MLA 2008 Conference Bloggers

Coming to a Close

Leigh — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:46:00 +0000

Unfortunately MLA 2008 comes to a close today, with the final plenary session. It's entitled "Web 2.0 Tools for Librarians: Description, Demonstration, Discussion, and Debate," and will be broadcast live on the MLANET web site. Broadcast time is 9am-noon Central Standard Time. So, if you're interested and a MLA member, check it out!

Last night I went to a Chicago White Sox-Cleveland Indians baseball game. The White Sox won, 4-1! An interesting feature was that every time the Sox hit a home run, fireworks went off at US Cellular Field (where the game was played). I love bulldogs, so I am a fan of the final photo below:

Third Day of Conference

Leigh — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:35:00 +0000

Today's MLA 2008 meeting has been a little bit of everything. Started out the day with a Sunrise Seminar hosted by the Therapeutic Research Center (publisher of the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Pharmacist's Letter and Prescriber's Letter. Personally I found it very informative, especially hearing about their PDA product.

Next up was the MLA Business Meeting part 2, with several MLA reports, as well as the Presidential Inaugural Address by Mary L. Ryan of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Little Rock. Statistics I found interesting include that the meeting attendance is 2,484, that the MLA-Focus e-mail newsletter is the members' most popular form of MLA information, and that 70% of survey responsdents use RSS or blogs in their professional life, but only 8% want to receive MLA news that way.

Mary L. Ryan focused on three priorities for 2008/09: recruitment & retention, advocacy for the profession, and association efficiency & effectiveness. Highlights include focusing on generational issues and work/life balance, creating a conflict of interest plan, and scholarly publishing, emergency management, and environmental issues. Finally, next year's MLA meeting in Honolulu was touched on - it will be held from May 15-20, 2009 at the Hilton Hawaii Village Beach Resort & Spa on Waikiki.

This afternoon I will be attending an Ebsco focus group on their new interface, an NIH Public Policy open session, and a "Technologies in Teaching" session. I am particularly interested in hearing from one group which will talk about Wimba, an online videoconferencing product that my medical center is considering purchasing. And tonight - a White Sox - Cleveland Indians baseball game!

And, in this blog's tradition, some photos from today:

Second Day of Conference

Leigh — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:56:00 +0000

Today started bright and early with a MLANET Editorial Board meeting at 7am. I just started my term on that group. Good things are in store for the MLANET website in this upcoming year!

The highlight tonight was the MLA 2008 Ovid party! Held at the Adler Planetarium overlooking Lake Michigan, the event featured Mexican food, drinks and dancing. There was also a star show just for MLA attendees. I also took a great walk to Millenium Park (near the conference hotel), Grant Park, and along Lake Michigan. Some photos are below:

Ovid party:

Chicago shots:

First Day of Conference

Leigh — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:33:00 +0000

Today was the first full day of MLA 2008, and it was sure a busy one. After the early morning walk by Lake Michigan was Plenary Session I: Welcome to MLA 2008/ Presidential Address. Mark Funk, President of MLA 2007/2008, gave an inspiring speech about how Web 2.0 tools can reduce bureaucracy and homogeny in medical libraries. It is not about the tools, but the results. And we should not do things one way just because they've always been done that way. MLA's aim is to get newer members and those who might not be able to travel to in-person meetings to participate in MLA. "I think we can do better," he said, and Mr. Funk showed how we could. He also touched on some of the new aspects of this meeting, including broadcasting a plenary session online and sponsoring 10 bloggers to blog the meeting.

The McGovern Lecture featured Andrew Zolli, a lecturer, author and editor. A dynamic speech laced with many jokes, he touched on demographic transitions, thinking in network terms, and abundance and complexity as three main themes. The world will be changing, he said, with major population growth and increasing urbanization. Mr. Zolli encouraged attendees to learn the demographics of their geographic region, as they will be changing in the future. Networking to improve health care will be a trend, he said, as will "the tyranny of choice," which he related to the 40 types of bread one can find in a supermarket today. Websites he suggested to check out include http://www.poptech.org, http://www.thepoint.com, and http://www.patientslikeme.com.

The afternoon session featured some fabulous posters and a panel session entitled "The Bridge is Out: Better Learn How to Swim - Coping With Budget Cuts - Creative Solutions in Lean Times. The University of Michigan Dentistry Library talked about their site, Let's Face It," and some of the social networking aspects of site development. The full slideshow can be found here. Other topics presented included a basic marketing 101 lesson for medical libraries, a pilot project established by the NN/LM MidContinental and Pacific Southwest Regions to share one technology coordinator, and a study of learning styles conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The fun did not end at 6pm though. The Rittenhouse evening reception featured some fine wine and awesome foods, including mini-Quesadillas and crab cakes.

See some of today's photos below:

Good Morning Chicago!

Leigh — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:41:00 +0000

Woke up to a beautiful morning. Went on a 40-minute Majors MLA 2008 Walk, sponsored by Elsevier. We took a great path, along Lake Michigan! Check out photos below:

Welcome Reception

Leigh — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:53:00 +0000

After my flight this afternoon, I arrived to a sunny, 70-degree Chicago. Tonight was the Welcome Reception and Opening of Hall of Exhibits for MLA 2008. There were good freebies, including koala bear pins, marble coasters, many varieties of chocolate, more pens than one person could need, and the chance to win prizes. Prizes ranged from gift certificates to iPods (even an Apple iTouch by Unbound Medicine) to stuffed animals to Coach handbags. Wine and beer were aplenty, plus a live orchestra. Additionally, the chance to chat with vendors in an informal, fun setting.

It was also an opportunity to catch up with both old and new friends, which is one of the best things about MLA. Medical librarians from across the USA (and the world in some cases) reunite to discuss ideas and show off what they've done and learned. Tomorrow will be an early day, up for the Majors Walk at 6:30am!!

Check out some photos of the reception below:

Attendees learning about MLA 2009 in Hawaii!

The crowd surveying the vendors.

Some wine

Reception food

Vendor display

Countdown to Chicago

Leigh — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:28:00 +0000

Less than a week now until MLA 2008 in Chicago, which is very exciting. I am still trying to decide what events to attend. I will be on the MLANET Editorial Board starting later this month, so looking forward to that meeting to learn more. Also a session on the new NIH Public Access policy, and a session on Wimba Classroom, which my employer is considering purchasing. Fun stuff includes Ovid and Ebsco parties, vendor freebies, and exploring Chicago in general!

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MLA 2008 Here I Come!

Leigh — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:07:00 +0000

Well, I found out a few days ago that I will be an Official MLA Conference Blogger. Exciting! I am certainly no professional blogger, just someone who likes to write. My first blogging event will be the Majors walk at 6:30am on Sunday, May 18! I look forward to the experience of reporting on MLA 2008 in lovely Chicago, Illinois.