Your intrepid blog editor is publishing a post for the first time using our new WordPress publication platform. If you are reading this post in your feed reader, be sure to click through to the blog itself. So what do you think? How do you like the All New ConnectMidwest beta? We are calling this a “beta” version of our chapter blog because there will be more improvements to come. We will be soon jazzing it up even more for our annual conference coverage, adding fun widgets for photos and more. I would like to personally thank our intrepid webmaster Allan Barclay. You wouldn’t believe how many picky requests he has had to endure from yours truly over the past several weeks. Do YOU have any suggestions for making ConnectMidwest even better? Send them via e-mail to me, your intrepid blog editor! Coming soon: the All New MIDLINE!
And now returning to our regularly scheduled blog post…
Have you looked at the calendar lately? It is time to get in gear! The 2010 Midwest Chapter/MLA & WHSLA Conference is only six weeks away! And the deadline for the early registration discount and for guaranteed hotel reservations is in a week on August 23. Have you looked through the completely updated conference website yet?
You will find everything from registration information to printable program information. The contributed papers and poster presentations are even there. I’m all set to go. On Friday, I gave the handy dandy charge card a workout and registered myself for the conference, signed up for a CE course, and made my plane reservations.
As I’ve mentioned before, our chapter awards and scholarships are an important part of our annual conference. The deadline for the awards supporting attendance at the conference is AUGUST 17, only two days away! Do YOU know a library school student interested in health sciences librarianship or a practicing health sciences librarian who has never attended a conference? Well, contact them right now and help them apply! The deadline for our other awards, the Distinguished Librarian of the Year Award and the Jean Williams Sayre Innovation Award, is August 27!
It’s election time! Time to look forward a little in time and think about who you would like to serve in Midwest Chapter/MLA leadership positions for the next couple of years. Again this year we will be voting electronically. Midwest Chapter members received an e-mail today with a link to the ballot. Please vote as soon as possible since the ballots must be tabulated so that results can be reported out before our 2010 Annual Conference in late September. The ballot will be available through Friday, August 6th.
Here is this year’s slate of candidates:
For President-Elect, 2011:
- Karen Hanus
- Janna Lawrence
For Membership Secretary, 2011-2012:
- Katherine Chew
- Mary Pat Harnegie
For Representatice-at-Large, 2011-2012:
- Frank Davis
- Stephanie Schulte
For Potential Candidate for Membership on the MLA Nominating Committee, 2011:
- Diane Hummel
- Mary Markland
Be sure to review the biographical information for these exceptional candidates posted on the chapter website before you vote!
Thanks to all of you for agreeing to run for chapter office. And special thanks to Immediate Past President Deborah Lauseng, who is also chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee, and her committee members, Kellie Kaneshiro, and Nancy O’Brien. Where would we be without all of our fantastic chapter members!
Yes, it is definitely summer out there and most of us are thinking vacation. But it is also time to start thinking ahead about our annual conference in the fall. This year we will be visiting another one of our delightful Midwest state capitals, Madison, Wisconsin.
Your intrepid blog editor is already thinking ahead. Weeks ago I made my hotel room reservation at our conference hotel, the Inn on the Park Capitol Square. Looks really nice, huh? There is even an indoor swimming pool and hot tub for a nice relaxing swim after a hard day of back to back fabulous conference events. Be sure to visit the Conference Hotel page on the conference website for information on how to reserve your room at the conference group room rate. Helpful hint: You’ll need to call the hotel directly to make your reservation.
Our chapter awards and scholarships are a very important part of our annual conference. We have two awards which support attendance at the annual conference. The application deadline for these awards is AUGUST 17!
The first is the Annual Meeting Scholarship. Two of these $500 scholarships are awarded each year to library science students. So if you know any library science students who are considering a career in health sciences librarianship, encourage them to apply for this award. It will probably cover most of their conference expenses since full conference registration for library school students is only $75! And of course, student membership in the Midwest Chapter is FREE.
The second award is the Professional Development Award which supports first time attendance for chapter members at our annual conference. Two of these $500 awards are available this year as well. So if you know someone who has never been to the annual conference, encourage them to apply!
Our most prestigious award is the Distinguished Librarian of the Year award. This award “recognizes Chapter members at any career level who have made outstanding professional contributions to both health sciences librarianship and the Chapter.” The winner gets one cool plaque and a $500 check in recognition of their career accomplishments. Who do you know who is a “distinguished” librarian? Nominate that person for this award! The details are here, the nomination form is here, and nominations are due AUGUST 27.
The Jean Williams Sayre Innovation Award “recognizes individuals, groups, libraries, or organizations for their creative approaches to the delivery and management of health information.” The winner is given a certificate of recognition and $500 check at the chapter business meeting. The award information on the chapter website lists these as some examples of the kinds of accomplishments which might be recognized by this award:
- Technological solutions or new technological applications
- Software development or new applications for existing software
- New or improved teaching methods
- Organizational innovations or new marketing initiatives
- New consumer health outreach initiatives
- New roles for the library
- Successful combination of a new job or job skill with traditional library work
- Publications that describe successful innovative approaches to information delivery
So put on your thinking cap. Who could YOU nominate for this award? Do it today! Nominations are due AUGUST 27.
Now that MLA ’10 is over and past, it is time to start your planning for the Midwest Chapter/MLA & WHSLA 2010 Conference in September!
One thing that you can count on is that the annual conference will have great opportunities for high quality, cost effective continuing education. Conference CE Commiteee Co-Chair Tammy Mays sends along this invitation to participate in a CE course this fall:
The Midwest Chapter/MLA & WHSLA conference is pleased to offer ten unique and exciting continuing education workshops that will upgrade your skills and knowledge. Taking a continuing education workshop can expand your professional network, provide exposure to new ideas, and help you to stay abreast of current and future technologies.
On Saturday, September 25, 2010:
- Max Anderson will provide strategies on instructing adult learners.
- Marty Magee and Barb Jones will address how to turn library politics in your favor.
- Ruth Holst and Jacqueline Leskovec will provide grant writing strategies in these troubled economic times.
- Susan Barnes will provide an introductory overview of community assessment.
- Jenifer Grady will assist you in finding your own personal brand.
- Melinda Orebaugh will provide the latest information on health literacy and the value of using plain language.
On Tuesday, September 28, 2010:
- Holly Burt will provide strategies to assist librarians with preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.
- Alexandra Dimitroff will provide an overview of research methodology on how to develop a good survey.
- Samanthi Hewakapuge’s hands-on workshop will offer reliable resources for your older adult population.
- Nancy Allee will satisfy your curiosity of Web 2.0 public health technologies and how these tools can benefit your patrons.
Check out this flyer or follow this link to the conference website for complete CE course information. Have any questions? Contact Tammy Mays at tmays at wisc dot edu or Ulrike Dieterle at udieterle at wisc dot edu.
Your intrepid blog editor is really excited about going to MLA ’10 in Washington. D. C. I am looking forward to seeing so many of my Midwest Chapter colleagues and friends there. Midwest Chapter members will be involved in many programs and events at MLA. As Midwest Chapter president-elect, I take great pride in our level of involvement in our national association.
Three of us have been chosen as Official Bloggers for the conference — Amy Donahue, Michelle Kraft, and myself. We’ll be reporting at least twice a day from the meeting on the MLA ’10 Official Blog. In addition, watch this blog because I will be posting newsy items of particular interest to chapter members here. I’m taking along my trusty old digital camera and will be posting photos to Flickr.
One of our chapter members, Ruth Holst, will be assuming the office of MLA president at the end of the meeting. She will be giving her Presidential Inaugural Address on Tuesday morning. I’m sure she’d love to see her fellow Midwest Chapter Members out there in the audience! Our other MLA Board of Directors member, Jane Blumenthal, is MLA treasurer and will be presenting her report at the MLA Business Meeting on Monday.
On Monday, we’ll be seeing three chapter members honored at the MLA Awards Ceremony and Luncheon. Ann C. Weller will receive the Virginia L. and William K. Beatty MLA Volunteer Service Award; Logan Ludwig will receive the Carla J. Funk Governmental Relations Award; and Elizabeth Kiscaden has been awarded an EBSCO/MLA Annual Meeting Grant.
Also on Monday, last year’s Janet Doe Lecturer J. Michael Homan will be introducing this year’s Janet Doe Lecturer. Janna Lawrence will be presenting the AHIP Q & A on Monday as well.
Stephanie Schulte and Amy Donahue are this year’s winners of the Midwest Chapter’s “Free Lunch” Awards and will be attending the Chapter Council Presents Sharing Roundtables Luncheon on Tuesday. Amy will be making the most of her award by facilitating the Social Networking for Medical Libraries table.
Here are lists of other chapter members who will be participating in MLA ’10 in various ways:
CE Instructors: Melinda Orebaugh, Logan Ludwig, Max Anderson, Natalie Reed, Nancy Allee, James Shedlock
Session Moderators: Janna Lawrence, Jonathan Koffel, Jo Dorsch, W. John MacMullen
Panel Presenters: Michelle Kraft, Ruth Fenske
Paper Presenters: Ulrike Dieterle, Elizabeth Whipple, Linda Watson, Paul Blobaum, Melissa Rethlefsen, Amy Donahue, Elizabeth Fine, Anne Beschnett
Poster Presenters: Anna Schnitzer, Rebecca Raszewski, Clare Leibfarth, Melissa Rethlefsen, Anne Beschnett, Susan London, Merle Rosenzweig
5-minute Lightning Poster Presenters: Mary Shultz, Holly Ann Burt
Many chapter members are serving on MLA committees and juries and MLA sections in various capacities as chairs and members, outgoing and incoming. They’ll be busy attending the many meetings held during MLA ’10.
Last, but not least, 2011 NPC Local Assistance Committee Co-chairs Linda Watson and Dawn Littleton will be a part of the MLA ’11 Invitation on Tuesday. Won’t it be fun to host next year’s MLA here in the Midwest in Minneapolis, Minnesota!
I’m hoping that I didn’t leave anyone out. If I missed your name in the MLA program, send me a note and I’ll add you right away!
Special thanks to JESS who helped me assemble this information!
P.S. I immediately realized that I forgot to mention two chapter members above! Carole Gilbert is serving as a member of the 2010 NPC. Elaine Hicks has been awarded this year’s PH/HA Section Travel Stipend to attend MLA ’10. Congratulations!
5/13 UPDATE: I’ve added Nancy Allee and Jim Shedlock to our list of Midwest Chapter CE Instructors. Apologies for leaving you off the list!
5/17 UPDATE: I’ve also added W. John MacMullen to our list. He will be moderator of both Medical Library Education Section sessions at MLA!
5/21: Added Merle Rosenzweig to the list of poster presenters. Hope this is everyone now!
Application Deadline Extended!
New deadline is Friday, April 16th!
Apply today!
I sure do! For several years, the Midwest Chapter has been providing awards to two chapter members to attend the Chapter Council Presents Sharing Roundtables at the annual MLA meeting. If you are going to MLA ’10, one of these Chapter Sharing Roundtables “Free Lunch” Awards could be YOURS!
This year’s list of 30 roundtable topics looks great! I don’t know how I’m going to decide. Right now I’m waivering between Liaisons Stepping Out of the Library, Integrating You or Your Library into the Curriculum, or Issues in Chapter Leadership. Decisions, decisions, decisions!
This year two $54 “Free Lunch” awards will be given to chapter members to support their attendance at the Chapter Sharing Roundtables lunch on Tuesday, May 25.
Applying is easy! To apply for a free lunch, fill out an application form including your brief (It won’t take long to write, I promise!) essay on the topic “Why I Deserve a Free Lunch.” Essays are evaluated on the basis of “conciseness, creativity, humor, pathos, and/or neediness.”
For all the information you need and an application form for the Chapter Sharing Roundtable Award go to the awards page of the chapter website.
For more information about the Chapter Sharing Roundtables go to the Chapter Council website here!
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 5 April 16, 2010!
Hope to see you there!
The Midwest Chapter Executive Board is meeting today here in Indianapolis. There are seven of us here on-site and five are attending virtually.
Earlier this week Program Committee Chair Brian Finnegan sent out the Call for Papers and Posters for the 2010 conference in Madison, Wisconsin.
The conference theme of “Step Up, Step Forward” lends itself to a variety of topics, and provides opportunities for presenters to: share ways they have advocated for their patrons, been involved in improving literacy, overcame current financial challenges, or improved collaborations beyond the library; showcase how they provide new and exciting ways to delivery library services, share innovative uses of technology both within and outside the library walls, or provide a glimpse into the future.
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, September 26th and Monday, September 27th at both morning and afternoon simultaneous sessions.
Posters will be on display on Monday, September 27th from noon until 6:00 pm.
Presenters should be available to discuss their posters during the poster reception from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm on September 27th.
For contributed paper proposals, submit a 250 word abstract to describe your paper. Include your name, position title, address, phone number and email address. The abstract should be emailed to finnegan.brian AT marshfieldclinic.org or mailed to: Brian Finnegan, G.E. Magnin Medical Library, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 North Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449-5460.
For poster proposals, submit a 250 word abstract to describe your poster. Include your name, position title, address, phone number and email address. The abstract should be emailed to finnegan.brian AT marshfieldclinic.org or mailed to: Brian Finnegan, G.E. Magnin Medical Library, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 North Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449-5460.
The deadline for abstract submission is June 30, 2010.
Notifications of paper/poster acceptance/rejection will be made by July 16, 2010.
This year’s MLA Awards Ceremony and Luncheon will be held on Monday, May 24. Your intrepid blog editor is very proud to note that two Midwest Chapter members will be honored at the ceremony! Ann C. Weller from the University of Illinois, Chicago will be honored with the Virginia L. and William K. Beatty MLA Volunteer Service Award. Logan Ludwig from Loyola University, Chicago will receive the Carla J. Funk Governmental Relations Award.
Also at the luncheon, our longtime colleague and fellow Midwesterner Margaret (Peg) Allen will be honored as an MLA Fellow for her many years of service to our profession. Margaret Bandy who was a panelist at the 2009 Midwest Chapter Conference will also be honored as an MLA Fellow.
Two other Midwestern librarians, Rienne Johnson from Illinois and Elizabeth Kiscaden from Iowa, have been awarded EBSCO/MLA Annual Meeting Grants.
Congratulations all!
