STATUS: Achieved
ACTION TAKEN: The Awards program was revised based on the strategic plan priorities. See <http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/>.
3. Promote Loansome Doc to hospitals and unaffiliated professionals – especially the target groups.
STATUS: In Progress
ACTION TAKEN: MAR announced the Electronic Access/Document Delivery Access to Health Information Awards (http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/docdelivery.html) in Fall 2008 to promote Loansome Doc service throughout the region. A newly developed MAR tri-fold brochure explaining Loansome Doc registration and use is available on the MAR website, <http://nnlm.gov/mar/training/ldtrifold.pdf>. MAR will launch a survey of non-Loansome Doc libraries.
An update on the progress of Year 3 objectives will be forthcoming.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Sue Hunter at sue.hunter@med.nyu.edu or 800.338.7657.
submitted by Sue Hunter, Planning and Evaluation Coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region
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