Biomedical library directors to gather at MCG
by Ellen Gladden Jones
The Greenblatt Library will host academic health sciences library directors from the Consortium of Southern Biomedical Libraries, March 10-12.
Directors from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Puerto Rico will convene at MCG “to connect with each other, share different approaches to common problems and discuss new and emerging library issues,” said Tamera Lee, MCG professor and director of libraries.
“This is the first time MCG has hosted this group and we are excited about the opportunity,” said Ms. Lee, noting over 30 attendees are expected during the consortium’s biennial directors’ retreat.
Within the theme, “The Library as Physical and Virtual Space for Knowledge Management: Blueprints for the Future,” presentations will explore ideas about academic learning space, integration of advanced technologies with that space and learning beyond the classroom.
“Asignificant transformation is under way for libraries as they move from providing traditional forms of services and print-based resources to online services and digitized collections,” said Ms. Lee. “During this retreat, we will discuss how libraries can lead knowledge management at their institutions including digital repository initiatives to showcase and preserve their institutions' intellectual content and productivity.”
Ms. Lee noted the Greenblatt Library’s blueprints for the future include expanding access to electronic resources and developing a virtual, real-time, reference service, where users can access a librarian for immediate research help.
“These services are expected to benefit especially clinicians and students with ‘just-in-time’ mission-related information tailored to their needs,” said Ms. Lee.
Additionally, the library is working with University System of Georgia research institutions and campus IT experts to develop a digital repository of MCG’s intellectual assets – electronic theses and dissertations and other published articles and materials. “A well-managed collection of digital objects would preserve MCG's scholarly heritage and promote its intellectual identity world wide,” said Ms. Lee.
In addition to attending presentations and discussions, consortium guests will tour the National Library of Medicine’s Changing Faces of Medicine exhibit on display in the Greenblatt Library, March 8-April 21. This traveling exhibition tells the story of how American women have struggled to access medical education and work in the specialty they choose. For more information on the exhibit, contact Historical Collections and Archives at ext. 1-3444.
For more information on the Consortium of Southern Biomedical Libraries, visit www.uab.edu/conbls.