NAHRS Annual Report 1998

NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH RESOURCES SECTION
Archives

NAHRS Annual Report 1998 - 1999

Submitted to the Medical Library Association

Progress on Goals and Priorities for 1998/99 are as follows:

Goal 1: Professional Development

The Section is sponsoring an invited paper session at the 1999 Annual Meeting in Chicago entitled, "Information Seeking Behavior of Nurses: A Historical Perspective?" with Patricia Donahue, PhD, RN, F.A.A.N, Dean of the University of Iowa College of Nursing.

The Section is also co-sponsoring a contributed paper session entitled "Taking it on the Road: Providing Access to Information Resources for Students Off-Site." The program, co-sponsored with the Dental, Hospital Libraries, Medical School Libraries, and Pharmacy and Drug Information Sections will focus on innovative projects for delivering information resources to health sciences students in off-campus settings. Both sessions were planned by Jeanne Gittings, Chair-Elect and Program Planner.

The Continuing Education Chair, Sharon Cann, is a liaison to the MLA CE Committee and other groups, communicating NAHRS active interest in nursing and allied health continuing education courses. NAHRS sponsored an electronic Journal Club on Nursing and Evidence-Based Health Care. This was organized by the Research Committee Chair, with Jody Guenther as moderator. Readings are posted on the NAHRS website.

Goal 2. Advocacy

A brochure has been developed to promote the Globalization project. The purpose of this project is to link nursing or allied health librarians in developing countries with NAHRS members who will serve as mentors. There are also plans to create a listserv for those involved in this project. Information on this project will be included on the Section webpage. This international project is being developed by Nelia Wurangian, Membership Chair.

Procedures to recognize retiring members are being developed.

Goal 3: Organization

The NAHRS web site was successfully relocated to a server at Kent State University. The site also underwent a redesign, and an effort was made to solicit more contributions to build content to the site and its value to NAHRS members. Barbara Schloman is Webmaster.

A listserv for the Section has been established at onelist.com. Information on the listserv was included in the newsletter and the web page. Nelia Wurangian is managing the listserv.

In 1998 the NAHRS newsletter was published four times. Articles in 1998 included Electronic Copying in the Classroom, a new column "In the Literature" by Cynthia Burke, Library Support for Adult Learners & Students in Distance Education Programs by Margaret (Peg) Allen and many others. June Levy is editor of the newsletter.

The NAHRS Directory was published this year. Nelia Wurangian is editor of the directory. The possibility of publishing via the web is being investigated.

A history of the Section was developed this year by Esperanza Moreno and submitted to MLA.

The Honors Committee reviewed MLA national-level awards and identified and submitted two appropriate nominations from among the NAHRS membership. This Committee also solicited and reviewed nominations received for the 1999 NAHRS Librarian of the Year and recommended an outstanding nominee, Barbara Schloman, who was instrumental in the development and coordination of the Mapping the Literature of Allied Health Task Force.

The Section held its annual business meeting in Philadelphia. Ysabel Bertolucci completed her term as Chair. Judy Burnham succeeded her with Jeanne Gittings becoming Chair-Elect. Other officers are Eileen Wakiji, Secretary/Treasurer and Ellen Hall Section Council Representative.

Goal 4: Research

The second set of manuscripts for the Mapping the Literature of Allied Health bibliometric project was completed by NAHRS researchers this past year and submitted to the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. These papers will be published in the July 1999 issue and include:

Dental Assisting: Sara Anne Hook, Indiana University School of Dentistry
Dental Hygiene: Ardis Haaland, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Barbara M. Walcott, Bergen Community College
Dietetics: Aida Marissa Smith, Loma Linda University
Occupational Therapy: Kathryn L. Reed, Texas Woman's University--Houston Center
Perfusion: Ellen F. Hall, University of Vermont

A third group of studies covering additional allied health fields is in progress. Barbara Schloman is heading this Task Force.

Additionally, a bibliometric project on nursing, Task Force to Map the Literature of Nursing, is being developed by the Research Committee, headed by Margaret (Peg) Allen. June Levy is Chair of this project. The proposed research design will be presented at the Annual Meeting.

Centennial Celebration

NAHRS continues to have a tribute to MLA on its webpage. These are accounts by NAHRS members of the impact MLA has made on their professional and personal lives.