Submitted by Brooke Billman
Hardin Library of the Health Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Ah copyright. How we all have a love-hate relationship with you. We love you when we can use fair use; we hate you when the laws are so obtuse or vague that the answers we give to patrons develop looks of confusion (possibly pain?) on their faces as well as ours.
Despite this fact I do have an interest in copyright and jumped at the chance to join the copyright group as a facilitator!
The discussion was a whirlwind of questions-asking, attempts at question answering, sharing mutual struggles, and going over helpful resources. Although all of the fantastic questions that were posed couldn't be answered, it was rewarding and comforting to discuss concerns with fellow information professionals. The mix of academic, corporate, and hospital libraries that we serve made for an especially interesting conversation when we kept in mind the differing patron needs and budgets (CCC) that we deal with.
In the end, I was so glad to be able to sit down in a friendly setting to discuss this topic with colleagues from across the country and across work environments. There were many things I learned but overall the conversation reaffirmed something I already knew - copyright is a wily beast that can be confusing, scary, and sometimes just annoying! Sometimes it's best to attack it in packs to understand its ways and I'm so glad I was able to do this with other MLA members. Thank you for the opportunity to facilitate such a great group!
Submitted by Jim Bulger
Allina Health Systems, Minneapolis, MN
I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a recipient of a "Free Lunch" for the Chapter Council Sharing Roundtables at MLA. The food was good; the conversation even better. I'd also volunteered to be an official recorder for the session, which was a great way to jump in.
Before getting into "issues" (i.e. challenges) facing hospital libraries, we spent some time talking about "what's good." Most of us feel very appreciated by our users and have full certainty that we make a difference to our institutions.
When it came to issues, we covered the gamut, from how to serve nurses better (if only we could give them more time), to problems with our IT departments (must you block this website?), to financial issues (no, it's not all free). In spite of differences in size, staffing, and geography (including a librarian from Saudi Arabia), we discovered much in common. So it was great to dive into the issues, though time permitted only something like a shallow Olympic swimmer's dive.
Want to learn more? All of the Roundtables Summary Reports can be found on MLAnet:
http://www.chaptercouncil.mlanet.org/roundtables/2008/index.html
This was a great way to connect with other hospital librarians. Thanks, Midwest Chapter, for making it possible.