Teaching Research Data Management

The Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the George C. Gordon Library at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have been awarded an Institute of Museum and Library Service National Leadership Planning grant. With this grant, the two libraries collaboratively developed an instructional framework and delivery system for openly-accessible, online instructional modules for preserving, managing, and sharing digital data. When fully implemented, these modules will be delivered to students in science courses at both institutions-- from first-year science and engineering students, to graduate-level medical, nursing, and biomedical students. An overview of the grant and the curriculum were presented

Expanding the OPAC

Purpose:This poster will describe the process of incorporating the manual card catalogs of seven affiliate hospital libraries into one integrated library system (Voyager by Endeavor). The goal being to provide greater access to library resources for students, residents and physicians at affiliate hospitals by incorporating the book and journal holdings of the health care libraries into one centralized location using Endeavor’s Integrated Library System. Setting/Participants/Resources:The UMass Memorial Health Care system has thirteen affiliate hospitals. Each hospital was invited to participate in this program which offered a computer workstation, software and training, and support. Seven of the hospitals elected to participate. Poster information will include: Overview and evaluation of the project goals and objectives. A presentation describing the planning and implementation of project. A summary of the training methods used to educate representatives from the seven affiliate hospitals. Sample screen shots of the newly expanded OPAC. Statistics reporting the number of records entered to date and usage statistics. Outcomes/Evaluation:All seven participating libraries have successfully setup the computer workstations, attended training, and started adding holding records to the OPAC. Data and comments from the participating libraries will be used to judge the effectiveness of this program and determine if other modules will be offered to the participating libraries, such as serial check in and circulation. Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, May 20, 2001

Panel Discussion presentation: Factors Leading to Successful Engagement of Academic Libraries in e-Science

Mary Piorun, MSLIS, MBA, is Associate Director, Community, Technology, & Global Relations, Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts Medical School. This presentation provided an overview of her ongoing dissertation research on academic libraries and e-science, which explores: 1. How and why research universities and their libraries became engaged in e-science, 2. The structural and programmatic changes that have occurred in the library to provide e-science services and programs, and 3. The leadership necessary to bring about those changes

E-Science as a Catalyst for Transformational Change in University Research Libraries: A Dissertation

Changes in how research is conducted, from the growth of e-science to the emergence of big data, have lead to new opportunities for librarians to become involved in the creation and management of research data, at the same time the duties and responsibilities of university libraries continue to evolve. This study examines those roles related to e-science while exploring the concept of transformational change and leadership issues in bringing about such a change. Using the framework established by Levy and Merry for first- and second-order change, four case studies of libraries whose institutions are members in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) are developed. The case studies highlight why the libraries became involved in e-science, the role librarians are assuming related to data management education and policy, and the provision of e-science programs and services. Each case study documents the structural and programmatic changes that have occurred in a library to provide e-science services and programs, the future changes library leaders are working to implement, and the change management process used by managerial leaders to bringing about, and permanently embed those changes into the library culture. Themes such as vision, team leadership, the role of library administrators, skills of library staff, and fostering a learning organization are discussed in the context of e-science and leading transformational change. The transformational change included a change in culture, organization paradigm, and redefining the role of the university research library

Evaluation of Strategic Plans in Academic Medical Libraries

A multicase approach was used to explore evaluation methods being used in academic medical libraries that are engaged in strategic planning, including where in the planning and implementation process evaluation is being incorporated and how the evaluation data are collected, analyzed, and incorporated into future strategic planning processes. Data collection included document review (strategic plans, memos, Web sites) and interviews (semistructured individual interviews and focus groups). The strategic planning process used at each institution varied yet could be mapped to Bryson\u27s process for strategic planning. Strategic planning was found to serve as a management tool, providing libraries in the study with direction and focus; however, there remains a strong need for leaders to communicate the importance of incorporating evaluation into the planning process

Transitioning to Single Use Gender Neutral Restrooms: Elevating Our Facilities

Background : The Lamar Soutter Library serves the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Existing facilities in the library include 6 single use restrooms spread out over 3 floors, with 2 on each floor (1 for men, 1 for women). The library averages 500 visitors a day, and our 1st floor area is the most highly trafficked. Admission trends indicate that class sizes are increasing, and the number of women students is trending up; we decided to look at ways to increase the number of facilities that could be used by anyone regardless of gender by making some of the restrooms gender neutral. Description : Library management were early and necessary champions of this project, taking the idea to school administration and getting approval for changes and expenditures. We also consulted the Diversity and Inclusion Office and the LGBTQ Resource group lent support and offered opinions on signage choice and goals for implementation. The MLA LGBTQIA SIG also offered information on how their libraries managed this transition, providing examples of signage that conveyed the message that the restroom was for anyone without also enforcing the gender binary. The building manager led discussions on what was possible with the existing space and building codes, and worked with us to preserve handicap access. Conclusion : While our renovation is not complete at this time, when it is we will assess user satisfaction with the space in general, as well as whether there is an increase in how many users we average daily. Another measure of success would be whether other areas of the school follow suit and offer gender neutral restrooms. We would also be interested in converting the remaining 4 restrooms in the library. We hope to create an environment that is flexible and welcoming, and accommodates all of our users

Managing a Library Renovation Project: A Team Approach

Purpose: This poster will present the benefits of using a team approach to managing a library renovation project, from the initial planning phase to completion and follow-up. Setting/Participants/Resources: The library is a mid-size academic health sciences library. The library occupies 41,000 square feet within the medical school and employs forty-one full time employees. The library has been using a team-based approach to operational problem solving since 1989. Brief Description: By the mid-’90s, the library was in desperate need of a face-lift and updating to accommodate the current advances in technology. In 1998, the first team was formed to look at the condition of the library and recommend both short term and long-term improvements. Four years and six teams later, the library has undergone a complete renovation with new furniture, paint, and carpet and an improved layout that accommodates the electronic access needs of our patrons. Results/Outcome: Having staff members from every department involved in all of the various teams allowed each department’s specific needs to be considered during each step of the project. Involving library staff in the decision-making process resulted in staff buy-in to the project and has given staff a sense of ownership for the “new” library. Evaluation: The library renovation was successful on two levels; it improved the physical space by providing patrons with more seating options, better lighting, and increased accessibility to the library’s collection and resources. The renovation also provided staff with work areas that are centralized by department and a more open work environment that is conducive to collaboration. The renovation was also successful because the team-based approach to its management made faculty, staff, and students feel like they were included in the decision-making process throughout the project. This feeling is reflected in the new sense of pride in the library and interest in its upkeep shown by all faculty, staff, and students. Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, May 4, 2003

Choosing the International Standards Organization\u27s Interlibrary Loan Protocol (ISO) or Preserving the Status Quo?

This paper chronicles an analysis of (1) interlibrary loan workflow and data and (2) how management used this information to make a decision on the ISO question. The National Library of Medicine adopted portions of the ISO Protocol for DOCLINE 2004 as a response to the medical interlibrary loan community. ILLiad, which is already ISO com¬pliant, has responded by announcing an upcoming release of an ISO compatible version of their management system in 2005. If libraries choose to convert to ISO, one DOCLINE function, Loansome Doc, will no longer be available. The question: Is the enhanced functionality with seamless DOCLINE and ILLiad interaction worth the effort that it will take to create and run a new Loansome Doc workflow

Digitizing Dissertations for the eScholarship@UMMS Institutional Repository

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\u27s Technical Services Section

Laptops: No Dragon Wires with Wireless Technology

Purpose: This paper describes the implementation of wireless technology for access to the University’s campus-wide backbone. Setting/Resources: The Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts - Worcester is an academic health sciences library located in a thirty-year-old building. With funds from the President’s Office the Library was able to implement a wireless network to support laptop computing in the Library. Brief Description: Phase I of this project is completed. Activities included selection and purchase of hardware, installation of network, development of policies and procedures, and training. The Circulation Department manages loaning, storage and maintenance, and the Reference Department provides training and support. Staff monitors usage and identifies policies and procedures that require change. Results/Outcomes: Laptops are available for checkout to students within the Library. The wireless network has increased the total number of devices from 59 to 84 without impacting the building’s structure. Evaluation Methods: Usage statistics and anecdotes provide library staff with positive feedback. Presented at the Medical Library Association and the Canadian Health Libraries Association / Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (CHLA/ABSC), HLA 2000 May 5-11, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Section Title: Growth and Harmony, Part 1: Innovative Solutions to Networking Issues