Collaborating with Faculty and Instructional Technology Staff

As more and more students are completing their college degree without ever stepping foot on the main campus, libraries must now find new and innovative ways to serve virtual and remote users. In this timely collection, Susan Clayton brings together over 20 experienced distance instruction librarians from across the country University of Western Washington, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Illinois, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of North Carolina to share their effective strategies for designing, delivering, collaborating, and assessing distance instruction. Coverage explores scheduling and marketing classes; utilizing virtual classroom software, online tutorials, and Web tools; collaborating with faculty and information technology professionals; and more. This unique collection provides the advice and best practices to help you go the distance whether creating an introduction to library research or supporting faculty in advanced courses and take the library to where your users are.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/librariesbookchapters/1002/thumbnail.jp

Grant Proposals for the Working Librarian: From Idea to Implementation

Fewer employees, shorter hours, diminished collection budgets, reduced programs and services—all at a time of record library usage. Don\u27t fret and fritter away scarce resources. Be frugal! In this book, library expert Carol Smallwood demonstrates that despite the obvious downsides, the necessity of doing business differently can be positive, leading to partnering, sharing, and innovating. This collection speaks to universal concerns, presenting creative and resourceful solutions from dozens of librarians representing a wide variety of institutions. The Frugal Librarian helps library professionals Find supplementary funding sources, including grants Save money by sharing resources, using tiered staffing for technical services, and implementing green IT Tap into grassroots movements to save neighborhood libraries Preserve and enhance important library functions like programming, outreach, and staff development, despite a tight budget This book offers plenty of ideas that can be implemented immediately.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/librariesbookchapters/1001/thumbnail.jp

Faculty Writing Retreats in the Library: Creative Approaches to Relationship Building

Have you ever thought, “If I had some uninterrupted time to write, I could get so much done!”? At William & Mary Libraries, we often feel this way, and we hear from our teaching faculty colleagues that they feel the same. But can this common challenge present a unique opportunity? Can we, as a library, fill this need, and in turn, accomplish our goals of building relationships and connections with faculty? We determined that we can. As we consider time-intensive library events, partnerships, and outreach, we have learned that focusing on high-impact relationship-building opportunities is the best way to spend our time

Surveying User Activity as a Tool for Space Planning in an Academic Library

University libraries, and specifically the University of South Florida (USF) Library, are used for many different purposes that go beyond traditional library services. Activities users engage in while in the library should factor into decisions regarding the allocation of library space or expenditure of resources. The results of this survey illustrate how patrons are using the USF Library building on a daily basis. The anonymous, self-administered exit survey was administered for one week during two separate semesters. Users exiting the library building were given the opportunity to fill out a survey form. Data collected through this questionnaire, along with daily library gate counts, were analyzed to determine overall use patterns of the library facility and use patterns by specific groups of patrons (faculty, students, staff, and non-USF users). A copy of the questionnaire is appended

Serving Unaffiliated Distance Learners: Strategies that work

Dealing with unaffiliated distance learning students can be a daunting task for many public as well as academic librarians. This article will discuss strategies for providing reference to these students by gathering information on what services they are offered via their home institutions, and helping them navigate the often confusing landscape of library resources and services. Authors will outline the challenges and opportunities for public libraries presented by distance learners and suggest some services that might be provided for them. Finally, we will discuss the opportunities for outreach to distance learning students from both public and academic libraries

Public opinions about overdiagnosis:A national community survey

Despite evidence about the "modern epidemic" of overdiagnosis, and expanding disease definitions that medicalize more people, data are lacking on public views about these issues. Our objective was to measure public perceptions about overdiagnosis and views about financial ties of panels setting disease definitions.We conducted a 15 minute Computer Assisted Telephone Interview with a randomly selected community sample of 500 Australians in January 2014. We iteratively developed and piloted a questionnaire, with a convenience sample (n=20), then with participants recruited by a research company (n=20). Questions included whether respondents had been informed about overdiagnosis; opinions on informing people; and views about financial ties among panels writing disease definitions.Our sample was generally representative, but included a higher proportion of females and seniors, typical of similar surveys. American Association for Public Opinion Research response rate was 20% and cooperation rate was 44%. Only 10% (95% CI 8%-13%) of people reported ever being told about overdiagnosis by a doctor. 18% (95% CI 11%-28%) of men who reported having prostate cancer screening, and 10% (95% CI 6%-15%) of women who reported having mammography said they were told about overdiagnosis. 93% (95% CI 90%-95%) agreed along with screening benefits, people should be informed about overdiagnosis. On panels setting disease definitions, 78% (95% CI 74%-82%) felt ties to pharmaceutical companies inappropriate, and 91% (95% CI 82%-100%) believed panels should have a minority or no members with ties. Limitations included questionnaire novelty and complexity.A small minority of Australians surveyed, including those reporting being screened for prostate or breast cancer, reported being informed of overdiagnosis; most believed people should be informed; and a majority felt it inappropriate that doctors with ties to pharmaceutical companies write disease definitions. Results suggest strategies to better inform people about overdiagnosis, and review disease definition processes, have significant public sympathy

“It’s about our bodies… we have the right to know this stuff”: a qualitative focus group study on Australian women’s perspectives on breast density

Objective This study aimed to explore Australian women’s current knowledge, perspectives and attitudes about breast density (BD); and information needs to inform effective evidence-based communication strategies. Methods Fourteen online focus group sessions with a total of 78 women in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia aged 40–74 years without a personal diagnosis of breast cancer were conducted. Audio-recorded data was transcribed and analysed thematically. Results Women had a very limited knowledge of BD. Overall, women expressed a preference for more frequent mammograms and/or supplemental screening should they be told they had dense breasts, despite being presented with information on potential downsides of additional testing. The majority of women were supportive of the notion of BD notification, often suggesting they had a ‘right to know’ and they would prefer to be educated and informed about it. Conclusion The potential of being informed and notified of BD is found to be of interest and importance to Australian women of breast screening age despite lacking current knowledge. Practice Implications This study highlights that policy makers and screening services need to consider how to weigh up these views and preferences of women with current evidence surrounding BD in deciding about implementing population-based BD notification

IMHOTEP: cross-professional evaluation of a three-dimensional virtual reality system for interactive surgical operation planning, tumor board discussion and immersive training for complex liver surgery in a head-mounted display

Background Virtual reality (VR) with head-mounted displays (HMD) may improve medical training and patient care by improving display and integration of different types of information. The aim of this study was to evaluate among different healthcare professions the potential of an interactive and immersive VR environment for liver surgery that integrates all relevant patient data from different sources needed for planning and training of procedures. Methods 3D-models of the liver, other abdominal organs, vessels, and tumors of a sample patient with multiple hepatic masses were created. 3D-models, clinical patient data, and other imaging data were visualized in a dedicated VR environment with an HMD (IMHOTEP). Users could interact with the data using head movements and a computer mouse. Structures of interest could be selected and viewed individually or grouped. IMHOTEP was evaluated in the context of preoperative planning and training of liver surgery and for the potential of broader surgical application. A standardized questionnaire was voluntarily answered by four groups (students, nurses, resident and attending surgeons). Results In the evaluation by 158 participants (57 medical students, 35 resident surgeons, 13 attending surgeons and 53 nurses), 89.9% found the VR system agreeable to work with. Participants generally agreed that complex cases in particular could be assessed better (94.3%) and faster (84.8%) with VR than with traditional 2D display methods. The highest potential was seen in student training (87.3%), resident training (84.6%), and clinical routine use (80.3%). Least potential was seen in nursing training (54.8%). Conclusions The present study demonstrates that using VR with HMD to integrate all available patient data for the preoperative planning of hepatic resections is a viable concept. VR with HMD promises great potential to improve medical training and operation planning and thereby to achieve improvement in patient care

Repeated exposure to transient obstructive sleep apnea-related conditions causes an atrial fibrillation substrate in a chronic rat model

Background High night-to-night variability in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). Obstructive apneas are characterized by intermittent deoxygenation-reoxygenation and intrathoracic pressure swings during ineffective inspiration against occluded upper airways. Objective We elucidated the effect of repeated exposure to transient OSA conditions simulated by intermittent negative upper airway pressure (INAP) on the development of an AF substrate. Methods INAP (48 events/4 h; apnea-hypopnea index 12 events/h) was applied in sedated spontaneously breathing rats (2% isoflurane) to simulate mild-to-moderate OSA. Rats without INAP served as a control group (CTR). In an acute test series (ATS), rats were either killed immediately (n = 9 per group) or after 24 hours of recovery (ATS-REC: n = 5 per group). To simulate high night-to-night variability in OSA, INAP applications (n = 10; 24 events/4 h; apnea-hypopnea index 6/h) were repeated every second day for 3 weeks in a chronic test series (CTS). Results INAP increased atrial oxidative stress acutely, represented in decreases of reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio (ATS: INAP: 0.33 ± 0.05 vs CTR: 1 ± 0.26; P = .016), which was reversible after 24 hours (ATS-REC: INAP vs CTR; P = .274). Although atrial oxidative stress did not accumulate in the CTS, atrial histological analysis revealed increased cardiomyocyte diameters, reduced connexin 43 expression, and increased interstitial fibrosis formation (CTS: INAP 7.0% ± 0.5% vs CTR 5.1% ± 0.3%; P = .013), which were associated with longer inducible AF episodes (CTS: INAP: 11.65 ± 4.43 seconds vs CTR: 0.7 ± 0.33 seconds; P = .033). Conclusion Acute simulation of OSA was associated with reversible atrial oxidative stress. Cumulative exposure to these transient OSA-related conditions resulted in AF substrates and was associated with increased AF susceptibility. Mild-to-moderate OSA with high night-to-night variability may deserve intensive management to prevent atrial substrate development

Australian Women’s Intentions and Psychological Outcomes Related to Breast Density Notification and Information

Objective To assess the effect of mammographic breast density notification and information provision on women’s intention to seek supplemental screening and psychological outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants A 3-arm online randomized clinical trial was conducted from August 10 to 31, 2021. Data analysis was conducted from September 1 to October 20, 2021. Participants included Australian residents identifying as female, aged between 40 and 74 years, with no history of breast cancer who were residing in jurisdictions without existing breast density notification with screening mammograms. Interventions Women were randomized to receive 1 of the following hypothetical breast screening test result letters: screening mammogram result letter without breast density messaging (control), screening mammogram result letter with breast density messaging and an existing density information letter taken from a screening service in Australia (intervention 1), and screening mammogram result letter with breast density messaging and a health literacy–sensitive version of the letter adapted for people with lower health literacy (intervention 2). Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes were intention to seek supplemental screening; feeling anxious (uneasy, worried, or nervous), informed, or confused; and having breast cancer worry