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Classes September 2013

HSLS offers classes on database searching, software applications such as Adobe Photoshop, bibliographic management, molecular biology and genetics, and library orientations. For more information, visit the online course descriptions.

Classes are held on the first floor of Falk Library (200 Scaife Hall) in Classroom 1 and on the upper floor of the library in Classroom 2. All classes are open to faculty, staff, and students of the schools of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. They are also open to UPMC residents and fellows.

Faculty, staff and students of the schools of the health sciences will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account to attend these classes. UPMC residents/fellows will need to show their UPMC IDs.

No registration is required, except where noted. Seating for classes is first-come, first-served, until the class is full. Classes marked with an asterisk (*) qualify for American Medical Association Category 2 continuing education credit.

Class schedules are subject to change. Please consult the online class calendar for the most current information.

HSLS CLASSES

Current Climate of Regulations Concerning Data Management (102 Benedum Hall)
(Registration required)

Wednesday, September 11 Noon-1 p.m.

EndNote Basics (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Thursday, September 19 2-4 p.m.

Introduction to HSLS Resources and Services at Falk Library
(Meet inside entrance to Library)

Friday, September 20 9-10 a.m.

Also offered upon request to groups or individuals. Call 412-648-8866.

NIH Public Access Policy Compliance Boot Camp (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Thursday, September 19 Noon-1 p.m.

Painless PubMed* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Monday, September 10 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, September 18 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 26 4-5 p.m.
Monday, September 30 Noon-1 p.m.

PowerPoint for Conference Posters (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Tuesday, September 24 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Prezi for Presentations (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, September 18 10 a.m.-noon

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS RESOURCES

Locating Gene/Protein Information 1: Literature* (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, September 18 1-3 p.m.

Locating Gene/Protein Information 2: Databases* (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, September 25 1-3 p.m.

POSTDOC TALKS

DNA/RNA Immunoprecipitation (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Monday, September 9 10:30 a.m.-noon

How to Process Histology Images in Photoshop-the Basics (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Tuesday, September 17 1-2:30 p.m.

CUSTOMIZED CLASSES

Customized classes can be developed for your department, course, or other group.

FLASHCLASS

FlashClass is a “deal of the week” Groupon-like offer of timely and useful learning. Each week’s offer proposes one or two topics, and you’re invited to sign up to attend a one-hour class the following week. If at least three people sign up, we’ll hold the class. (We’ll notify you either way.)

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

“Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War” Exhibit and Lecture Series

Click for an 8.5x11 printable exhibit poster
Click for an 8.5×11 printable exhibit poster

On September 16, 2013, the National Library of Medicine exhibit, “Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War,” will arrive at Falk Library. This exhibit focuses on disabled veterans and their role as symbols of a fractured nation.

In conjunction with this exhibit, HSLS will host three lectures:

Tuesday, September 24, 6 p.m., Scaife Hall, Room 1105

Jeffrey S. Reznick, PhD, chief of the History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, will present “Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War.” Continue reading →

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Director’s Reflections…Welcome Back, New and Returning Students and Faculty!

Barbara EpsteinWe’re ready to begin a new school year! We invite you to explore HSLS resources and services described in this Update newsletter and on our Web pages. Even if you think you know everything about us, I guarantee that you’ll learn something new!

Renovation of Falk Library’s upper floor is finally completed. We’re freshly painted and re-carpeted, with a technology help desk, rolling whiteboards and four new group study rooms. There’s also a self-service counter for charging your laptops and iPads.

In September, don’t forget to visit our traveling exhibit from the National Library of Medicine, titled Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War. Continue reading →

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New Bing “Search by License” Feature Filters Images by Usage Rights

There is now a copyright license filter built into the Bing Image search that allows you to filter images by Creative Commons License. The images are free to use according to the terms of each license. This new feature incorporates Flickr and many other image sources.

License types include:

  • Public domain: The image creator has waived their exclusive rights, to the fullest extent allowed by law.
  • Free to share and use: You can share and use these images, but changing or editing them may not be allowed. Also, modifying, sharing, and using them for commercial purposes may not be allowed. This option typically has the most results.
  • Free to share and use commercially: You can share and use these images for personal or commercial purposes. Changing or editing them for personal or commercial purposes may not be allowed.
  • Free to modify, share, and use: You can modify, share, and use them. Modifying, sharing, and using them for commercial purposes may not be allowed.
  • Free to modify, share, and use commercially: You can modify, share, and use these images for personal or commercial purposes. This option typically has the fewest results.

To use this feature:

  1. Direct your browser to Bing Images.
  2. Type your search term in the search box and then click on the search button.
  3. Click on the License drop-down menu and then select a license (see image below).
    BingSearch
  4. You will then be shown only those images that meet the criteria for the selected license.
  5. Place your cursor over an image and a pop-up box will appear that contains the URL for the image’s originating Web site (see image below).BingImageURL
  6. Once you locate an image, go to the originating Web site for that image and determine its actual license.
  7. Next, go to Creative Commons and read and understand the license and its provisions, restrictions, and attribution requirements.

For more information, contact the HSLS Main Desk at 412-648-8866 or Ask a Librarian.

*Parts of this article were reprinted from the Bing Help Web site.

~ Jill Foust

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

FlashClass Offers Return

Following a recent successful pilot program, HSLS FlashClass offers have resumed for the summer. FlashClass is a “deal of the week” Groupon-like offer of timely and useful learning—minus the cost! The FlashClass model proposes one or two topics each week, and you’re invited to sign up to attend a one-hour class the following week. If at least 3 people sign up, we’ll hold the class. (We’ll notify you either way.)

FlashClass topics for August include altmetrics, mobile apps, literature management for grant applications and systematic reviews, and EndNote for experienced users, among others.

You’ll automatically receive FlashClass e-vites each week if you’re already on the HSLS Update newsletter e-mail list. If not, sign up to receive the weekly e-vites (use @pitt.edu e-mail addresses only, please).

~ Rebecca Abromitis

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication. This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Helping Patients to Understand the Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will make health insurance coverage available to millions of people in the U.S. Beginning in October 2013, people will be able to sign up for coverage that starts in January 2014. Health care providers should take steps now to help their patients understand this complex law.

There are numerous authoritative resources available for patients. A good place to direct patients is to the MedlinePlus Health Insurance Web page. MedlinePlus, produced by the National Library of Medicine, provides timely health information from government agencies, and is written for the public.

MedlinePlusHealthInsurance

Affordable Care Act resources of immediate interest on MedlinePlus Health Insurance include:

For more information about resources that help explain the Affordable Care Act, contact the HSLS Main Desk at 412-648-8866 or Ask a Librarian.

~ Jill Foust

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Treasures from the Rare Book Room: Late 19th Century Amputation Surgical Set

On March 27, 1891, Dr. Elmer E. Wible (b. 1867) graduated with honors from the Medical Department of the University of Pittsburgh and was awarded a case of general amputating instruments as a surgical prize. Wible lived and worked in the Pittsburgh area and was associated with West Penn, Homestead, and Columbia hospitals, where he worked as a surgeon and later as an oculist. In 1922, he attended an International Congress in Ophthalmology in Washington, D.C. He also served in the Spanish-American War and World War I. But beyond this small amount of information, little has been recorded about his professional life.¹ On June 1, 1942, he donated the instruments and case to his alma mater. It is currently owned by Falk Library.

Amputation Surgical SetThe antique amputation surgical set (c. 1890) was fabricated by George Tiemann of New York. The wooden case with a key lock is lined with purple velvet. The bottom compartment holds eight surgical knives, one artery forceps, five needles, an elastic bandage, and a tourniquet with an iron chain. Continue reading →

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HSLS Staff News

The HSLS Staff News section includes recent HSLS presentations, publications, staff changes, staff promotions, degrees earned, etc.

Publication

Nancy Tannery, senior associate director, along with co-authors LA Maggio1, HC Chen2, OT Cate3, and B O’Brien2, published “Evidence-Based Medicine Training in Undergraduate Medical Education: A Review and Critique of the Literature Published 2006-2011” in Academic Medicine, 88(7): 1022-1028, July 2013.

1. Lane Medical Library, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.

2. University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif.

3. Center for Research and Development of Education, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands and School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif.

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

August Classes

HSLS offers classes on database searching, software applications such as Adobe Photoshop, bibliographic management, molecular biology and genetics, and library orientations. For more information, visit the online course descriptions.

Classes are held on the first floor of Falk Library (200 Scaife Hall) in Classroom 1 and on the upper floor of the library in Classroom 2. All classes are open to faculty, staff and students of the schools of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. They are also open to UPMC residents and fellows.

No registration is required for any of these classes. Seating for classes is first-come, first-served, until the class is full. Classes marked with an asterisk (*) qualify for American Medical Association Category 2 continuing education credit.

Class schedules are subject to change. Please consult the online class calendar for the most current information.

Faculty, staff and students of the schools of the health sciences will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account to attend these classes. UPMC residents/fellows will need to show their UPMC IDs.

 

HSLS ORIENTATION

Introduction to HSLS Resources and Services at Falk Library
(Meet inside entrance to Library)
Offered upon request to groups or individuals. Call 412-648-8866.

 

SEARCHING DATABASES

Painless PubMed* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Tuesday, August 6 Noon-1 p.m.
Wednesday, August 14 4-5 p.m.
Thursday, August 22 Noon-1 p.m.

 

SOFTWARE TRAINING

EndNote Basics (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Thursday, August 8 1-3 p.m.

PowerPoint for Conference Posters (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Monday, August 5 12:30-2:30 p.m.

 

CUSTOMIZED CLASSES

Customized classes can be developed for your department, course, or other group.

 

FLASHCLASS

FlashClass is a “deal of the week” Groupon-like offer of timely and useful learning. Each week’s offer proposes one or two topics, and you’re invited to sign up to attend a one-hour class the following week. If at least three people sign up, we’ll hold the class. (We’ll notify you either way.)

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Data Management Planning: Data Ownership, Part 4

Who owns your research data—you, the University of Pittsburgh, or the government? Who has the legal rights to your data, and who retains the data after project completion?

Data ownership refers to the rights and control over data as well as data management and use. The rules surrounding ownership depend on who is providing the funding. Grants from philanthropic organizations (e.g., foundations) tend to advance specific causes, and policies on ownership rights will vary. Private funders (e.g., pharmaceutical companies) are interested in profits as well as benefits to society, and typically retain ownership rights for the commercial use of data. Government agencies (e.g., NIH) fund research to improve the general health and welfare of society and provide support in the form of grants and contracts.

With a federally funded grant, researchers are required to conduct the research and submit reports, but control of the data remains with the institution that received the funds, such as the University of Pittsburgh. With a contract, researchers are required to deliver a service or product, which is ultimately controlled by the government. It is important for you to know whether your government-funded research is in the form of a grant or a contract, as this will influence where you can publish and who can use your data.

Your research institution does indeed own your data, but allows you, as the Principal Investigator (PI), to be the data steward, subject to institutional review. The PI controls the research direction, publication, and copyright (unless given to a publisher) and is responsible for data collection, recording, storage, retention, and disposal. Remember that if you have a federally funded grant, your data and lab notebooks belong to the grantee institution—NOT to you, your students, or your fellows. Also, if you leave a grantee institution, you must negotiate to keep both your grants and your data.

So, before undertaking any research, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Who owns the data I’m collecting?
  • What rights do I have to publish the data?
  • Does collecting these data impose any obligations on me?

For authoritative sources of information on data ownership, please see:

For other articles in this series about data management, please see:

~ Carrie Iwema

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Director’s Reflections…Do Impact Factors Matter? The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment

Barbara EpsteinHow to measure the impact of research publications is a perennial challenge. One of the most common yardsticks is the journal impact factor (JIF), a formula which measures the frequency with which a journal’s hypothetical “average article” was cited in a particular year. Developed about forty years ago by Eugene Garfield and Irving H. Sher, the JIF can be useful in evaluating a journal’s relative importance as compared with other publications in the same field. Through the years, many academic institutions have come to use JIF to evaluate individual faculty and researchers, though it was clearly designated to measure overall journal quality, rather than the impact of individual articles in a particular journal. Critics have identified many weaknesses, including editorial manipulation, human error and variations among scientific disciplines.1

Last month, a group of editors and publishers of scholarly journals, brought together by the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), jointly issued a set of recommendations—known as the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)—to improve how scientific research output is assessed by funding agencies, academic institutions and the public. DORA’s original signers included 155 individuals and 82 organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, ASCB, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Wellcome Trust. At the time this article was written, the list of signers has grown to 7,715 individuals and 289 organizations.

Though recognizing that peer-reviewed research papers are likely to remain the central research output for the foreseeable future, DORA acknowledges that the importance of other types of research outputs, such as datasets, reagents, and software, will likely grow in the future. The recommendations, aimed at funding agencies, academic institutions, journals, organizations that supply metrics, and individual researchers, have a number of common themes, including:

  • The need to eliminate the use of journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors, in funding, appointment, and promotion considerations.
  • The need to assess research on its own merits than on the basis of the journal in which the research is published.
  • The need to capitalize on the opportunities provided by online publication.2

DORA has its own Web site, hosted by ASCB, with the text of the declaration, list of signers, and a growing list of articles and editorials commenting on DORA. Time will tell whether DORA itself will have an impact on how research is assessed.

1. Weiss, P. “Academic Career Confidential: The Truth about Journal Impact Factors.” HSLS Update 11 no. 6, (December 2006): 4-5.

2. “DORA: San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment.” American Society for Cell Biology, http://am.ascb.org/dora/ (cited on June 17, 2013).

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Public Access, Open Access: Outlining the Key Differences

This article was adapted with permission from “Public Access, Open Access: Outlining the Key Differences,” by Tierney Lyons and Donna S. Gibson, MLA Scholarly Communications Committee, MLA News, March 2013.

Open Access logoFor health care and academic administrators facing ongoing financial challenges, the open access (OA) initiative and mandates for free public access to scholarly literature will continue to gain importance. Librarians play a role in explaining the difference between public access and OA. Continue reading →

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Year at a Glance: What has the Regional Medical Library Been Up To?

Renae BargerHSLS just wrapped up its second year of a five-year contract from the National Library of Medicine to serve as the regional medical library for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region (NN/LM MAR), which includes Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. As one of eight regional medical libraries in the country, our role is to support the efforts of the National Library of Medicine in this region to provide all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improve the public’s access to information so they can make informed decisions about their health.

We accomplish this through a free membership program open to any library, information center, or other organization that provides health information to health professionals or the public. Our members consist of hospital, academic, public and school libraries; community health centers; public health departments; and community-based and faith-based organizations. This year we welcomed 80 new members, raising our membership to nearly 900 institutions. Individuals at member institutions reap the benefits of our in-person and online training on the many reliable health information resources produced by the National Library of Medicine. These resources cover topics such as biomedical literature, clinical trials, chemical and drug information, genetics, environmental health and toxicology, disaster information, consumer health, and science and health education for K-12.

In our second year, NN/LM MAR staff provided training to over 6,000 librarians, health professionals, public health workers, staff at community-based organizations, K-12 school personnel, and the general public through:

  • 67 site visits made to member institutions
  • 89 scheduled training sessions or presentations
  • 693 resource demonstrations while exhibiting at three national and 33 state or local conferences attended by health professionals and consumer groups
  • 10 workshops or CEs offered at state or local conferences

Another way we support the efforts of the National Library of Medicine is to provide funding to our member institutions to support projects that improve access to quality health information, particularly the freely available, reliable resources produced by the National Library of Medicine. This year NN/LM MAR awarded over $450,000 to fund projects to support technology improvement for health information access, outreach to health professionals and consumers, emergency preparedness readiness, MedlinePlus Connect, the Value of Libraries Study, and a group licensing initiative for hospital libraries. NN/LM MAR funding provided support for subcontractors to:

  • Offer 132 trainings and 46 exhibit opportunities to educate and promote awareness of NLM resources to 2,806 health professionals and consumer groups
  • Purchase technology to promote evidence-based health information and offer new or improved reference services
  • Attend or host professional development events and CEs to expand knowledge and experience; and to provide improved health information access and/or services to healthcare researchers, providers and consumers

Congratulations to HSLS and the NN/LM MAR staff for a successful year. If you know of a group of health professionals or other organization providing health information services that would benefit from NN/LM MAR training and funding opportunities, encourage them to become a member or contact us for more information. Membership is free; this is your government tax dollars at work!

~ Renae Barger, Executive Director, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region