From an original by Beth Whitney

Plans are well underway for an exciting program for NAHSL 2004. In keeping with our theme of “Sea Change: Riding the Tides,” you’ll participate in thought-provoking, motivating, and practical sessions on a variety of interesting and informative topics.

MONDAY, October 4, 2004

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: T. SCOTT PLUTCHAK

Our Revolution Is Just Getting Started
The print culture in which we were all raised had its genesis in the middle of the 15th century, when Gutenberg invented the moveable type press. In the half century that followed, the modern world of books and publishing took form, and the revolutions of that 50-year period determined the shape of modern libraries and librarianship. In the year 2004 we find ourselves at a transition point that is equally profound, and the changes that we will witness will be similarly momentous. Few of us, however, have come to grips with how radically different our future as librarians is going to be. While the primary mission of librarians – to bring people and information together in the most effective way possible – won’t change one bit, every single aspect of how we meet that mission will change. The librarians of the 21st century are the most fortunate group of librarians in 500 years, since we will be the ones to completely reshape our profession, using the most sophisticated communication tools even developed, combined with 7,000 years of professional traditions and history. The challenges are daunting and the shape of the future is very uncertain, but we have never had greater opportunities to make a dramatic and positive impact on our society. Sure, it’s scary -- but the future for librarians has never been brighter.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS– offered twice, you’ll be able to attend two

Model Library of the Future – T. Scott Plutchak
A follow-up to the morning’s keynote address. In this session, you will further explore what you can do to create the model library.

Telemedicine Aboard the Sunbeam V to Maine’s Remote Islands - Sharon Daley, R.N.
Our speaker lives on an island off the Maine coast, and visits four other islands twice a month doing telemedicine aboard the Seacoast Mission’s 72 foot boat, the Sunbeam V. This is a highly technical way of delivering medical care, in a uniquely personal way. Each island is special and beautiful – different, yet the same. Sharon will share these island stories and pictures as well as the Mission's 98 year history of providing care.

MLA Open Forum : "Issues in Managing Electronic Resources -- Why Is This Important to Healthcare ?" - Joanne Marshall, Ph.D.

Collection Development: Challenges in the Electronic Era – Lynn Fortney, MLS
It’s 2004, and some people still think that the information you used to provide from your libraries’ collections is now “all free on the Web.” Medical librarians know better, but we must also understand not only the challenges of deciding what print resources to buy, what electronic resources to buy, and what free websites (and open access journals) to guide users to. Today it’s also important to understand how different resources can link to each other – and to be sure that library users realize that it is YOUR expertise that makes this all possible.

Updates
From MLA, NLM, RML, QuickDoc, EFTS, and Docline

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2004

PLENARY SESSION – SUE STABLEFORD, M.P.H., M.S.B.

Health Literacy: The Tsunami Challenge for Health Science Librarians
Low health literacy is a national tidal wave. Health science academic and healthcare organizations are just starting to explore the scope of the problem and possible solutions. Librarians can and do play vital roles in this effort. This presentation will define the issue, share evidence-based solutions, outline opportunities for health science librarians based on first and second-hand experience, and provide resources for further learning.
Website: www.clearlanguagegroup.com/SamplesProfiles/Sue.html

AUTHOR PANEL: NOVELS WITH A MEDICAL TWIST

Tess Gerritsen, M.D. : Harvest, Life Support, Bloodstream, Gravity, The Surgeon, The Apprentice, and The Sinner
Website: www.tessgerritsen.com/index.html

Kate Flora: Chosen for Death, Death in a Funhouse Mirror, Death at the Wheel, An Educated Death, Death in Paradise, and Liberty or Death, as well as a stand-alone suspense novel, Steal Away
Website: kateflora.com/index.htm

JS Borthwick:The Case of the Hooked-billed Kites, The Downeast Murders, The Student Body, Bodies of Water, Dude on Arrival, The Bridled Groom, Dolly is Dead, The Garden Plot, My Body Lies Over the Ocean, Coup de Grace, Murder in The Rough, and Intensive Scare Unit