Dana Medical to Conduct Info-Needs Assessment

Congratulations to the Dana Medical Library, which has received an award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Region (NNLM-NER) to conduct an assessment of the information needs of Vermont’s community healthcare providers. The project also includes a survey of Vermont hospitals’ knowledge-based information resources and services.

The reports resulting from the surveys will help Dana Library, a resource library of the NNLM, to update and improve its services to unaffiliated health care providers, including physicians, advanced practice nurses, and allied health practices. Medical librarians will develop and present classes based on the provider needs assessment survey. The Library will also work with partners and supporters in the UVM College of Medicine Office of Primary Care, the Vermont AHECs (Area Health Education Centers), and the Vermont State Library to plan and advocate for information resources in health-related areas.

The $34,000 award is funded through April 2011. Marianne Burke is principal investigator.

Wes Graf Retires: Happy Sails!

On Monday, Wes Graf was celebrated in the Staff Lounge for his 32 years of service at UVM. Paul Philbin commented on Wes' outstanding achievements, both personally and professionally. Here are few highlights:

Wes’ favorite TV show is “Deadliest Catch” – an interest that stems from his days as a fisherman in Alaska. In his early days, he was a fish monger. Drove down to coast of Mass., pick up fish to sell on the corners of the Streets of Burlington.

Of course, more importantly, Wes has contributed greatly to the video history of the University. He’s received recognition for at least three productions:

In 1981, “Three Generations,” a video production that traces the changes made in Vermont’s treatment of retarded citizens. In 1983, “Coping With Terminal Illness,” received a Certificate of Merit at the International Rehabilitation Film Festival. In 1987, he created, “On My Own: The Traditions of Daisy Turner,” a video production about the life of a daughter of a former slave, 102-year-old Daisy Turner. She recalls childhood incidents and her father’s Civil War experiences and talks about life in her homestead in Vermont. Folklorist Jane Beck fills in details about traditions preserved in the Turner family.

Congrats, Wes, on a job well done!

Informal Open Forum: Sights and Sounds of Singapore

I'm back! And for whomever might be interested in a multi-media slideshow of sorts about Singapore, I will host an open forum on Wednesday, June 30, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Media Classroom. All you have to bring is questions.

Celebrating People

Daisy Benson and Angie Chappel - Sokol have in common an amazing willingness to help people find what they need, when they need it. May 2010 brought official recognition for both of them for their librarian work for almost 10 years.

Daisy moved to Burlington, Vermont ten years ago all the way from Texas. She started working at the Bailey/ Howe Library and helped facilitate people’s way of discovering the intricate ways of research. Her job responsibilities changed over the years, but if you have to put a name on it, her position would be library structure coordinator. A job that embodies her efforts (and of course others’) to improve the library's dynamics and to meet students' research needs. She began by working on the Bailey/ Howe website in order to create better search engines for a variety of needs. Throughout the years she started teaching and having face to face contact with both students and Library staff. As she simply says it – “the part of my job that I like most is teaching”. On May 5^th 2010, during the Rainbow Graduation organized by the LGBTQ Center at UVM, Daisy received the Glen Elder Faculty Leadership Award in appreciation of her work to make the campus a better place for students. She has dedicated a great deal of her time to students working with LGBTQ Services in the past years.

Angie came to Vermont 15 years ago from Illinois and started working at the Dana Medical Library 5 years after that. She did her master’s in Library Science and then used her educational background to become a reference librarian on UVM Campus. She helps the nurses at Fletcher Allen keep up with the information and technology relevant for their profession. Angie believes that “you can make librarianship very interesting” and just like Daisy, she loves teaching other people what her years of work had taught her. And she especially loves working with nurses, because she finds it challenging on a day to day basis - “People think of nurses as being part of the landscape, not as people who help you get better”. On May 12^th , at the Annual Meeting and Banquet organized by Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nurses, Angie received “The Friend of Nursing Award” for all her work until now at Dana Medical Library.

The Infamous Toothpaste

Where: Still in the Dean's Office

When: Everyday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm

Why: Because it's something you can leave the library with.

SPRING undercover Celebration

I still find it amazing
how a little bit of sun can bring people to life and put things into motion.







On that note, I'm sending
UVM a soundtrack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6tV11acSRk) and some humble visuals of what is going to be an exciting end of the year; temporary for some of us and somehow final for others (See May Graduation).

The floating bubbles (officially known as bubble-wrap- courtesy of Scott) are just the undercover part. They pop and they help in times of stress.

The National Library in Singapore: A Photo Essay

Hi everyone, Mara and I toured the National Library of Singapore today and I wanted to share the photos with you all. If you would like to see them larger, just click on an image. The structure was stunning, as was the signage, and the collections, and even the restrooms. For actual info, check out their website where you can "Search. Ask. Browse."