The Library is pleased to welcome the following new staff during the first quarter of 2019:

Jill Byttner, MLIS, Manager of Access Services, has daily responsibility for services at the front desk of the Library.	Kiran Dangol, BS, IT Analyst 3 in library systems, provides desktop support and library website support.	Jason Dykes, transient employee in library systems, provides vital assistance with the technology in the Library.

David Duggar, Librarian/Professor and Head of the Library Liaison Program, received the Meritorious Service Award from the Louisiana Library Association at its annual conference in Baton Rouge, on March 14, 2019. Mr. Duggar is a past president of the Louisiana Library Association, and also served as the program chair for this year's annual conference. The Meritorious Service Award "publicly recognizes an individual who has demonstrated sustained and exemplary leadership and service to further the development, services, visibility and/or policies of LLA."

The Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) is the professional development and career recognition program of the Medical Library Association (MLA). Erin Reardon, reference librarian, was approved for membership at the Provisional level in February 2019. Three other Library faculty also have Academy credentialing as recognition of their academic preparation, professional experience, and professional accomplishment at the Distinguished (highest) level: David Duggar, Head of the Liaison Program; Julia Esparza, Associate Director; and Will Olmstadt, Executive Director.

We are grateful to the Board of Regents for recent funding for us to license 12 e-books from SAGE publishers. The funding is provided through our statewide academic library consortium, LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network. 

Case Studies in Community Health
Developing Cultural Humility: Embracing Race, Privilege and Power
Developing Healthcare Skills through Simulation
Evidence-Based Prevention
Global Health
Health Promotion for the Elderly
Intimate Relationships in Medical School: How to Make Them Work
Introductory Statistics for Health and Nursing Using SPSS
Single-Case Research Methods for the Behavioral and Health Sciences
Taking My Place in Medicine: A Guide for the Minority Medical Student
The Advanced Handbook of Methods in Evidence Based Healthcare
To Your Health: Achieving Well-Being in Medical School

In February 2019, the Library was able to license the electronic back files of 2 highly used e-journals from Thieme Publishers, Seminars in Speech and Language and Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis. Both of these purchases enable the Library to provide a deeper electronic collection. Please contact Montie’ Dobbins, assistant director, with questions or suggestions.

Will Olmstadt, Executive Director of the Library, will present a talk on predatory publishing for library grand rounds, on April 3 at 3:30 p.m. in the Zadeck conference room. According to Bowman (2014), "predatory publishing...takes the form of a publisher distributing e-mails asking recipients to submit articles, or to serve on the editorial board or even as editor of a new publication with a scientific-sounding title. Authors are asked to pay publication costs either before or after submission and are likely nonrefundable. The costs may be relatively low to entice unsuspecting scholars." CME credit will be available. Download the flyer for the event.

For the next 2 months, the Library will be featuring works from members of the Louisiana Society of Animal Artists. Established in 2000, the society's mission is to express the importance of conserving wildlife through art.  The society endeavors to make people more aware of the beauty of nature by focusing on the animal kingdom in its natural habitat. Many works are for sale, indicated on the piece itself. The Library is grateful for the society's willigness to display its work, and for the artists who helped deliver and hang the artwork on March 11, 2019.

Congratulations to Julia Esparza, associate director/principal investigator; Erin Reardon, reference librarian; Montie’ Dobbins, assistant director of technical services; David Duggar, head, liaison librarian; Mararia Adams, assistant director of systems; and Will Olmstadt, executive director, who recently received an Individualized Health Information Program award for $14,839, from the regional office of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. In conjunction with the National Library of Medicine and the All of Us National Institute of Health Program, the grant will promote knowledge of genetic consumer health information resources and other consumer health information from federal agencies. The federal funds will allow the Library faculty to hold training sessions at public libraries in 10 different parishes to alert or reinforce the knowledge of genetic consumer health information resources with public librarians. In addition, the grant will cover the cost of exhibiting at a variety of locations.

Congratulations to Will Olmstadt, executive director of the Library, who recently began a 3-year term as Secretary of the Leadership and Management Division (LMD) of the Special Libraries Association. LMD offers programming and projects to assist members in improving their abilities as managers and leaders at all career stages. The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit international organization for information professionals and their strategic partners in more than 60 countries and in a range of working environments, including business, academia, and government agencies.

At the request of the medical student executive council, the Library recently purchased fans for study rooms, and 2 rolling 4’ x 6’ magnetic whiteboards. Last year, to improve study space, the Library purchased individually-wrapped ear plugs, a multi-device charging station, privacy screens for tables, and a standing desk. All of these improvements were funded by the Marianne & Stafford Comegys Library Enhancement Fund. Please ask at the Library’s main desk for details about these items.