Dana Interface

Posted on October 26, 2020 by

In October of 1984, volume 1, number 1 of the “Dana Interface” was created; a newsletter of the Dana Biomedical Library. Published monthly, “it will bring to your attention information about the library, its facilities, its services, and its resources…”. It regularly featured new books, journals, databases, and computer software added to the library.

Notable announcements in this flagship edition:

  • A Microcomputer Laboratory was established in the library in March of 1984. “The laboratory, principally, has been designed for use by the medical students, but other members of the Medical Center and the Department of Biological Sciences communities are invited to take advantage of these facilities. … Currently, there are three Macintoshes, two Lisas, an Apple II+, and an IBM PC…”
  • “Microcomputer Software: Individual blank disks, single-sided 3.5” (86mm), compatible with the Macintosh microcomputer may be purchased from the Audiovisual Desk… The cost is $3.75 per disk.”
  • “Dartmouth College Library On-Line Catalog: You are invited to test the experimental Dartmouth College Library On-Line Catalog. To date, approximately one-third of the collections are available for searching… You may access the catalog through the Kiewit Computer Network.” The entry later mentions that patrons can search the catalog by using “a menu-driven ‘friendly’ user-interface”. [Kiewit was a building and computer lab on campus, responsible for a lot of cutting-edge technology of its time.]
  • A computer database for the rapid retrieval of cancer information, PDQ, was profiled. PDQ was developed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). “Its purpose is to make the information regarding current methods of cancer therapy more widely accessible to physicians and their patients.”
  • New Books added to the library included, “Medieval Islamic Medicine”, by D. Ali Ibin Ridwan; “Sheep Production in the Tropics”, by Alan B. Charles; “Field Guide to Birds of the USSR”, by V.E. Flint; and, “Herb Garden Design”, by Faith H. Swanson,

The publication ends with a detailed description of the font styles and sizes that were used, and says that it was “produced on the Macintosh microcomputer”. As an ode to that, I will tell you that this blog entry was produced on a Dell computer, using plain 12-point Calibri (Body) font.

This post was written by Samara Cary, an Information Access Assistant for the Biomedical Libraries.

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The Dana Biomedical Library Reopens!

Posted on October 5, 2020 by

The Dana Biomedical Library is reopening Tuesday, October 6.

The hours are 8:30am-5pm. There is no after-hours access at this time. Access is limited to faculty, staff, and Geisel graduate students.

Due to physical distancing requirements, study rooms have been transformed into regular study space, and therefore are not available for group study.

Also, we have limited capacity for this space. Library staff will constantly monitor the number of people in the library, and if necessary, we may need to limit access to the library. To help manage traffic and access, we are establishing a library entrance only at the Maynard Lot side of the 37 Dewey Field building and an exit only at the Dewey Lot side to the building. If you need to use the elevator, you may enter at the Dewey Lot side of the building and proceed to the Library Information Desk so staff may count you for capacity.

In order to proceed safely, we ask that all library users follow these guidelines, including:

  • Completing the Temperature Self Assessment before coming to campus
  • Wearing of face coverings while on campus and inside the Library
  • Adhering to physical distancing guidelines
  • Following signage and staff directions
  • Food and beverages, with the exception of a water bottle, are not allowed inside the library

We will continue to monitor the status of the pandemic closely so that we can adapt, change or halt our in-person services and access to library spaces as necessary.

We are excited to welcome you back to the Dana Library!

This post was written by Stephanie Kerns, Director of the Biomedical Libraries.

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A Dose of Graphic Medicine

Posted on September 7, 2020 by

If you’ve never read a Graphic Medicine novel a great place to start might be with Dr. Ian Williams’ novel The Bad Doctor. The story follows fictional physician, Iwan James, as he navigates his way through caring for a variety of patients and their ailments while equally battling his own inner demons. Being a small town doctor is no easy task, and Iwan James often runs into his patients outside of the clinic on a regular basis and his mind is troubled by whether he is providing the best treatment for them. One of his few escapes is his regular cycling trips but even then his patients and his concerns about his own mental health accompany him. The novel draws the curtain back on many topics surrounding mental health and illness and looks to normalize the care surrounding it, as well as the life many physicians lead and their relationships with their patients.

Author and cartoonist, Dr. Ian Williams is attributed with coining the term ‘Graphic Medicine’ and founded GraphicMedicine.org. The Bad Doctor is his debut novel which was published in 2014 and followed by The Lady Doctor in 2019. Williams also co-edited the Graphic Medicine Manifesto which combines scholarly essays about the principles of Graphic Medicine as well as visual narrative by Dr. Williams and others.

If you’re looking for a new and different read, try picking up The Bad Doctor or any of Dr. Williams’ other work. Maybe you’ll be inspired to write or illustrate your own story! All three of the books mentioned in this post can be checked out through the Dartmouth Libraries.

This post was written by Samantha Wiebkin, an Information Access Assistant for the Biomedical Libraries.

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September 2020 Zoom Workshops

Posted on August 31, 2020 by

Whether you’re looking to learn something new or enhance your knowledge, our Fall workshop series is packed with a variety of workshops. The best part of them being via zoom? You can take them anywhere! Registration is required for most workshops.

Upcoming September Workshops:

Systematic Review Office Hour
Date: 9/18/2020
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presenter: Elaina Vitale, Pamela Bagley
Description: Are you thinking about starting a systematic review, but you aren’t sure how to get started? Are you halfway through one but you’re not sure what to do next? Are you curious about standards, guidelines, and resources you can use to help you on the way as you work on a systematic review? Are you ready to publish, but don’t know where? Or do you just want to pick a librarian’s brain about what all of this means? Join Biomedical Librarians (and systematic review enthusiasts) Pamela Bagley and Elaina Vitale on the third Friday of every month from 12-1 to discuss all things systematic review!

Registration is not required for this event. Join anytime during the hour: https://dartmouth.zoom.us/j/99889776250?pwd=RFFpOW5iNmozeFhuM3JuRnBSdjRZUT09

Making the Most of PubMed
Date: 9/21/2020
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presenter: Elaina Vitale
Description:
This workshop is for people who have some experience searching MEDLINE (via Ovid or PubMed) who want to learn more advanced features of the PubMed interface: searching with medical subject headings (MeSH), clinical queries, utilizing the citation matcher, saving searches and autoalerts, and other My NCBI features.

Please register to receive the Zoom link.

Metrics: Managing Personal, Journal and Article Impact
Date: 9/21/2020
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Presenter: Pamela Bagley
Description: Research impact is a buzz word in academia. Metrics, such as journal impact factor, h-index, citation analysis, and altmetrics attempt to quantify impact. In this workshop we will:

— Discuss impact metrics, what they measure, and why (and if) they matter
— Show tools to determine these metrics (e.g. how to calculate your h-index?)
— Demo ways of tracking interest in your publications using alerts
— Highlight what you can do to optimize your scholarly presence

Please register to receive the Zoom link.

Clinical Research Databases Beyond PubMed
Date: 9/29/2020
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presenter: Amanda Scull.
Description: PubMed is a go-to source for biomedical research but in this workshop we’ll discuss and explore several other databases that are ideal for both general and specialized clinical questions, including UpToDate, DynaMed, Lexicomp, Natural Medicines, and others.

Please register to receive the Zoom link.

 

This post was written by Paige Scudder, Research and Education Librarian for the Biomedical Libraries.

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Get involved; join the Student Library Advisory Committee (SLAC)

Posted on August 27, 2020 by

We need you! SLAC is seeking representatives from Geisel, TDI and the Biological Sciences to provide feedback on library decisions including changes or improvements.

The Student Library Advisory Committee (SLAC) is a body of students, comprised of representatives from Geisel, TDI and the Biological Sciences, working together with Biomedical Libraries staff, that offers strategic feedback to the Biomedical Libraries on a variety of topics such as:

  • Services and resources
  • Spaces
  • Collections (books, journals, databases and more)
  • Student success

The mission of the Student Library Advisory Committee (SLAC) is to create and sustain an open, two-way communication between the Biomedical Libraries and the students that the library serves. SLAC provides students with the opportunity to provide library staff with advice on library decisions including changes or improvements to services and policies. Functions of SLAC include: (1) provide a mechanism for student suggestions to the library administration, (2) communicate with students about new library programs and facilities, and (3) solicit student opinion regarding library programs, services and marketing. This body will meet on a quarterly basis during the academic year and students will serve as representatives for the term of one year.

Apply today:
www.dartgo.org/slacapplication

Questions? Contact:
Paige Scudder, Biomedical Librarian
paige.n.scudder@dartmouth.edu

This post was written by Paige Scudder, Research and Education Librarian for the Biomedical Libraries.

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Join us for Systematic Review Office Hours!

Posted on August 13, 2020 by

Are you thinking about starting a systematic review, but you aren’t sure how to get started? Are you halfway through one but you’re not sure what to do next? Are you curious about standards, guidelines, and resources you can use to help you on the way as you work on a systematic review? Are you ready to publish, but don’t know where? Or do you just want to pick a librarian’s brain about what all of this means?

We’re trying something new for our patrons who are interested in systematic reviews. At noon on the third Friday of every month, join Biomedical Librarians (and systematic review enthusiasts) Pamela Bagley and Elaina Vitale for systematic review office hours. Bring your questions and your musings about all things systematic reviews for an informal discussion. We’ll meet via Zoom for now, but hope to meet you in person for office hours soon!

This post was written by Elaina Vitale, Research and Education Librarian for the Biomedical Libraries.

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Introducing Our Newest Libguide: Graphic Medicine

Posted on August 3, 2020 by

There is a lot of wonderful literature and comic work going on in the realm of Graphic Medicine, especially in the current climate of COVID-19, but before creating our own Graphic Medicine Libguide we had to first define what Graphic Medicine is. The amazing thing about Graphic Medicine is that its definition and the content that falls within it is fairly broad. At its core, Graphic Medicine is the intersection between comics and health care. The goal of the libguide is to highlight a little bit of everything within that definition and provide an even scope of what comics can do with medical narratives and the benefits that come out of that work. In selecting comics to include in the guide it was obvious that the stories of patients, providers, med students, and caregivers would all be showcased in some way. The guide is not exhaustive in the slightest but it is an appetizer of sorts to help steer the user towards what aspects of Graphic Medicine interest them most.

For students, the hope is that if you’ve never heard of or read any Graphic Medicine work that this guide might spark some interest in seeing how you can combine your own experience in health care with comics. This could be by diving into some of the scholarly literature about the value of comics in medicine and education, checking out a Graphic Medicine book or reading a webcomic, or trying your hand at comic creation using the tools and tips linked in the guide. Your stories are important and comics are a versatile medium for presenting those stories and can be a beneficial form of self-expression. Comics have the ability to focus our attention through the combination of text and visual images and have a universality that makes their stories easy to understand and relate to.

Check out Our Newest Libguide: Graphic Medicine

This post was written by Samantha Wiebkin, an Information Access Assistant for the Biomedical Libraries.

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Getting to Know the Biomedical Libraries’ Staff: An interview with Jeremy Klockars

Posted on July 27, 2020 by

1. What is your job and how long have you worked for the Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries?

I am the Library Supervisor at Matthews-Fuller Health Sciences Library. I’ve worked for the Biomedical Libraries for over 12 years.

2. What is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part is definitely working with patrons at the information desk and assisting them with all of their information needs.

Homemade cookies on an orange plate3. What is your least favorite part about your job?

The fact that I work in an office that doesn’t have any windows. A window would be distracting but enjoyable.

4. How are you spending your isolation?

I have gotten back into baking, which has been great. I’ve been using cookbooks I have that I’ve never opened before, and finding great recipes from King Arthur Flour; and stealing recipes from @violetcakeslondon on instagram. She published a cookbook a while ago that I want to buy: The Violet Bakery Cookbook. 

homemade ham and pineapple pizza5. What pantry meal are you proudest of? 

My new favorite recipe is the King Arthur Flour Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza. I’ve made it half a dozen times and love it. 

6. What are you reading/watching during your isolation?

I usually listen to presidential biographies while driving, but since that isn’t happening as much I have picked up a short book on the American Revolution, and I’m re-reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

7. What is your hobby? Name your top 5 (hobby-related) recommendations and why.

homemade bunt cakeMy hobby is working on my family genealogy. This pandemic has given me lots of time to work on that during my evenings and weekends. 

My top 5 recommendations are:

  1. American Ancestors
  2. Ancestry.com
  3. America’s Historical Newspapers, all three available at Dartmouth, as well as their extensive collection of books in print
  4. And for what they don’t have, there is the internet archive, which is another great resource.

cactus growing in the desert8. Where’s a favorite place you have traveled and where would you most like to travel to next?

I think one of my favorite places I’ve been is Copan, Honduras. It’s a really cute little town with cobblestone streets and home of the famous Mayan ruin site, and there’s a great museum. Someday I hope to go back there.

I collect National Parks; I’ve been to half, though they keep making new National Parks. I’m looking forward to when I can visit the 8 in Alaska; I haven’t been there yet.

9. What frivolous things do you miss about being out in the normal world?

Not frivolous, but freely traveling around New England on weekends visiting friends and family, and going out to eat and visiting museums. I love visiting museums. I was hoping to use the summer to visit some but that’s not going to happen. One of them is The Portland Museum of Art in Portland, Maine, as well as The Winslow Homer House that they own. 

 

This post was written by the Water Cooler Committee, Samara Cary, Paige Scudder, Elaina Vitale, and Samantha Wiebkin, for the Biomedical Libraries.

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Grant Writers Workshop Series: August 17th – September 25th, 2020 (Online via Zoom)

Posted on July 22, 2020 by

Grant Writers Workshop Series: August 17th – September 25th, 2020 (Online via Zoom)

Presented by GrantGPS and the Biomedical Libraries

Join us for this six-week series during which participants will receive practical instruction on writing NIH grants, with a focus on Specific Aims, Research Strategies, and Career Development Plans. The course will meet for one 2-hour session per week, alternating between didactic workshops and practical sessions for reviewing and critiquing participants’ proposals. This series is intended for anyone who is currently writing an NIH research or Career Development grant application.

For more information and to apply, visit dartgo.org/2020grantseries. Application closes August 7th.

This post was written by Amanda Scull, Head of Education and Information Services for the Biomedical Libraries.

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July 20th is National Lollipop Day!

Posted on July 20, 2020 by

Though the creators did not know it at the time, the original lollipop was likely created thousands of years ago by someone who was collecting honey from beehives with a stick. Since it’s creation, the lollipop has seen many different forms, whether it be candy or medicine. Several years ago, the lollipop took on a different form: lollipop moments.

In his TEDx talk (below), Drew Dudley Lollipop moments are a moment when someone said or did something that changed our lives and insists upon their importance. Dudley goes on to say that we need to redefine leadership so that we focus on creating, acknowledging, and saying thank you for lollipop moments.

While we wish we could share lollipops and their moments with you in person, we hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy. Thank you for all the lollipop moments that you have provided us over the years, we look forward to many more to come.

This post was written by Paige Scudder, Research and Education Librarian for the Biomedical Libraries.

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