Innovation Award: try these on for size

If you're wandering whether one of your workplace activities fits within the definition of 'innovation', as it relates to the HLA/HCN Innovation Award, consider the following examples:

* libraries moving to providing virtual services only – e.g. no physical library, e-only offerings
* libraries using open source Library Management Systems
* libraries implementing Clinical Librarian/s

All sound very familiar, don't they? The judges will be looking for projects that have changed established practices, through the introduction of new methods, services or products, and contributed to and/or supported improved health outcomes.

Please think seriously about applying. Don't underestimate what you have achieved and don't think that applying is equalivant to big-noting yourself...it's not! What you are doing is enhancing the reputation of your library service, giving yourself an opportunity to undertake significant professional development (should you be the successful winner), sharing what you have done with the rest of the health library community (everyone gets the chance to learn from you!) and supporting this new and important Award.

Click here for the application form and here for the guidelines.

Deadline extended

The HLA Executive has announced that the deadline for applications for the HLA/HCN Innovation Award has been extended to March 31st, 2009.

The purpose of the Award is to acknowledge excellence/innovation in performance by an information professional. This Award is an opportunity for those working in the Australian health and biomedical library sector to showcase innovative projects which, through the use of health informatics or web technologies contribute to or support improved health outcomes.

This is a great opportunity to pick up $2500 to put toward yours or your team's professional development. All that's required is completing an application form and writing 2 articles for HLA News - one that describes your innovative project and one that reports on the professional development activity you use your winnings on.

If you're unsure whether your project is "innovative" contact a member of the HLA Exec. Click the 'office bearers' link on the HLA web site for contact details.

Click here for the application form and here for the guidelines.

Only 2 days to go - HLA/HCN Health Informatics Innovation Award

As I type this there are only 2 days to go before applications close for the HLA/HCN Health Informatics Innovation Award. The folks at HCN tell me they've had opportunity to talk to many health librarians, during meetings and recently at the Online 2009 conference, and there are "lots of people doing fantastic things out there". This is your opportunity...nominate yourself or a colleague.

Click here for details of the award and here for the application form.

Closing date: This Friday, February 27th

HLA/HCN Health Informatics Innovation Award

If you haven't checked it out already, HCN is sponsoring a new award, the HLA/HCN Health Informatics Innovation Award. This is a great opportunity to showcase innovative projects which, through the use of health informatics or web technologies contribute to or support improved health outcomes.

The winner of the Award will receive $2500 to put toward professional development... a substantial amount of money at the best of times but especially in the current economic climate. $2500 might enable all the members of a winning team to attend workshops, or an individual a trip to an overseas conference.

But what I really like about this Award is the sharing of information; we get to learn from one another. And, remember, you can self-nominate or be nominated by a colleague. Please do consider nominating a deserving colleague if you think they won't self-nominate.

The application form and guidelines can be downloaded from the HLA website or contact a member of the HLA Executive for an application.

Applications close 27 February 2009 so get your skates on!

Oz medical librarian wins 2008 Information Professional Award

Jan Weaver, Medical Librarian at Deakin University, has been announced the 2008 Information Professional of the Year by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Australia and New Zealand Chapter. Employed by Deakin University Library in July 2007as its first Medical Librarian, Jan's role was to establish and develop a medical and health sciences library collection and learning space at the university's Geelong Campus in support of the new School of Medicine (the first students arrived in February 2008!). "Her ability to gather the right resources while forging strong relationships with other partner health services, clinical schools, and medical library and information services is exemplary and something that the profession can celebrate," said Liz Blankson-Hemans, Director of Information Professional Development at Thomson Scientific. The full press release can be read here. Congratulations, Jan!

Last year's winner was Stephen Due, another Australian medical librarian.

The annual Information Professional Award award is sponsored by Thomson Reuters.

Scholarship opportunity

The Department of General Practice, Flinders University through the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) program, is offering an exciting opportunity for a Librarian with a knowledge or background in health to assist our group perform a literature search of the research evidence for reducing hospital bed days of older adults. This includes both decreasing the number of unnecessary admissions (hospital avoidance) and decreasing the number of inpatient bed days through greater use of community based sub-acute care services.

The person we seek will have:

• Graduate Diploma or Masters in Information Studies or equivalent;
• Eligible for membership of the Australian Library and Information Association;
• Knowledge or background in Health;
• Experience using health databases;
• Good conceptual skills, enjoys a challenge and has a flair for creativity;
• An interest in being a member of a research team.

The value of the schoarship is $20,000. There is flexibility with respect to working hours as well as full time / part time but someone is needed who can make a start quickly.

In the first instance please email Dr Leigh Roeger, PHCRED Coordinator, at with a brief paragragh about yourself to express an interest in the scholarship by Friday 23rd November 2007.

Cunningham Fellowship applications close 30 November 2008

Applications for MLA's Cunningham Memorial International Fellowship will be accepted up until 30 November 2008.

The award is given annually to citizens or permanent residents from countries outside the United States or Canada who have both an undergraduate degree and a master’s level library degree and are working or preparing to work in a health sciences library in their countries. The program provides a learning experience that may consist of a stay in the United States at one or more medical libraries. Based on a pilot program for the 2007 Cunningham Fellowship, the format and duration of the 2009 program could vary from two weeks up to a period of three months. The Cunningham Fellowship was established in 1967 and named in honor of Eileen Cunningham.

For more information, contact Lisa C. Fried, credentialing, professional recognition, and career coordinator at +1 312.419.9094 x28. Click here for links to a fact sheet and application.

To date, two Australians have been awarded the Fellowship - Francis Bludhorn in 1987 and Saroj Bathia in 2003. Reports of Saroj's experiences are available on the MLA website.

Applicants sought for the annual Roger K. Summit International Scholarship

Thomson Scientific, part of The Thomson Corporation, is seeking applicants for the annual Roger K. Summit International Scholarship. Thomson Scientific awards two scholarships annually, one to a student in the Americas and one in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, or Africa.

The €5,000 Scholarship is awarded to a graduate student enrolled in an accedited library or information science course. A panel of information professionals selects the regional winner after reviewing academic achievement, interest in electronic information services, proficiency using Dialog online services and faculty recommendations.

The deadline for applicants is October 31, 2007.

Applications are available at here.