Average cost of journals - Library Journal's annual periodical price survey

Library Journal's annual periodical price survey was just released this week. You won't be surprised to hear that medical libraries aren't the only ones bemoaning the increasing cost of journals. Academic libraries around the country and their faculty are feeling the pinch too. 

LJ's report includes tables and charts showing average prices by discipline, country of publication, and % increases for 2018. According to them, health sciences journals have gone up 5% in 2018. That seems about right, but is nothing compared to a 59% increase for 2018 food science journals or 49% for 2018 technology journals. 

The report also goes on to talk about library budgets. It won't surprise WHSLA readers to see that most library budgets are flat, so what is a librarian to do? Cut, cut, cut. Read the rest of the report here: https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2018/04/publishing/death-1000-cuts-periodicals-price-survey-2018/ . 

MLA's 2018 Research Training Initiative Fellows announced - Liz Suelzer from MCW Libraries

A big congratulations to Liz Suelzer of MCW Libraries for being accepted into MLA's 2018 Research Training Institute Initiative! 

Liz has offered to keep up posted throughout 2018 about her experience. 

https://www.mcw.edu/Libraries/Directory.htm

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Congratulations to the 2018 RTI Fellows! [Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA]

MLA is pleased to announce the 2018 Research Training Institute (RTI) Fellows! The fellows will attend the first RTI in Chicago from July 9–13, 2018. The first cohort were chosen by a selective submission process with an emphasis on a desire to learn, enthusiasm for research, and the quality and promise of their proposed research projects. Congratulations!

The 2018 RTI Fellows are:

• Janene Batten, Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT
• Helen-Ann Brown Epstein, AHIP, FMLA, Health Sciences Library, Virtua, Mt Laurel, NJ
• Amelia Brunskill, Library, University of Illinois–Chicago
• Kathy Davies, Greenblatt Library, Augusta University, August, GA
• Carrie Grinstead, AHIP, Library, Providence St. Joseph Health, Burbank, CA
• Margaret Hoogland, AHIP, Mulford Health Sciences Library, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
• Melissa K. Kahili-HeedeHealth Sciences Library, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii–Manoa, Honolulu, HI
• Liz Kellermeyer, Tucker Medical Library, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
• Mellanye J. Lackey, Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah–Salt Lake City
• Alicia Lillich, Dykes Library, University of Kansas Medical Center–Kansas City
• Elisabeth Nylander, University Library, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
• Robin O’Hanlon, Krausz Library of Podiatric Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
• Ariel FitzGerald Pomputius, Health Science Center Library, University of Florida–Gainesville
• Rebecca Roth, Medical Library, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University–Miami
• Elizabeth Suelzer, MCW Libraries, Medical College of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
• Holly Jean Thompson, NIH Library, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
• Whitney A. Townsend, Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
• Mary White, AHIP, Health Sciences Library, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
• Natasha Williams, AHIP, Harriet F. Ginsburg Health Sciences Library, University of Central Florida–Orlando
• Laura Zeigen, AHIP, OHSU Library, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland

See MLANET for more information on the Fellows.

Are maggots the solution to food waste?

Americans waste a lot of food. Are maggots the solution? Maggots eat fast, they're not picky, and after they're done eating our food waste, maggots themselves can be turned into food for other animals like chickens. Sounds like a good solution to me. What do you think?

Listen here: https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/if-you-give-a-maggot-a-cookie/

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:42.4_kg_of_food_found_in_New_Zealand_household_rubbish_bins.jpg

Nominations for WHSLA Librarian or Library of-the-Year Now Being Accepted

Nominations for WHSLA Librarian or Library of-the-Year

Now Being Accepted

Nominate a Colleague, or a stand-out HSL Library in Wisconsin.

• Self-nominations welcome. 

This is an award that your administrators and non-Librarian health care colleagues will recognize for quality and excellence.  It’s great PR for the recipient and our profession. 

WHSLA Librarian of the Year Award

Purpose: This career award is bestowed upon a professional (MLS or equivalent) librarian in recognition of outstanding leadership, achievement and commitment to the library profession.* The librarian shall be currently employed in a Wisconsin health sciences library and must be an active member of WHSLA.

Criteria: The award may be based upon, but not limited to, such activities as the following:

1. Distinguished service to the profession; outstanding participation in activities of professional associations; and notable publications, presentations and projects.

2. Dedicated leadership and vision in health sciences libraries including automation technology, management, networking, education or service.

3. Active support of and participation in WHSLA.

4. Enhancement, expansion and interpretation of library service to the community and/or strengthening of the library's role and position in the community.

5. Development of innovative programs that have benefited WHSLA members.

  

More info, guidelines, and the actual nomination form are available here.

WHSLA Library of the Year Award

Purpose: This award is given to a Wisconsin health sciences library for distinguished achievement in service.

Criteria: The award may be based upon, but not limited to, such activities as the following:

1. Outstanding growth and maintenance of current, multi-media or special interest collections based on sound selection policies.

2. Innovative planning and utilization of new, renovated or current physical facilities.

3. Provider of exceptional user-friendly services.

4. Promotion of the field and profession of librarianship through consistent efforts of outstanding support, recognition, growth and salary compensation.

5. Active development and participation in networks and multi-type systems.

6. Leadership in automation technology.

More info, guidelines, and the actual nomination form are available here.

Nominations for both awards are due to Michele Matucheski, WHSLA President, by July 1, 2018.  After which the WHSLA Board will select a winner. 

Does being a librarian make you a better writer?

Thanks to Kathy Koch for this blog post idea.

If you're like me, writing can sometimes be a bit of a chore. I like expressing my ideas verbally instead of expressing them in print, which feels like a Herculean task sometimes. Maybe I've been giving the written word the short shift? Xhenet Aliu shares how being a librarian made her a better writer. 

http://lithub.com/how-being-a-librarian-makes-me-a-better-writer/

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haldane_Room,_Old_Library,_c1951_(4108988530).jpg

A new definition for Alzheimer's could be on the horizon

Could a new definition of Alzheimer's be on the horizon?

What causes body odor? TED-Ed explains

A colleague and I were talking about smells in the library the other day. Dust, books, journals, computers, food containers, people, plants, and other odors all make up the scents we breathe during our workday. 

Luckily this wasn't a conversation about unpleasant body odor, but we might have all had an uncomfortable conversation with a patron or two about body odor. How does it happen? What causes it? TED-Ed explains. 

WHSLA CE Travel Stipend - apply today!

WHSLA CE Travel Stipend

In order to support continuing education, WHSLA is offering a $500 travel stipend to two WHSLA members. The recipients will be chosen by a drawing. If you are interested in entering the drawing, send me an email with your name, institution, email, and phone number by May 1.

The stipend can be used for travel to the MLA 2018 Annual Meeting or another professional development CE activity that requires travel. Upon return from their travels, recipients will be required to write a short essay about what they learned. The essay will be posted to the WHSLA Blog.

Requirements for eligibility:

• Active WHSLA member, current on dues. (Not current? You can easily pay your dues online via PayPal!)
• Travel for CE planned within 2018
• Willingness to write a WHSLA Blog post about your experience

The deadline is May 1. If you are interested, reply to me (esuelzer@mcw.edu) and include your name, email, institution, and phone number.

Kind regards,

Liz Suelzer

WHSLA Professional Development Co-Coordinator

2018 WHSLA Officers: Election Results

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

2018 WHSLA Officers: Election Results

I wanted to let you know the official results of the 2018 Election.

• Brenda Fay is our new President Elect, by unanimous vote.
• Barbara Ruggeri is our new WHSLA Secretary, by nearly unanimous vote.

Other Changes to 2018 WHSLA Officers and Chairs:

• Robert Koehler will co-chair WHSLA Treasurer with Karen Hanus (new).
• Dora Davis and Liz Suelzer  will co-chair as WHSLA Professional Development Coordinator.  
• Brenda Fay and Karen Hanus are chairing the Annual Meeting for 2019 in Milwaukee.

Other members are continuing in to serve in the positions they held in 2017.  

For a full and current listing, please see WHSLA Board & Committees. 

Opportunities:

Since Brenda Fay is taking on so many new WHSLA jobs, we’d like to relieve some of the pressure and allow her to give up being WHSLA Web Master and full-time WHSLA Blogger. Please let Brenda know if you would like to become:

1. The WHSLA Webmaster – Brenda will train you!
2. One of our WHSLA Bloggers (We can have more than one …)

Thank you to all WHSLA Members who serve on or lead our committees.  Thank you to all who give back to our profession by sharing your knowledge and expertise in WHSLA Wisdom Chats or the Web Conference Presentation topics, or by coordinating MLA Webcasts, or many other ways.  It all serves to make a stronger whole!

--Michele Matucheski

WHSLA President