• 11/07/2022 2:21 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The December Liberty Chapter Journal Club will take place Wednesday, 12/07/2022 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST Online (link will be sent via email one day before the session). Registration is free and open only to members of the Liberty Chapter (Please log in to your member account before registering). The facilitator will be Helen-Ann Brown Epstein.

    REGISTER HERE

    Article:

    Durand M, Schnitzer ME, Pang M, et al. Effectiveness and safety among direct oral anticoagulants in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A multi-database cohort study with meta-analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;87(6):2589-2601. doi:10.1111/bcp.14669. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33242339/

    Abstract:

    Aims: There are conflicting signals in the literature about comparative safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

    Methods: We conducted multicentre matched cohort studies with secondary meta-analysis to assess safety and effectiveness of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban across 9 administrative healthcare databases. We included adults with NVAF initiating anticoagulation therapy (dabigatran, rivaroxaban or apixaban), and constructed 3 cohorts to compare DOACs pairwise. The primary outcome was pooled hazard ratio (pHR) of ischaemic stroke or systemic thromboembolism. Secondary outcomes included pHR of major bleeding, and a composite of stroke, major bleeding, or all-cause mortality. We used proportional hazard Cox regressions models, and pooled estimates were obtained with random effect meta-analyses.

    Results: The cohorts included 73 414 new users of dabigatran, 92 881 of rivaroxaban, and 61 284 of apixaban. After matching, the pHRs (95% confidence intervals) comparing rivaroxaban initiation to dabigatran were: 1.11 (0.93, 1.32) for ischaemic stroke or systemic thromboembolism, 1.26 (1.09, 1.46) for major bleeding, and 1.17 (1.05, 1.30) for the composite endpoint. For apixaban vs dabigatran, they were: 0.91 (0.74, 1.12) for ischaemic stroke or systemic thromboembolism, 0.89 (0.75, 1.05) for major bleeding, and 0.94 (0.78 to 1.14) for the composite endpoint. For apixaban vs rivaroxaban, they were: 0.85 (0.74, 0.99) for ischaemic stroke or systemic thromboembolism, 0.61 (0.53, 0.70) for major bleeding, and 0.82 (0.76, 0.88) for the composite endpoint.

    Conclusion: We found that apixaban use is associated with lower risks of stroke and bleeding compared with rivaroxaban, and similar risks compared with dabigatran.


  • 10/21/2022 10:35 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    In-person attendees who are driving to Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center, PLEASE READ! 

    As of November 2022 visitors must use this link to register their vehicles.

    Until this process is completed their vehicles are not registered and they may receive a citation.   

    Please park in Lot 82 (closest to the Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center), or use Lot 74A or Lot 76 when Lot 82 is full.

    Directions to parking lots can be found at maps.rutgers.edu.   

    Google map to the Lot 82 is here.

    If you have any questions or need assistance regarding parking, please call Rutgers University DOTS at 848-932-4809. Or contact Donna Binstein, Conference Services Manager at 732-932-9144.


  • 10/17/2022 11:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    There is still time to vote for the MLA Liberty Chapter Bylaws Revision and Elections Ballot 2022!

    Voting will conclude at the end of the day on October 20, 2022. 

    Voting is open to Liberty Chapter members. Access the poll here: https://libertymla.org/Sys/Poll/38094

    Please note that you will have to sign in via Wild Apricot in order to vote, which can be done here: https://libertymla.org/Sys/Login

    If this is your first time signing into your MLA Liberty Chapter account you may need to reset your password. There is a “forgot password” option on the login page that can be accessed via https://libertymla.org/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest

    If you are unable to log in, you can reset your password. Make sure that you are using the email address at which you received this notification. You should receive a password reset link shortly after. If you run into any issues, please email Gary Childs. 

    Question 1 includes the following provisos:

    1. This revision shall not go into effect until the close of the Chapter's 2022 annual meeting. Officers elected during the 2022 election shall have their terms of office adjusted so as to comport with this Bylaws revision.
    1. To view the Bylaws revision please see: https://libertymla.org/sys/website/?pageId=1793866

    Candidate bios can be read here: https://libertymla.org/page-1793868

    Thank you for voting!

    The Liberty Chapter Nominating Committee & Liberty Chapter Leadership

  • 10/06/2022 11:23 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Abstracts for MLA Liberty Chapter Annual Meeting (11/1/2022, New Brunswick, NJ)

    Author: Matthew Bridgeman, Rutgers University

    Title: Integrating the Library into the Physician Assistant Evidence Based Medicine Curriculum

    Abstract:

    This lightening talk will discuss a successful integration a librarian into the Evidence-Based Medicine component of a Physician Assistant program. Evidence-based medicine has become a critical component of an accredited Physician Assistant Program, and the number of programs is rapidly growing with 47 added in the past 3 years. This talk will provide an overview of techniques and tools used to build and effective instruction series to meet the needs of the students and faculty.

    Author: Elaine Wells, SUNY College of Optometry

    Title: Post Pandemic Puzzles:  Hedging our Bets

    Abstract:

    Objective:

    To examine changes in student behavior with the goal of modifying our practices for the “post-pandemic patron.”

    The pandemic upended library policies and practices.  The Kohn Vision Science Library is a welcoming physical environment that provides many virtual access options. In 2020, library staff quickly moved to prioritize remote service delivery. 

    Since the return to in-person operations, we note that patron behavior patterns have changed. In order to move to a new service paradigm that accommodates our “post-pandemic patron” we have some puzzles to solve and decisions to make about moving forward. 

    This lightening talk will highlight:

    • Examples of patron behavior change in follow-up to the pandemic; notably in the areas of resource utilization, attendance patterns, and staff/patron communication.
    • Potential impact of these behavioral changes on future service delivery and resource allocation.

    Methods:

    In order to make sound decisions regarding the potential modification of our services in response to evolving patron behavior, we will examine the following:

    Utilization of Resources:  What happened to Circulation Rush Hour?

    Before:  Our highly specialized reserve collection volumes were the bedrock of our circulation activities.  Checkout could be chaotic, requiring multiple circulation desk staff to handle the crowd of students. Since the pandemic, it appears that the reserve collection is rarely used.

    The puzzles:  Are the students…

    • using e-books instead? 
    • skipping the reading assignments?

    Attendance patterns:  Did Absence NOT make the heart grow fonder?

    Before: Although we no longer use a “people counter” it is clear that since the pandemic student census in the library has dropped considerably.  Group study rooms now accommodate single students and the study carrels are empty.  

    The puzzles:

    • Has physical distancing transformed study habits?
    • Since students no longer share reserve books, do they not form study groups?

    Staff/patron communication:  Is the “virtual librarian” the wave of our future?

    Before: Although the library website featured “ask a librarian” forms, technical issue reporting mechanisms, and “suggest a book” boxes, they were rarely used.  The pandemic fostered a more robust development of online patron assistance tools, including “how to” documents and LibAnswers. These platforms facilitated the provision of how-to information, answers to basic library questions, solutions to online access problems, etc.

    The puzzles:

    • Should we continue to develop and enhance online communication tools?
    • Will patrons be more interactive with our online tools than they were in the past?

    Results: 

    In response to these observed changes, our next steps will involve the following: 

    • Examination of pre and post-pandemic print reserve circulation numbers;
    • Analysis of usage statistics for corresponding electronic books;
    • Documentation of changes in reading requirements on course web sites.
    • Monitoring of changes in study room reservation statistics;
    • Other statistics as relevant

    Conclusions:

    We are “hedging our bets” that the changes we have seen will be permanent.  Unless research contradicts our observations, our budget request will reflect plans for the acquisition and promotion of electronic resources such as online e-books, online communication platforms, remote delivery service delivery options and possibly different staffing patterns.

    Authors: Stacy Posillico, Northwell Health Libraries; Jaclyn Morales, North Shore University Hospital; Saori Wendy Herman, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

    Title: Consolidating and Delivering Comprehensive Library Services Following a Health Care System Merger or Acquisition: A Delphi Study

    Abstract:

    Objectives: When healthcare system mergers occur, full financial and cultural integration provides the most benefit. While there are well-researched standards for healthcare executives to follow during a merger, little empirical research is available for librarians to use in these situations. As a result, librarians are often left to develop their own methods of providing access and services in the newly merged system. Our objective is to present an update on the progress of an e-Delphi study intended to achieve expert consensus from library professionals in the development of research-based recommendations for delivering library services through one comprehensive, geographically distributed system following a merger or acquisition.

    Methods: An e-Delphi research method is being used over a period of three rounds. Expert panelists for the study were solicited through email campaigns to library professionals from each of the seven NNLM regions. Active involvement in a U.S. hospital or healthcare merger in the last 10 years was the primary requirement for selection. The study was approved by the Northwell Health IRB with "Exempt" status. The research team created a validated qualitative questionnaire that was based on existing literature. Once empaneled, the survey was sent to expert panelists, who were asked to identify key tasks to be addressed during a merger. Thematic analysis was performed and serves as the foundation for the quantitative Round 2 and 3 questionnaires.

    Results: This study is currently underway, and the results are anticipated to be finalized in 2023. This presentation is intended to update and inform the Liberty Chapter about the how the 2021 Liberty Chapter Research Grant supported the research team, with particular emphasis on the qualitative analysis conducted for Round 1.

    Conclusions: Healthcare system mergers are the present and the future of hospital patient care. The expert panel will identify action-oriented priorities for librarian professionals to address before, during, and after a hospital or healthcare system merger. The results of this e-Delphi study will fill an existing gap in the literature on research-based recommendations for providing library services as healthcare systems transformatively expand. Hospital librarians, who are often unrepresented at merger negotiations, will be able to use this guidance to address library assimilation after a merger occurs.

    Author: Helen-Ann Brown Epstein

    Title: Personally Navigating the Changing Tide

    Abstract:                                            

    Being a health information professional is a demanding, challenging, ecstatically, rewarding job. It's a service profession that requires smarts, time management and flexibility. What can the librarian personally do for his/herself to navigate the changing tides that come with all of this? This lightning talk will suggest the value of yoga, exercise, mindful meditation, aromatherapy, pets, diet, books to read, getting away and colleagues for personal enrichment to handle whatever crosses your desk or is anticipated.

    Authors Laurel Scheinfeld, Stony Brook University; Sunny Chung, Stony Brook University

    Title: Citation On Demand Tools: Are They Helpful or Hurtful?

    Abstract:

    Many database platforms include a ‘citation on demand’ feature that provides a formatted reference list entry in a selected style which can be copied and pasted into a reference list.  These automatically-generated references are appealing for saving time and effort but librarians often caution patrons about relying on these tools because of inaccuracies.  We were interested to know if there is research evidence about the accuracy of these tools on which to base our guidance to our health sciences students. Van Ullen and Kessler found an unacceptably high error rate in the citation help found in several humanities and social sciences databases in an initial study in 2006 and a follow-up study in 2012.  One would assume there would be advances in citation software since that time, but recently Laing and James (2022) found high error rates when analyzing EBSCO and Summon citation generators. This suggests there may not be much improvement.  Citation managers such as EndNote and Zotero have also been studied and their accuracy tends to be disappointing as well (Homol, 2014; Kratochvil, 2017). We are not aware of any recent study of the ‘citation on demand’ feature in health sciences databases. This investigation will look at the accuracy of 30 APA Style citations generated for articles in the Medline database from both the PubMed and Ovid platforms. We will look at the accuracy of: author names, date of publication, appropriate case and capitalization of article title and journal title, volume and issue numbers, page numbers, and the DOI.

    Author: Michelle B. Bass, Penn Medicine

    Title: Clinical Information Librarian

    Abstract:

    On August 1, 2022, I jumped ship from academic health science libraries to take on a new voyage, that of a clinical hospital librarian.  In this lightning talk, I will share my insights from the first few months navigating this new tide.  I will talk about the importance of networking with colleagues from the Medical Library Association, including the Hospital Library and Clinical Librarians and Evidence-Based Health Care Caucuses, as well as reflecting on the translation of skills I gained as a manager in my previous position being used in my new non-managerial role.


  • 08/10/2022 12:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Hello colleagues,

    Please submit your proposal for a lightning talk (5 slides in 5 minutes) for the second Annual Meeting of the MLA Liberty Chapter to be held Nov. 1, 2022 using this form:


    https://jefferson.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ctHHfrFvJctVU46

    • Think about items to share with colleagues around the meeting theme, "Navigating the Changing Tides."
    • They can be research or project descriptions.
    • All project stages from conceptual development to final results are acceptable.
    • Proposal abstracts should be 500 words or less.
    • Slides will be available to the public unless you opt out. This will not affect acceptance decisions.
    • Presenters must be registered for the in-person conference.
    • Timeline:
      • Friday, 9/16, deadline for submission
      • Monday, 9/26, acceptance announced 
      • Tuesday, 10/25, submit final slides
      • Tuesday, 11/1, conference

    Send comments and questions to Helen-Ann Brown Epstein at habepstein@gmail.com , Allison Piazza at allison.piazza@shu.edu and Gary Kaplan at Gary.Kaplan@jefferson.edu.


  • 07/10/2022 8:25 PM | Deleted user

    Pat’s husband Steve has gifted the Chapter with a square that Pat knitted. We will be using this square as the middle square of a blanket which will be donated to an organization we think can use it the most. We ask any interested chapter members to knit or crochet a square to add to the blanket. We will be collecting squares at the end of September 2022. Squares will be sent to Helen-Ann Brown Epstein, who will connect the squares to create a blanket. If you are working on a square, email Helen-Ann or Abby Adamczyk and we will let you know where to send it.

    Choose any pattern that you want to try. Squares can be as simple or complicated as you would like. We have included a few simple patterns below. If you are new to knitting, that’s great! This is a perfect project to get started! Check out the tutorials linked at the end of this post. Maybe you’ll make more than one!

    Requirements

    • ·         Acrylic yarn
    • ·         Worsted weight yarn (or equivalent)
    • ·         Squares that are about 8-inches square or 4-inches square
    • ·         Completed by the end of September

    Sending in your square(s)

    Pattern Ideas (create an account to download the patterns for free)

    https://www.knitpicks.com/star-baby-cloth/p/56018

    https://www.knitpicks.com/citrine-washcloth-pattern/p/55562

    Learn to Knit

    https://www.purlsoho.com/create/category/knit/knit-tutorials/knit-tutorials-basics/

    Purl Soho is a craft store based in NYC. They have some great knitting basics tutorials that include both written and video instructions.


  • 03/24/2022 1:28 PM | Deleted user
    Join the Liberty Chapter Journal Club for a series of stimulating hour-long online discussions of articles selected by facilitators Helen-Ann Brown Epstein and Marie Ascher.

    Registration is free. Zoom meeting info will be sent to registered members one day before the session. (Register on our Events webpage)

    Facilitator: Helen-Ann Brown Epstein
    Article: Miller JM, Ford SF, Yang A. Elevation through reflection: closing the circle to improve librarianship. J Med Libr Assoc. 2020 Jul 1;108(3):353-363. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2020.938. PMID: 32843867; PMCID: PMC7441907. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32843867/

    Abstract: Reflective practice is a strategy promoted as a way to improve professional performance and to develop expertise. Intentional reflection on work situations can lead to improved understanding of a specific situation, identify strategies for similar situations in the future, and uncover assumptions that hinder service to patrons. Research has identified lack of knowledge to be a barrier to health sciences librarians engaging in reflective practice. This article introduces the use of intentional reflection at work: what it is, how it helps, and how it can be applied in librarianship. It also provides practical advice on how to choose a format, how to use a model to guide reflection, and how to incorporate it into work.

    This event is open exclusively to current members of the Liberty Chapter. If you have any problems logging into your chapter account to register, please email Abby Adamczyk at Abby.L.Adamczyk at gmail.com.


  • 02/20/2022 10:33 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Dear Chapter Members,

    I would like to share a great and touching tribute written by Dr. Peter Wyer from the New York Academy of Medicine to honor Pat for her contributions to NYAM. Thanks, --Yingting


    Patricia E Gallagher In Memoriam 


    On behalf of the New York Academy of Medicine, Section on Evidence-Based Health Care, as well as her colleagues at the National Library of Medicine who knew her best, such as Stephen Greenberg, we would like to extend our condolences to the family of Pat Gallagher. Pat was an amazing colleague and friend to us and our Section, and we miss her already. 

    A special tribute from Peter Wyer 

    I knew and collaborated with Pat Gallagher over a 25-year period beginning in 1996.  At that time she was a prominent member of the library staff of the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) and the leading proponent at the Academy of the emerging field of evidence based medicine (EBM) and clinical practice. I was a NYAM Fellow at that time and had met her as a result of establishing ties with several New York medical academics who were teaching at the annual McMaster EBM Workshop. They were preparing to launch a parallel effort in New York City which would be based at the Academy. A pilot workshop in 1996 led to the securing of a three-year grant from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) which supported a series of workshops beginning in 1998 and the development of an electronic EBM Resource Center.  The NYAM library served as the home of this project and Pat’s presence at NYAM made the whole thing possible.  These efforts constituted the first organized teaching and dissemination of EBM skills in the New York region. 

    The NYAM and McMaster workshops spawned a second generation effort and workshop series at the Academy beginning in 2001 after the initial NLM funding expired.  Pat became a member of a core group made up of myself and several other emergency physicians. She had spearheaded the incorporation of librarian facilitators into the small group learning workshop format and we adopted the same approach, which was eventually followed at the McMaster Workshop as well.  Pat maintained a wide network of contacts within the New York librarian community, as well as nationally, as a result of her active role in the Medical Librarian Association. She organized and coordinated this aspect of our workshop series, a role that continued with the advent of the third generation of EBM related workshops at NYAM, called “Teaching Evidence Assimilation for Collaborative Healthcare (TEACH)” in 2009.  She also played a key role in securing charitable access to electronic resources and databases for our workshop participants and faculty during the events.  

    I had the privilege of collaborating with Pat on projects beyond the NYAM workshop efforts.  She co-authored, and helped design, a four-part series of articles aimed at emergency physicians on the use of electronic resources.  These were published in Annals of Emergency Medicine, the leading peer reviewed journal in this specialty, between 2002 and 2003.  She also spearheaded the development of a librarian reviewer pool for the journal during the same period.  Librarians having skills and experience in the area of systematic reviews became part of a specialist reviewer panel and were available to editors such as myself to review structured searches submitted as part of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. This capability was unique among emergency medicine journals and way ahead of its time within peer reviewed medical journalism in general. 

    Pat Gallagher was one of the most generous and selfless individuals I have ever known and worked with. Throughout some 20 years of active collaboration as summarized above, she never asked anything for herself.  Indeed, I and others had to virtually cajole her into allowing us to nominate her for NYAM Fellowship and she only agreed to apply after the establishment of our Section on Evidence Based Health Care at the Academy in 2008.  Her application was, of course, immediately accepted.   I can say without hesitation that, without the groundwork laid by Pat’s early teaching efforts at NYAM, as well as her ongoing encouragement, support and multiple areas of facilitation,  the formation of our Section would not likely have come to pass.  She will be sorely missed. 

    P Wyer, Co-chair NYAM Section on Evidence Based Health Care and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, December 2021 and Section Member Barnet (Barney) Eskin, Arlene Smaldone, Sharron Close, Judy Honig, Pat Quinlan, Ed Suh, fellow “library conspirator” Dorice Vieira, and the many members who have participated in EBHC on whom you have left an everlasting impression. 



  • 01/04/2022 4:31 PM | Anonymous member

    Dear Liberty Chapter Members,

    Happy New Year! We hope you all had a pleasant and relaxing holiday season! 

    Looking back, 2021 was very memorable for our Chapter. Merging from the former NY-NJ Chapter and the Philadelphia Regional Chapter of MLA, the Liberty Chapter was formed in April 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the times filled with uncertainties and challenges, we health sciences librarians remained persistent and resilient. We have never been busier, providing health information and research services in any possible way. Whether it is online via various web meeting tools, live chat services, in-person, or via phone, we always strive to provide high quality services to our users.  

    The chapter provides a great platform for all the members to learn from each other and to share own experiences. In October, the chapter held its inaugural annual meeting attended by over 100 participants. Thank you all for the feedback, which was very positive and encouraging. Your input helps us plan and develop better programs for the future meetings. 

    Looking forward, 2022 presents many opportunities for our new chapter to grow. While we continue coping with the pandemic, the chapter will have several areas to focus on: 1) amending the bylaws to make them be more pertinent to the new chapter; 2) adopting the new and unified listerv. Please check often your Junk Folder to avoid missing any important information posted to the listserv; 3) completing the legal process of the merger; 4) planning to phase out the two legacy chapters’ listservs and websites; 5) initiating the new DEI committee; 6) recruiting members for the committees and carrying out their charges; 7) planning and programming for the 2022 annual meeting.

    Let’s work together to make our chapter great and successful!

    Sincerely, 

    Gary and Yingting

  • 11/19/2021 3:37 PM | Deleted user

    Hello everyone. The Liberty Chapter recently held two Town Hall meetings because we wanted to open discussion for those who missed the merger update from the first Annual Chapter meeting. The recordings for each session are available at the bottom if you would like to hear to the full scoop.

    After introductions, the first item of discussion was to open the floor up to questions and answers about the merger. The Board has been arranged to have equal state representation, but there are still plenty of volunteer positions that need to be filled. As the WWII Uncle Sam posters say, “We Want You!”

    Over the course of the merger, we have kept a timeline of the major milestones accomplished and those that have yet to happen. One of the milestones we are currently hurdling is the legal aspect, such as the change of chapter names and the possible liquidation of certain assets. Financials were reviewed, and we did very well with the Annual Meeting. We had wonderful vendor support, which is beneficial for our current legal fees. Items that are also currently being hashed out include a new listserv host, implementation of the new Bylaws, and ideas for the Liberty Chapter Archives and Blog. We encourage everyone who has an idea for archival management, networking, outreach, and online social interaction to contact us. Every idea is welcome.

    Board’s To-Do List:

    • 1.       First Board Meeting was held on November 16th
    • 2.       Creation of new committees, such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • 3.       Discussion of how to obtain and retain new members

    Again, we need volunteers! Some of the Board members are wearing multiple hats until the positions are filled. So, if you have an interest please join the team!

    November 10th Town Hall Meeting 

    November 15th Town Hall Meeting

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