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Press Releases

What's New: November 2005

To top of page MLA PDA Manual Now Available

Personal digital assistants (PDAs), one of today's fastest-selling and most popular technical devices, have proved to be a resourceful tool for librarians and are now widely used in many libraries. The Medical Library Association's (MLA's) latest collaboration with copublisher, Neal-Schuman Publishers, focuses on this growing trend with the new publication, Using PDAs in Libraries: A How-To-Do-It Manual.

Written by MLA member Colleen Cuddy, assistant curator/systems librarian, Frederick L. Ehrman Medical Library, New York University School of Medicine, New York, the guide helps health sciences information professionals understand how they can effectively use the device for their libraries' day-to-day operations as well as how libraries can become more accommodating to patrons who use PDAs. Topics explored in the manual include matching PDA technology to the right task, PDA applications in the library setting, and PDA security and vulnerabilities. In addition, the guide also provides an overview of PDAs, a comparison of different makes and models, and a look at the future use of PDAs.

Using PDAs in Libraries: A How-To-Do-It Manual is available for $58.50 plus shipping and handling for MLA members and $65.00 plus shipping and handling for nonmembers. For more information or to order, please visit MLANET, the Neal-Shuman Publishers Website, or call 866.NSBOOKS (672.6657)

MLA, a nonprofit, educational organization, is comprised of health sciences information professionals with more than 4,700 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

For more information, please contact Lynanne Feilen, mlacom1@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x23.

To top of page MLA Appoints Linda M. G. Katz, AHIP, as New MLA News Editor

The Medical Library Association (MLA) is pleased to announce that Linda M. G. Katz, AHIP, has been appointed to serve as editor of MLA News, succeeding current editor, Beverly Murphy, AHIP, Medical Center Library, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Katz's first issue as editor will be the January 2006 issue.

Katz, associate director, Drexel University Health Sciences Libraries (formerly MCP Hahnemann University Libraries), Philadelphia, PA, is an active member of the Philadelphia Regional Chapter. She is editor of the chapter's newsletter, Chronicle, and has served as chapter treasurer. A Distinguished Member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP), Katz received the 2003 Chapter Achievement Award for her significant contributions to the Philadelphia chapter and the field of librarianship. She has also published numerous book reviews in several journals including Library Journal, Bulletin of the Medical Library Association (BMLA), and Medical Reference Services Quarterly.

Among the many responsibilities of the MLA News editor is developing the editorial content of the newsletter in accordance with the association's mission and policies and publishing a quality newsletter.

About her new role as editor, Katz stated, "I've been an academic health sciences librarian for more years than I care to admit, and it is wonderful at this point in my career to have something as special as the MLA News editorship to tackle. I am ready for the challenge that I know it will be, and I am especially grateful to Beverly Murphy for her encouragement and willingness to 'play mentor' during the early stages of my editorship. I hope to continue her tradition of editing the MLA News with enthusiasm, integrity, high standards-and a sense of humor!"

MLA looks forward to working with Katz and would like to thank Beverly Murphy for her many years of outstanding service as MLA News editor.

MLA, a nonprofit, educational organization, is comprised of health sciences information professionals with more than 4,700 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

For more information, please contact Lynanne Feilen, mlapd@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x23.

To top of page MLA Fall Webcast Focuses on Patient Safety

The Medical Library Association (MLA) will present its fall Webcast, "Keeping Patients Safe: Roles for Information Professionals," on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., central time.

MLA is offering the Webcast to enhance the health sciences information professional's knowledge about patient safety, competencies, and skill sets to equip them to successfully participate in patient safety initiatives in the health care setting and in their community.

Health sciences information professionals can play a crucial role in improving patient safety. An investigation of the death of a healthy volunteer in an asthma study at Johns Hopkins in 2001 revealed that a search of the literature prior to 1966 would have pointed to the adverse effects of the drug that contributed to her death. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the Eastern Virginia Medical School added a librarian to its Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The program will provide an overview of issues related to patient safety, highlight successful patient safety programs, and discuss the role of health sciences information professionals in patient safety. Participants can earn up to 3.5 MLA continuing education contact hours and will have access to on-demand video of the original Webcast for an additional thirty days as well as an option to purchase the video or DVD at a special rate.

Individual, site, and multiple registrations are available. For more information, visit the Webcast page on MLANET.

MLA, a nonprofit, educational organization, is comprised of health sciences information professionals with more than 4,500 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Combs, mlapd@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x29.

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