MLGSCA - Blog & Newsletter

On December 5th, the Southern California members of the Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona (MLGSCA) gathered for their 2024 holiday social at the California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) in Lakewood Center Mall. The event brought together 14 attendees, including four library school students.

The evening’s festivities were made possible by the MLGSCA Membership Committee. Membership Committee Co-chair, Sunny McGowan, brought a Membership gift certificate and 2 bags of Starbucks coffee to give away. Jennifer Silverman decorated the tables, donated two coffee presses for the raffle, prepared the holiday goodie bags, and served as the evening’s master of ceremonies. Adding a festive touch, Judy Kraemer donated three beautiful poinsettias that enhanced the holiday décor. These poinsettias were later raffled off to lucky attendees, Becca Gates and Kay Lee. Emily Zimmermann was the winner of the free MLGSCA Membership gift certificate while Sunny McGowan and Ivan Portillo each won the coffee press with the holiday Starbucks coffee.

And we would also like to thank our sponsors for the raffle prize donations: EBSCO contributed two Amazon gift cards, and Ovid provided a festive holiday gift basket. Danielle Linden won the holiday gift basket whereas Adorée Makusztak and her husband were the lucky winners of the two Amazon gift cards!

The event was a great way to celebrate the season, connect with peers, and welcome the next generation of library professionals. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the 2024 MLGSCA holiday social a fun and joyful occasion!

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MLGSCA Arizona Holiday Social

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 8:16 AM | Anonymous

On December 5th, Arizona members of MLGSCA held a long-awaited in-person holiday social at the Culinary Dropout in Tempe. We had decorations, candy, giveaways, and of course good food and conversations.

Enjoy these photos from the night.

We went all out decorating the table, and provided swag, icebreakers, and candy!

(left to right) MGLSCA members Victoria Caine, Stephanie Vartabedian, CJ Garcia

(left to right) MLGSCA members Sydni Abrahamsen, Kevin Pardon, and Melissa Wagner

Our raffle winners: Stephania Vartabedian, Victoria Caine, David Bickford, and Kevin Pardon. Prizes included a free MLGSCA membership, Amazon gift cards (courtesy of EBSCO), and a gift basket (courtesy of Ovid).

We hope to see you next year! Keep an eye out for upcoming AZ social events.

Thanks to MLGSCA Membership Committee members Victoria Caine and Melissa Wagner for their help in putting this all together.

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I AM MLGSCA: Emily Zimmermann

Monday, December 02, 2024 7:42 AM | Victoria Caine (Administrator)

Name: Emily Zimmermann

Institution: Marshall B Ketchum University (Fullerton, CA)

Title: Health Sciences Librarian

Brief description of what you do/your responsibilities at your institution.

I support the research, instructional, and informational goals of MBKU students, faculty, and residents in their pursuit of life-long learning. I am the liaison to the PA program but also work closely with the optometry and pharmacy programs. I have taught evidence-based medicine sessions, information literacy searches, provided advanced searching tutorials and have been an active research partner with faculty. I also manage a team of 18 student workers.

Why is MLGSCA important to you?

I care deeply about my profession, and I am brand new here! I want to be a little sponge and learn as much as I can from the incredible librarians in Southern California, Arizona, and beyond!

I was recently invited to be the Chair of the DEI-A Task Force, and I am honored to have an opportunity to put my priorities of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into action. I would like to invite anyone who is interested in working with me towards my goal of filling the DEI-A Taskforce section of the MLGSCA website with highlights from librarians all over our chapter about what they are doing in their libraries. By highlighting the work of others, this allows us to brainstorm for future initiatives in our own libraries and appreciate the excellent work being done around the chapter. Please feel free to email me at ezimmermann@ketchum.edu if you would like to work together or have a conversation about what work you are doing in your library that you would like the chance to highlight!

Why did you become a librarian?

I went to undergrad at the University of Toronto to become an architect. I soon learned that I was absolutely terrible at building models and creating architectural drawings using code. Luckily, there were many other course options available to me within the architecture school: Indigenous studies, urban planning, material culture, forestry, and more. In all of these diverse classes, I unlocked a new sense of intellectual curiosity and found myself exploring as many of the 44 libraries on campus as I could. I knew by my 3rd year that I wanted to be a librarian to help students, dive deeper into the world of academia, and have a job that allowed me to be a lifelong learner.

What was your first library job or professional position?

I applied to just about every position I could and finally landed a position at North Carolina State University Archives as a digitization assistant. I did not enjoy the dusty basement without any human interaction, but I learned a lot!

What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?

I recently wrote my thesis about ChatGPT and consumer health information. I wanted to know what medical professionals across disciplines thought about ChatGPT's responses to common patient queries. To my surprise, the sentiment was very positive! Generative AI is extremely fascinating. I am committed to learning about how our students use it and how it might affect their futures as healthcare leaders.

What do you do in your spare time for fun, or to relax?

I love to paint! I love art and lots of color. My paintings are usually big landscapes and floral paintings using acrylic paint. I also paint pet portraits! I love animals.

Describe yourself in five words

happy, colorful, & artsy cat lady!

What are you most proud of?

My immediate family members who have all committed their careers to helping people: my mom who is a lactation consultant and childbirth educator, my dad who was previously a police detective and is now an investigator for the public defender's office, my sister who is in nursing school, and my partner who is a pilot in the Navy. They all keep me going and inspire me daily.

I AM MLGSCA: Dot Winslow

Friday, November 01, 2024 11:58 AM | Anonymous

Name: Dot WinslowDot Winslow

Institution: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences College for Healthy Communities

Title: Library Assistant

Brief description of what you do/your responsibilities at your institution.

I am a solo library assistant (or Library Assistant PLUS, as our director likes to say,) and I have a blend of assistant and liaison duties that include inter library loan, circulation desk activities, building the library relationship with the Central Coast Physician Assistant Program, and acting as chair of the Diversity in Education Committee California.

Why is MLGSCA important to you?

MLGSCA is important to me because I am able to connect to other librarians and build community and network within the profession. I love connecting and learning from others.

Why did you become a librarian?

I became a librarian because I have a passion for helping others and enjoy doing so from the library setting.

What was your first library job or professional position?

This is my first library job!

What is your advice to someone new to medical librarianship?

Most of what you do on a daily basis is learned on the job, so I encourage those new to the field to ask for help.

What has been the most interesting project you have worked on?

As the chair of the DECC, I worked with a local non-profit and with the dean of our college to bring training to the CCPA program on the indigenous mixtec people of Mexico who have immigrated to our part of the central coast of California. I learned so much in that process and from attending that training and I am honored that I get to be a part of helping students of the medical profession learn how to help serve our most underserved communities.

What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?

The elitism is most concerning to me. Though the MLIS degree has value, there are some of us in the field who have the customer service experience that is so crucial to the profession but is discounted because we lack the specific library science degree.

What is something you have on your bucket list?

I want to go to Turkey to see the Hagia Sophia in person.

What do you do in your spare time for fun, or to relax?

I love to play with my cat Calliope, read, geocache, go to concerts, and do jigsaw puzzle nights with my friends.

What is the best thing you have read/watched/listened to recently?

All About Love by bell hooks and polysecure by Jessica Fern

Describe yourself in five words.

content, magic, fun, tired, listener

Is there anything about you that others would be surprised to know?

I acted in school plays in 8th grade through college, and just started acting in community theater this autumn.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of how far I have come in becoming myself and truly investing in myself over the past year.

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MLGSCA Visits “Spectral Science: Visions of the World Beyond”—a USC Libraries/Visions & Voices Exhibit

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 9:36 AM | Anonymous

On October 23rd, a group of MLGSCA members traveled to USC’s Doheny Library to celebrate the opening of their new Visions & Voices exhibition, Spectral Science: Visions of the World Beyond. The exhibit explores the surprising intersections of science, illusion, and spiritualism with items from the collections of the USC Libraries and The Academy of Magical Arts.

Enjoy these photos from the opening reception and the Spectral Science exhibit.

Learn more about the exhibit by viewing the Spectral Science Theme Guide.

The evening began with some fun card tricks from student members of the USC Magic Association (with audience participation).

Attendees enjoyed a panel discussion featuring (from L-R) marketing research and insights innovator Ted Skidmore of USC Annenberg, Magic Lanternist Melissa Ferrari, USC Provost Professor of Art History and English Kate Flint, and USC Libraries Carrollian Fellow Franziska Kohlt. They discussed the shared histories of scientific inquiry and spiritualism as a form of technological spectacle.

Next, MLGSCA members Andrea Harrow, Erin Robinson, and Jennifer Silverman were excited to explore the exhibit.

There were books on display written about spirits and the mystic arts. It included work from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a book from J. Malcolm Bird on “Margery the Medium,” featuring a photo taken by Houdini.

The exhibit displayed the history of magic and illusion as a form of entertainment by including large posters advertising shows featuring Houdini and Kellar.

There was plenty of content on the history of Magic Lanterns. Books discussing its early days and a sample lantern were featured.

Overall, the exhibit showed how there is a lot of evidence that blurs the lines between the logical and illogical and the natural and supernatural. Nothing exemplified this more than this eerie photo of a very real looking fossil of a pixie that was found a few years ago.

It was a spooky good time!

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Olivia Carreon is this year’s recipient of the MLGSCA Staff Excellence Award

Monday, October 07, 2024 9:20 AM | Adorée Hatton Makusztak (Administrator)

Olivia Carreon of the Wilson Dental Library at the University of Southern California is this year’s recipient of the MLGSCA Staff Excellence Award. Olivia has been with the library since 2016 and was promoted to Library Supervisor in 2019. She was nominated by her director, Hannah Schilperoort. Olivia was recognized not only for her excellent customer service skills, professional advancement, and staff supervision, but also for the critical role she played during a temporary closure and reopening of the library space. In the photo, Hannah in on the left, and Olivia is on the right.

I AM MLGSCA: CJ Garcia

Tuesday, October 01, 2024 1:45 PM | Anonymous

Name: CJ Garcia

Institution: Creighton University

Title: Health Sciences Librarian

Brief description of what you do/your responsibilities at your institution.

I primarily serve as a liaison to several health sciences programs, both in Phoenix and at our main campus in Omaha. In addition, as one of two librarians at our branch campus I also do access services duties as needed. I also support our data services and systematic review services.

Why is MLGSCA important to you?

I have been a member of MLGSCA since I was an MLIS student/paraprofessional at a health sciences institution. As someone with a pure humanities background, MLGSCA has been incredibly valuable in helping me learn the field of health sciences librarianship and making connections with colleagues.

Why did you become a librarian?

I was some kind of library aide all throughout my K-12 education, and have exclusively worked in libraries/archives since graduating high school. Going for my MLIS was a natural progression for me, especially since I had a less than employable undergraduate degree in Classics.

I ended up pursuing health sciences partly due to the encouragement of the librarians at my first real paraprofessional job, which ended up being at a health sciences library. Due to my husband's disability, I have also seen the best and worst of healthcare up close, and have a lot of personal dedication to improving healthcare in whatever small ways I can.

What was your first library job or professional position?

My first paying library job was as a page in the Pima County Public Library system in Tucson. My first professional position was as a Liaison and Communications Librarian at A.T. Still University in Mesa, where my time was split between liaison duties and managing our website and communications strategy.

What is your advice to someone new to medical librarianship?

Don't be afraid to ask questions and learn! There are tons of great CE options out there for medical librarianship, especially free ones from the NNLM, and all the various professional orgs and listservs are very receptive to questions. Don't feel scared if you don't have a medical background, most of us don't in my experience.

What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?

I think there is a lack of upward career mobility for many librarians. Leadership and administration positions are often looking for candidates with prior leadership experience, and as a younger librarian I do wonder how the field will have to adjust as experienced leaders retire and we are left with newer librarians will not have had management opportunities.

What is something you have on your bucket list?

I want to visit a Capybara cafe in Japan.

What do you do in your spare time for fun, or to relax?

Any nerd hobby you can think of. I play tons of video games and board games, and also collect Legos, Yu-Gi-Oh cards, and Beyblades. I also spent too much time playing with my cats.

What is the best thing you have read/watched/listened to recently?

I've been a little bit obsessed with Korean reality TV lately. I can't recommend The Devil's Plan on Netflix enough.

Is there anything about you that others would be surprised to know?

I finished about half of a degree in creative writing, and have actually published a few poems in literary journals.

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I AM MLGSCA: Stefanie Vartabedian

Tuesday, September 03, 2024 11:59 AM | Anonymous

Name: Stefanie Vartabedian

Institution: Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Title: Medical Library Manager

Brief description of what you do/your responsibilities at your institution.

Assist all medical staff (including fellows and residents) with research needs such as article retrieval, literature searches and training on how to conduct effective searches. I am also actively working on our online library resources such as a new discovery platform and research guides.

Why is MLGSCA important to you?

I’m a very new solo hospital librarian (was a law/federal court librarian for 6.5 years) and having a network of colleagues is very important for professional growth and development as well as navigating in this complex era for hospitals/medical institutions.

Why did you become a librarian?

I knew from a young age that I really liked libraries and always saw working in one as a dream job. Also, since knowledge is power, I sensed becoming a librarian would be a perfect fit for my skills and interests as I love empowering people to gain knowledge and take that knowledge to improve the world we live in.

What was your first library job or professional position?

I volunteered 2 summers while in college to do a substantial backlog of loose leaf filings in a law library. Actual first professional job though was as an HR investigator after graduating from law school.

What is your advice to someone new to medical librarianship?

I am new to medical librarianship but having worked in the library profession, I would generally say give yourself grace and understand it is perfectly ok to not always have “the answer” or be able to reply instantaneously. It can be good to gain perspective or seek out help/collaborate with colleagues if time allows. There’s always something to learn.

What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?

Money and space and justifying why librarians are still needed in the AI era.

What is something you have on your bucket list?

Write a song

What do you do in your spare time for fun, or to relax?

Listen to music, doing something active outside (when the weather permits) or restorative yoga lately.

What is the best thing you have read/watched/listened to recently?

The 4 Agreements (read); The Olympics - US Team’s synchronized swimming routine to Smooth Criminal was incredible (watched) ; the new album by Badbadnotgood - Mid Spiral (listened)

Describe yourself in five words.

Curious, creative, compassionate, courageous and committed (all Cs)

Is there anything about you that others would be surprised to know?

I am a twin (fraternal) and my twin is 7 inches taller than me!

What are you most proud of?

Nothing specific. Just being a trusted friend and having integrity.

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I AM MLGSCA: Myrna Y. Uyengco-Harooch

Thursday, August 01, 2024 9:14 AM | Anonymous

Name: Myrna Y. Uyengco-Harooch

Institution: Adventist Health White Memorial

Title: Medical Librarian

Brief description of what you do/your responsibilities at your institution.

I am an EBSCO employee contracted to serve as Medical Librarian for Adventist Health White Memorial. I assist members of the health care team to locate, evaluate and use information, manage the flow of information on action items identified by hospital committees as needing literature reviews, provide newest guidelines and information to update protocols, new standards and toolkits and maintain the historical archives and artifacts of the hospital and provide information as needed.

Why is MLGSCA important to you?

Joining professional organizations such as MLGSCA offers development opportunities and connection with other members in our field. It shows my commitment to the advancement of our profession and through such connection provide valuable assistance and information in my work.

Why did you become a librarian?

Part of my growing up was spent in the library. I wanted to be a investigative reporter searching for answers to a question, and the next best thing is being a research librarian. I love being able to give the right answers to the right person at the right time.

What was your first library job or professional position?

High School Librarian

What is your advice to someone new to medical librarianship?

Know your patron which will lead you to give the best response to their request.

What has been the most interesting project you have worked on?

Everyday and every request in a teaching and training medical center is always interesting and important when in my own small contribution I'm able to help patients and the hospital in general by giving them updated guidelines that will contribute to the policy and clinical protocols they make.

My most interesting project aside from the clinical aspect is I research, collected, scan, identify and organize the various photos, records of the history of the hospital and a member of 3 responsible for the creation of AHWM Historical Panel by Decades now displayed in the hospital.

What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?

Most of the Librarians are now at their retirement age and not a lot of the the new generation sees the importance of a library/librarian in this age of the internet. They think that they can do without the help of the librarians and libraries.

What is something you have on your bucket list?

Prepare the AHWM for my retirement next year.

What do you do in your spare time for fun, or to relax?

Read romance/suspense books to relax, that is sooo different from the daily books/journals I read during work . Power nap; camping

What is the best thing you have read/watched/listened to recently?

Any book by Sharon Sala....I read the whole book in 1 sitting ...even staying up the whole night

Describe yourself in five words.

Positive ; Love of family; persistent; kind, honest

Is there anything about you that others would be surprised to know?

I am an active member of my Parish Church as a Eucharistic Minister. I am super kind to my family to a fault

What are you most proud of?

I have a wonderful husband and that difference in religion doesn't matter when God is the center of our lives. Sending my eldest niece from Kinder to Pharmacy up to College of Medicine.

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A Chapter of the Medical Library Association

Friday, December 13, 2024 12:55 PM | Andrea Harrow (Administrator)

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 12:21 PM | Anonymous

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 8:16 AM | Anonymous

Monday, December 02, 2024 7:42 AM | Victoria Caine (Administrator)

Friday, November 01, 2024 11:58 AM | Anonymous

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 9:36 AM | Anonymous

Monday, October 07, 2024 9:20 AM | Adorée Hatton Makusztak (Administrator)

Tuesday, October 01, 2024 1:45 PM | Anonymous

Tuesday, September 03, 2024 11:59 AM | Anonymous

Thursday, August 01, 2024 9:14 AM | Anonymous

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