Only $10 and a Good Investment as Well!

by April R Frost

Who knew that $10 would change my life after 40?

I think I always knew I wanted to be a librarian; I just wasn’t sure how I’d get here. I got my Masters in Library and Information Services in December of 2007. Before I finished school, library jobs were plentiful, and in school, we were told “many librarians are ready to retire.” As time passed, and jobs were very few, I realized I needed to pick specialty, or I would not develop any specific skills that would make me good in any area. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I looked for help and advice.

SIRLS, the University of Arizona’s Library School, has a “Friends” group in Phoenix, where I currently live. It is for SIRLS students, past and present. I decided to give the Liaison, Jacque Doyle a call. “Jacque, I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. I have a diverse background, I really like helping people, and I want to be a librarian. I think I am interested in medical technology–Do you have any suggestions?” We talked for a while, and Jacque suggested I join CABL (Central Arizona Biomedical Librarians). She said that for ten dollars, I could meet some great people, and probably network to find at least places to volunteer while I looked for a job. Wow—I think that was the best suggestion I have ever received!

I joined CABL early this year. I have met some great people. Kathleen Carlson (current President), Cynthia Porter (Program Chair), and April Aguiñaga (Secretary), were at all the meetings, so I got to know them. They always asked what I was up to, if I had any prospects, etc. They were always willing to talk and answer questions, as well as offering encouragement and support. Every time I attended a meeting, I met more people, all who offered suggestions and support.

Jacque also recommended I check out some hospital libraries and sign up to volunteer, which I did. I volunteered with Evonda Copeland (and the Assistant Librarian, Caryn Nicolaus). I learned a lot about journals and providing information to doctors, nurses and patients while volunteering there.

In March, I attended the MLGSCA Technology Symposium in Cerritos, CA. April Aguiñaga, told me she was going, and she wanted to introduce me to someone. I met Jeannie Roehrs at the Symposium, who is also from Phoenix. She could not hire me, but had some projects, and time, to show me around her library and help me develop my library skills. I volunteered with her, and even completed a cataloging project at her library. She really wanted to help me develop my skills, to promote the “new breed” of librarians coming in, as she is retiring next year.

All this time, I had been looking for work, but nothing was happening. Then there was an unfortunate opening at the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. I applied. I was told by some friends that I should not have applied, since I did not have enough library experience yet. Others told me that it was ok for me to apply, because I had other skills that would help me learn quickly. I was torn, but really felt that I could do this job. I called Judy Kraemer a few times during the interview process to let her know I really was interested, and I knew I could do a good job, because I work hard and don’t give up.

Finally, I got a phone interview, and I made it to the second round! I flew to Long Beach for the second interview, and really second guessed myself. I’m a rookie, I wasted their time, etc. I got the call a few weeks later that I had been selected. I am so excited and honored to finally get a job—and a medical librarian job at that! I know I can be a great contributor to this team, and I am excited in my new venture in a new city and state!

…you just never know what $10 can do for you.

Report of the June CABL meeting at AT Still University

By April Frost and Cynthia Porter

Friday, June 12, I attended the Central Arizona Biomedical Libraries Group meeting at the AT Still University Learning Resource Center in Mesa—what a fun and educational afternoon!

Our meeting started with lunch, then two, very informative presentations. Dr. Tamara Valovich McLeod, who is on faculty at AT Still, gave a presentation on current research regarding concussions, especially in youth and teens. Meganne Gourley, Athletic Trainer and former student, spoke about educating coaches, parents, and teens/children regarding concussion awareness and symptoms associated with concussions. A lot of information was presented, including references to the CDC’s Traumatic Brain Injury Website and “Heads Up” Concussion information site for High School Sports, both which have quick and easy information that everyone should know.

The business meeting followed, including a slide show of Jacque Doyle’s beautiful photos from MLA in Hawaii.

After the meeting, we were taken on two incredible tours. Samson Yang, a dental student, took us on a tour of the state-of-the-art dental simulation lab and clinic, which included an individual workstation for each student (class size of at least 60). Each workstation includes a video screen for personal viewing of the lecture and demonstration, and a simulated patient with removable teeth, for practicing; I am so glad they practice on fake teeth before touching mine!  The clinic included a functioning dental office, which accepts patients at a reduced rate, as well as a separate area for dental emergencies. The best part of the dental tour was the hand-washing machine—a mini massage for your hands!

The second tour was of a full-body simulation lab and control room. The University has ten of these labs, each with 2 cameras, speakers, a conference area, and…the full-body simulated patient, “SimMan®.” (Imagine walking into a room, with a vinyl “patient” who was breathing (chest moving up and down and breathing sounds) and hooked up to a monitor which was recording his vitals!) The patient’s overall health can be adjusted from the control room so that the medical students may not know what to expect at any given time. (Remember “Stan” on Grey’s Anatomy last fall?) The ‘SimMan’ sessions are recorded and then available for review by only those students and their instructor.

Both tours were very educational and enjoyable (and fun!!).

Next CABL meeting:

Save the date, Monday, Oct. 26th, for the Fall CE from MLGSCA.  The program will enlighten you on Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Librarians, presented by Ysabel Bertolucci.  The time and Phoenix area location have not been finalized, yet.  Watch your e-mail for future details.

More info about the Central Arizona Biomedical Libraries, and how to join is at: http://www.samaritan.edu/cabl/join.htm

The role of the medical librarian in the basic biological sciences: a case study in virology and evolution

From the Journal of the Medical Library Association, v. 96(4), 2008.

This current installment of the case study column concerns the role of the medical librarian in basic biological research. In the modern life sciences, the boundaries between the health professions and general biology are becoming increasingly blurred, as both disciplines rely to a greater extent on interdisciplinary, integrative, and comparative approaches for the resolution of major questions (Figure 1). Correspondingly, the university medical or health center library is rapidly becoming a primary resource for both basic and applied scientists from across virtually all fields of modern biology (e.g., from molecular and cellular biology to physiology to ecology and evolution). In response, the importance of the medical librarian as an information specialist continues to grow at these institutions. This case study documents this expanding role of the medical librarian by focusing on a basic research question that originated from a recent publication on viral evolution.  See entire article HERE.