Diversity in Collection Development: Comparing Access Strategies to Alternative Press Periodicals

A study by researchers from the State University of New York at Albany compared the efficacy of various strategies for providing access to nonmainstream periodicals listed in the Alternative Press Index. The strategies that were compared included the regular local subscription approach, resource-sharing consortia that include expedited interlibrary loan systems, and four electronic full-text periodical products. Although electronic full-text packages were found to provide some added access to nonmainstream journals, results revealed that much greater access was provided by participation in resource-sharing networks

Library Capacity Building in Africa or the Exportation of Technolust? Discerning Partnership Models and Revitalization Efforts in the Age of Globalization

Africana librarians in the United States work to sustain a larger dialogue, one that contributes to democratic futures in Africa through the support of libraries and indigenous publishing in Africa. Yet we are also products of colonial legacies which have engendered Western domination to the detriment of Africans. Can librarians from the West contribute to sustainable democratic futures by supporting the catalytic role of librarians in Africa who strive to support African-centered scholarship and struggles against legacies of colonialism? Or will we re-inscribe colonial legacies through our partnerships and promotion of Western centered models? Based upon the author\u27s tour of selected higher education settings and academic libraries in Kenya and South Africa in 2001, the author reflects upon libraries in the context of “development” in Africa. The author begins to discern potentially viable models and develop criteria for partnerships by comparing methods of advocacy, collaboration and projects for information and digital futures. Descriptions of efforts to “build capacity” within African librarianship include those of African librarians and their associations, The Association of African Universities (AAU), The Africana Librarians Council (ALC), The World Bank, and The International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP). The author observed the marketing of technology in Africa and characterizes some of the privileged dialogue on Information Communication Technologies (ICT) as the exportation of “technolust” which the author argues, contributes to increased privatization and the sacrifice of support to public universities. Such privatization reduces the broad social role of librarians and further marginalizes reference services. The author identifies critical literacies and sharing of cross-continental experience as essential in creating “mutually beneficial partnerships” to support cooperative, sustainable, democratic, information futures. In an effort to continue this important conversation and develop “true partnerships,” the author shares her experience and reflection. Calls for dialogue throughout the African diaspora and beyond to promote community-based, democratic education and a sustainable intellectual, reading culture in Africa are recommended

Promoting European Union depository collections in the United States through bibliographic instruction

The European Union (EU) maintains a system of depository libraries in the United States. This study surveyed 55 of the U.S. European Union depositories concerning the scope of their efforts to provide bibliographic instruction for the EU collection. Survey respondents were also asked about other promotional efforts. The study found that librarians responsible for the European Union collections were enthusiastic about the applicability of the materials to a variety of research questions, but that the time available for instruction in their use was limited. In designing an instruction program, respondents indicated that it is important to include information about the structure and function of the EU, as well as information about the use of the major reference tools

Creating Interdisciplinary Engagement Through a Hospital-Based Endowed Chair in Nursing Research: The Conway Chair Conversations

Although clinical nurses\u27 involvement in research is a role expectation, efforts to engage clinical nurses in nurse-led research have had notably mixed results. These efforts have most typically been single discipline-focused (nursing), although nursing care is a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice. Adding an interdisciplinary strategy to multiple other efforts to engage clinical nurses in research may contribute to more nurse involvement. Here, we describe the use of a hospital-based endowed chair in nursing research to simultaneously engage nursing and other disciplines in a monthly dialogue about clinically relevant, research-related challenges and solutions. Outcomes indicate that the research-related dialogue among nurses and interprofessional colleagues would likely not have taken place without this approach

The Cambia Sojourns Scholars Leadership Program: Conversations with Emerging Leaders in Palliative Care

BACKGROUND: There is a pressing workforce shortage and leadership scarcity in palliative care to adequately meet the demands of individuals with serious illness and their families. To address this gap, the Cambia Health Foundation launched its Sojourns Scholars Leadership Program in 2014, an initiative designed to identify, cultivate, and advance the next generation of palliative care leaders. This report intends to summarize the second cohort of Sojourns Scholars\u27 projects and their reflection on their leadership needs. OBJECTIVE: This report summarizes the second cohort of sojourns scholars\u27 project and their reflection on leadership needs. METHODS: After providing a written reflection on their own projects, the second cohort participated in a group interview (fireside chat) to elicit their perspectives on barriers and facilitators in providing palliative care, issues facing leadership in palliative care in the United States, and lessons from personal and professional growth as leaders in palliative care. They analyzed the transcript of the group interview using qualitative content analysis methodology. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from descriptions of the scholars\u27 project experience: challenges in palliative care practice, leadership strategies in palliative care, and three lessons learned to be a leader were identified. Challenges included perceptions of palliative care, payment and policy, and workforce development. Educating and collaborating with other clinicians and influencing policy change are important strategies used to advance palliative care. Time management, leading team effort, and inspiring others are important skills that promote effectiveness as a leader. DISCUSSION: Emerging leaders have a unique view of conceptualizing contemporary palliative care and shaping the future. CONCLUSIONS: Providing comprehensive, coordinated care that is high quality, patient and family centered, and readily available depends on strong leadership in palliative care. The Cambia Scholars Program represents a unique opportunity

Integration of Pediatric Palliative Care Into Cardiac Intensive Care: A Champion-Based Model

Integration of pediatric palliative care (PPC) into management of children with serious illness and their families is endorsed as the standard of care. Despite this, timely referral to and integration of PPC into the traditionally cure-oriented cardiac ICU (CICU) remains variable. Despite dramatic declines in mortality in pediatric cardiac disease, key challenges confront the CICU community. Given increasing comorbidities, technological dependence, lengthy recurrent hospitalizations, and interventions risking significant morbidity, many patients in the CICU would benefit from PPC involvement across the illness trajectory. Current PPC delivery models have inherent disadvantages, insufficiently address the unique aspects of the CICU setting, place significant burden on subspecialty PPC teams, and fail to use CICU clinician skill sets. We therefore propose a novel conceptual framework for PPC-CICU integration based on literature review and expert interdisciplinary, multi-institutional consensus-building. This model uses interdisciplinary CICU-based champions who receive additional PPC training through courses and subspecialty rotations. PPC champions strengthen CICU PPC provision by (1) leading PPC-specific educational training of CICU staff; (2) liaising between CICU and PPC, improving use of support staff and encouraging earlier subspecialty PPC involvement in complex patients\u27 management; and (3) developing and implementing quality improvement initiatives and CICU-specific PPC protocols. Our PPC-CICU integration model is designed for adaptability within institutional, cultural, financial, and logistic constraints, with potential applications in other pediatric settings, including ICUs. Although the PPC champion framework offers several unique advantages, barriers to implementation are anticipated and additional research is needed to investigate the model\u27s feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy