Copyright (c) 2009 All rights reserved. http://works.bepress.com/piorunm Recent documents in Mary E Piorun en-us Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:21:41 PST 3600 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/22 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/22 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:40:51 PST Objectives: The research evaluated participant satisfaction with the content and format of the ''Web 2.0 101: Introduction to Second Generation Web Tools'' course and measured the impact of the course on participants' self-evaluated knowledge of Web 2.0 tools. Methods: The ''Web 2.0 101'' online course was based loosely on the Learning 2.0 model. Content was provided through a course blog and covered a wide range of Web 2.0 tools. All Medical Library Association members were invited to participate. Participants were asked to complete a post-course survey. Respondents who completed the entire course or who completed part of the course self-evaluated their knowledge of nine social software tools and concepts prior to and after the course using a Likert scale. Additional qualitative information about course strengths and weaknesses was also gathered. Results: Respondents' self-ratings showed a significant change in perceived knowledge for each tool, using a matched pair Wilcoxon signed rank analysis (P,0.0001 for each tool/concept). Overall satisfaction with the course appeared high. Hands-on exercises were the most frequently identified strength of the course; the length and time-consuming nature of the course were considered weaknesses by some. Conclusion: Learning 2.0-style courses, though demanding time and self-motivation from participants, can increase knowledge of Web 2.0 tools. Melissa L. Rethlefsen Internet Blogging Libraries, Medical Librarians Education, Distance Educational Technology Teaching http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/21 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/21 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:23:50 PDT OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed trends in research activity as represented in the published research in the leading peer-reviewed professional journal for health sciences librarianship. METHODOLOGY: Research articles were identified from the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association and Journal of the Medical Library Association (1991-2007). Using content analysis and bibliometric techniques, data were collected for each article on the (1) subject, (2) research method, (3) analytical technique used, (4) number of authors, (5) number of citations, (6) first author affiliation, and (7) funding source. The results were compared to a previous study, covering the period 1966 to 1990, to identify changes over time. RESULTS: Of the 930 articles examined, 474 (51%) were identified as research articles. Survey (n = 174, 37.1%) was the most common methodology employed, quantitative descriptive statistics (n = 298, 63.5%) the most used analytical technique, and applied topics (n = 332, 70%) the most common type of subject studied. The majority of first authors were associated with an academic health sciences library (n = 264, 55.7%). Only 27.4% (n = 130) of studies identified a funding source. CONCLUSION: This study's findings demonstrate that progress is being made in health sciences librarianship research. There is, however, room for improvement in terms of research methodologies used, proportion of applied versus theoretical research, and elimination of barriers to conducting research for practicing librarians. Sally A. Gore Libraries, Medical Library Science Research Publishing http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/20 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/20 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:59:20 PDT Our presentation will describe the process and costs associated with our first digitization project: digitizing 300 doctoral dissertations for a newly implemented institutional repository at UMass Medical School. We will start at the beginning: selecting team members and identifying their roles, choosing the right repository system, and identifying a manageable first project. We will explain how we partnered with our Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and contacted alumni for permission to digitize their dissertations. We will also discuss technical information and decisions such as software and equipment used to scan and create searchable text, using OCR technology to convert abstracts, deciding what metadata to collect, and how to re-use data from our OPAC. We will describe workflow and skill level of staff members and the coordination required between the Library's Systems and Technical Services departments. Finally we will present the costs associated with this work. We conclude that locally digitizing dissertations or other scholarly works for inclusion into institutional repositories can be cost effective and an excellent recruitment strategy for the institutional repository. Presented October 28, 2008 in Worcester, Mass., at the program "Introduction to Library Digitization" sponsored by the Massachusetts Library Association's Technical Services Section. Mary E. Piorun Digitization Institutional repositories Libraries, Digital University of Massachusetts Medical School Libraries, Medical Lamar Soutter Library http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/19 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/19 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:13:22 PDT Objective: This paper describes the Lamar Soutter Library's process and costs associated with digitizing 300 doctoral dissertations for a newly implemented institutional repository at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Methodology: Project tasks included identifying metadata elements, obtaining and tracking permissions, converting the dissertations to an electronic format, and coordinating workflow between library departments. Each dissertation was scanned, reviewed for quality control, enhanced with a table of contents, processed through an optical character recognition (OCR) function, and added to the institutional repository. Results: Three hundred and twenty dissertations were digitized and added to the repository for a cost of $23,562, or $0.28 per page. Seventy-four percent of the authors who were contacted (n=282) granted permission to digitize their dissertations. Processing time per title was 170 minutes, for a total processing time of 906 hours. In the first 17 months, full-text dissertations in the collection were downloaded 17,555 times. Conclusion: Locally digitizing dissertations or other scholarly works for inclusion into institutional repositories can be cost effective, especially if small defined projects are chosen. A successful project serves as an excellent recruitment strategy for the institutional repository and helps libraries build new relationships. Challenges include workflow, cost, developing policies, and obtaining copyright permissions. Mary E. Piorun Libraries, Digital Libraries, Medical University of Massachusetts Medical School Lamar Soutter Library Institutional repositories http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/18 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/18 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:46:50 PDT Objective How do we manage support staff development in the modern health sciences library? Increasingly, the need for more highly skilled staff is evident. This poster describes a three phase project encompassing the development, approval, and implementation processes necessary to make a career ladder a reality in a medium-sized academic health sciences library. Methods The Management Team gathered information from library literature and business and government sources as a starting point. In the development phase, the team posed questions as the foundation for developing a competency-based program to manage support staff development. e.g., What will support staff be doing in the future? Can we define the competencies staff will need? How do we create a flexible system that keeps us poised to respond to change? How do we build a skilled work force and prepare current staff to take on new tasks? How do we develop a measurement framework for objective employee evaluation? In the approval phase, the emphasis was on educating the university's administration, HR, and the union about the library's strategic direction and the benefits of the plan to staff. The implementation phase focused on staff buy-in, roll-out timing, and developing training to ensure success for current and future staff. Results and Conclusions Competencies, education, and years of service formed the promotion plan's basis. Managers identified task-based areas of responsibility, divided into achievement stages with frameworks detailed for objective employee evaluation. A policy for advancement, based on performance in multiple areas of responsibility, was developed. The plan allows for growth and promotion, and encourages staff to build a knowledge base across library departments. Throughout the planning process the team met with human resources, the union, and administration to explain program goals, as well as to address their concerns and incorporate their input as we developed the program details, resulting in a smooth approval process. For implementation, one manager assumed responsibility for coordinating orientation and training development. The team was surprised by initial negative staff reaction to increased responsibility and the certification/testing requirements. The team continues to face implementation challenges and issues. Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting on May 18, 2008, in Chicago, IL. Jane Fama University of Massachusetts Medical School Library Administration Libraries, Medical Lamar Soutter Library Career Mobility Staff Development http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/17 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/17 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:44:54 PDT Objective: Determine if the profession of health librarianship has matured over recent years as defined by the level of sophistication found in the published research in the leading peer-reviewed, professional journal. Method: A content analysis of research articles published in Bulletin of the Medical Library Association and Journal of the Medical Library Association during the time span of 1991-2007 will be performed. For those articles that are classified as research, the subjects, research methodologies and analytical techniques employed will be identified, as well as bibliometric characteristics, institutional affiliation, and research funding source. The data will be analyzed using descriptive and quantitative inferential statistics to identify trends and/or gaps in the literature. The subject, research method, and analytical classification schema used throughout the study will be based on the work of Alexandra Dimitroff. Results & Conclusion: Preliminary findings reflect articles published from 1991-1996 (n = 310). Forty six percent of the articles reviewed were defined as research. The most predominant research methodology employed was survey (47%) and the most prevalent techniques used to analyze findings were quantitative descriptive statistics (62%). Studies examining subjects related to library users accounted for the greatest number of published research articles (20%), followed in popularity by public services (15%), and materials and/or collection development (9%). Sixty five percent of articles were authored by individuals affiliated with an academic health sciences library. The majority of studies (65%) stated no funding source, while 17% reported government support for the research carried out. New areas of research observed to date include consumer health, outreach, and the internet; an emerging research method is focus groups. Additional data on the findings will be presented in May. Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting on May 19, 2008, in Chicago, IL. Sally A. Gore Research Libraries, Medical Library Science http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/16 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/16 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:53:44 PST Objective: This poster will demonstrate how partnering with civic and community organizations to host a traveling exhibit helps the library reach beyond its primary clientele to: 1) heighten awareness of the historical roles of women physicians, 2) encourage young women to enter the medical fields, 3) promote medical librarians and library services, and 4) increase visibility of the medical school. Method: In the summer of 2004, a core group of library staff gathered to prepare the application to host the ALA/NLM traveling exhibit, "Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians." Once selected as a host site, the group reached out to a diverse mix of academic and administrative staff from across the Medical School, as well as members of the local community. This group became the formal steering committee to plan programming to accompany the exhibit, helping meet the educational and promotional goals set forth in the initial application. Some outreach events included movie nights at the public library, an essay contest for grade school students, a career day with Girl Scouts, a review of research in women's health (WHI), etc. Promotional methods/vehicles included "save the date" postcards, flyers, posters, and coverage through area radio, television, and newspapers. Results: Seventeen events were held in conjunction with the Library's hosting of the exhibit. During the six-week period, approximately 60,000 individuals visited the Library, more than 750 specifically devoted to viewing the display. Two hundred people from the medical school community and the public at large attended the opening ceremony, 100 area Girl Scout members participated in multiple educational events, local middle and high school students took part in an essay contest, and more than 100 people attended book signings, film screenings, and a dramatic performance about Elizabeth Blackwell. Six groups provided financial support of the exhibit, totaling more than $7,000. Conclusion: The exhibit encouraged new experiences for Library staff including collaboration, marketing and outreach to a wider audience. It introduced many first-time Library visitors to a valued local resource, helped develop relationships between medical school students and the public, and introduced a different and important historical perspective on medicine to all. Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting on May 20, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA. Sally A. Gore Physicians, Women Libraries, Medical Exhibitions Community-Institutional Relations Lamar Soutter Library http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/15 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/15 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:59:00 PDT Objective:This poster describes the Library's first digitization project: digitizing 300 doctoral dissertations in-house for an institutional repository. The Library hopes to provide a showcase for the medical school's research, teaching, and scholarship; promote open access to research; and make available an easy way for faculty and researchers to promote and distribute their work.Method:The Library Director established a team to investigate institutional repository products. The team created a chart assigning weights to important criteria in order to evaluate various systems. In 2006 the Library purchased a license for ProQuest Digital Commons, a hosted system. As a manageable first project, the team focused on digitizing the 300 dissertations produced by one of the graduate schools. The intent was to populate the repository quickly, generate visibility, and gain support across the medical school. The team worked with the graduate school to develop a permissions form and a process to contact alumni. The Library Director decided to scan the dissertations in-house rather than outsource. The team made technical decisions about software and equipment for scanning and creating searchable text, using OCR technology, deciding what metadata to collect, and how to reuse data from the library's OPAC.Results:The project is currently well under budget. As of February 2007, more than 65% of the alumni contacted have given permission for their dissertations to be digitized. The 247 dissertations added to the repository have been downloaded more than 6300 times in just eight months. The project was profiled in the school's internal newsletter, leading to increased visibility and interest. Another graduate school recently agreed to deposit their dissertations in the repository. Continued challenges include workflow, documenting policies and procedures, managing copyright issues, and creating a plan to market and promote the repository on campus.Conclusion:The Library's first digitization project has been successful due to library funding, support, and management; the skills of team members; the purchase of a hosted product; and the partnership with the graduate school. Future success will be indicated by continued funding, increased faculty and department participation, and greater campus awareness.Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, on May 20, 2007. Mary E. Piorun Institutional repositories http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/13 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/13 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:20:07 PDT This presentation highlights our experiences with our first digitization project: digitizing 300 doctoral dissertations in-house for an institutional repository. We start at the beginning: selecting team members and identifying their roles, choosing the right repository system, and identifying a manageable first project. After this background information, we detail our current project. We include administrative information such as how we have partnered with our Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and contacted alumni for permission to digitize their dissertations. We also discuss technical information and decisions such as software and equipment used to scan and create searchable text, using OCR technology to convert abstracts, deciding what metadata to collect, and how to re-use data from our OPAC. And finally we describe workflow and skill level of staff members and the coordination required between the Library's Systems and Technical Services departments. Presented November 6, 2006, at Scanning Forum 2006 meeting, Charlottesville, VA. Mary E. Piorun Institutional repositories http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/14 http://works.bepress.com/piorunm/14 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:20:07 PDT Purpose of program/study/research: To accelerate the advancement of women professionals at an academic medical center through creative collaboration. Methodology (including study design, analysis, and evaluation): The UMass Medical School Women's Faculty Committee (WFC) initiated a partnership with the medical library to compete successfully to host the traveling exhibition "Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians." Concurrent with the 6-week exhibition, fifteen events brought local and nationally prominent women together for mentoring activities, an original dramatic production, and an awards luncheon for women faculty. Women featured in the exhibit as well as its Visiting Curator spoke at UMMS about their research and career challenges, read from their published works, and were featured at graduation and a regional medical society event. Results: Application-writing and event planning sessions forged robust working relationships among top-ranking administrators, senior and junior faculty, and staff. The exhibition increased opportunities for administration, faculty, and students to understand the impact of women in medicine, their leadership potential, and historical contributions. It also generated new mentor/mentee relationships and grant-writing collaborations. The exhibition's national recognition helped draw a larger, more diverse and gender-balanced audience (575+ people) to the events enhancing the visibility of the WFC, as evidenced by institutional funding for women faculty to attend the AAMC WIM professional development workshops and ELAM for the first time. Conclusion(s): Creative partnerships, motivated by the opportunity to host "Changing the Face of Medicine," produced greater than expected gains for women faculty, generating new awareness and understanding of women's accomplishments and leadership potential. This partnership allowed for a wide range of multi-disciplinary efforts, strengthening networking across silos, and advancing the goals of women in an academic medical center. Presented October 29, 2006 at AAMC 2006 Annaul Meeting, Seattle, WA. Patricia D. Franklin Education, Medical Physicians, Women Libraries, Medical Academic Medical Centers Mentors