Medical Libraries to the Rescue : Meeting Critical Institutional Goals

This presentation describes initiatives undertaken by Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library to raise the profile of the Health Sciences Research Commons repository

The Joseph Leiter NLM/MLA lecture at MLA \u2711

Description of the 2011 Joseph Leiter NLM/MLA Lecture

Emerging Roles for Librarians in the Medical School Curriculum and the Impact on Professional Identity

This article discusses the impact on professional identity for health sciences librarians participating in the curriculum revision and development process. A qualitative survey, designed to examine the current roles, values, and self-identification of health sciences librarians involved in curricular revision, was conducted. The respondents discussed how they had participated in the planning, implementation, and rollout phases of revised curricula. They identified skills and values essential to successful participation and described the impact of expanded professional relationships on new identities as educators, change agents, and problem solvers. The study may add to the knowledge base of skills and attitudes needed for successful practice in these newly emerging roles

Protective Actions of Luminally Restricted 5-HT4 Receptor Agonist in Dextran Sodium Sulfate Induced Colitis

Background: The 5-hydroxytrptamine receptor 4 (5-HT4 receptor) is heavily expressed on colonic epithelial cells and has been targeted as a therapeutic for functional bowel symptoms and pain; however, adverse cardiac events related to 5-HT4 agonist treatment limited their therapeutic use. Previous studies in the Mawe laboratory have demonstrated that intraluminal application of a 5-HT4 agonist exerts protective epithelial actions in animal models of colitis, and accelerates recovery from colitis. The aim of this study was to test the effects of a luminally restricted 5-HT4 agonist in a mouse model of experimental colitis. Methods: The luminally restricted 5-HT4 agonist (Takeda Pharmaceuticals; 10 mg/kg) was administered to mice during active dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced colitis. Colitis activity was evaluated using disease activity index, a fecal lipocalin-2 assay, and histological damage scoring. Epithelial proliferation and colonic motility were also measured as readouts of the potential protective actions and colonic function, respectively. Results: Oral gavage and intracolonic delivery of this luminally restricted 5-HT4 agonist had no detectable effect on recovery from colitis or colonic motility as compared to vehicle. Additionally, in positive control experiments, we failed to see an effect of the 5-HT4 agonist, tegaserod, on colitis severity or colonic motility in any of the measures tested. Conclusions: In conclusion, it is unclear if the luminally restricted 5-HT4 agonist has any effect on recovery from DSS colitis. Given inconsistencies with the model and lack of an effect of tegaserod, additional studies will be required, possibly involving different doses and time points, to fully assess the actions of this luminally restricted compound in colitis recovery

Consortia Purchasing: The Himmelfarb Experience

Most academic health sciences libraries are faced with either zero growth or shrinking budgets. At the same time, faculty, staff, and students are demanding access to more and more resources, and libraries are expected to support students in new and expanding programs in areas such as public health and genetics. The format of choice is electronic, and 24/7 service from any location is the expectation. The Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library found it was necessary to build a series of strategic alliances to meet these new demands in difficult financial times. Alliances have been formed with campus libraries, campus academic support services, and outside groups. These relationships have ranged from formal consortial arrangements to informal understandings. Over the past several years, the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library has been able to provide new services and resources such as electronic reserves and off-campus access to full-text electronic journals and textbooks as a direct result of these relationships. This presentation reviews the strategies used for creating these and other alliances, the real benefits of such arrangements and the factors that have led to successes. Other topics covered include the issue of sustaining partnerships, negotiating in a non-library environment, and opening dialog among institutions that compete at the corporate level but not at the library level

Assessment of Departmental Journal Requests and Impact on an Academic Health Sciences Library Collection: An Unanticipated Benefit

In 2005, the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library made the decision to convert from print to a predominantly electronic journal collection. The conversion was completed in 2007. This poster presentation reports the objectives, guidelines, and results of the print-to-electronic journal collection conversion process

Librarians as Participants in a Medical School Advanced Teaching Program

Librarians of Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library are now participating in a joint program of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development of the George Washington University. The program, called the Master Teacher Leadership and Development Program (MTLDP), has increased library visibility and an expanded faculty understanding of how library resources and services can enhance education. This poster presentation is a general outline of the program\u27s benefits to the library

Capitalizing on our Strengths: Teaching Health Informatics Courses

This poster presents the experiences of two health sciences librarians teaching health informatics in semester-length credit courses--one for undergraduate health sciences students in a distance education format and the other for graduate students in a health information technology program in a traditional classroom environment