January 2017 Issue

In 1981, a new disease appeared in the United States. Reactions to the disease, soon named AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), varied. A book written in 1987 by and for people with AIDS titled, Surviving and Thriving, insisted that people could live with AIDS, not just die from it. Surviving and Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture is an exhibit from the National Library of Medicine that illustrates an iconic history of AIDS alongside lesser-known examples of historical figures who changed the course of the pandemic. Centering the experience of people with AIDS in the exhibition allows us to see how critical they were, and continue to be, in the political and medical fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Surviving and Thriving exhibit will be on display at Falk Library from January 17 through February 25, 2017. The following events are co-sponsored by the Health Sciences Library System and the Center for LGBT Health Research with matching funding from the Year of Diversity:

Thursday, January 19, 2017, at 6 p.m.
“Voices Heard: A Social History of HIV Testing in the U.S.” by Ronald O. Valdiserri, MD, MPH; Senior Research Associate and Distinguished Scholar, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Pitt Public Health Grand Rounds Lecture
Lecture Room 1105, Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street
Reception to follow in Falk Library, 2nd Floor Scaife Hall

Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at 6 p.m.
“Leveraging a legacy of activism: ‘Black Lives Matter’ and the way forward for HIV research” by Derrick D. Matthews, PhD, MPH; Assistant Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Center for LGBT Health Research, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
Room A115, Crabtree Hall, 130 De Soto Street
Reception to follow in the Public Health Community Commons, Parran Hall

The exhibit is comprised of six panels on display on the main floor of Falk Library. It is free and open to the public during Falk Library’s regular hours.

~Julia Dahm

Here at the Update, we usually stick to sober reporting. We want you to know that FlashClasses start again at the end of January. We want you to sign up in advance to receive weekly FlashClass announcements if you’re not already on the mailing list. We also want to know if you have an idea for a class we don’t already teach.

But sobriety aside, who hasn’t indulged at some point in the sort of quickie self-analysis found in popular magazines and websites? So relax and match your personality with a FlashClass track below. Then watch for announcements for classes in “your” track (or any other).

Your Personality

1. After mastering the basics, you like to take things to the next level.

2. You’re concerned about accountability in public life and resolved to be scrupulous in your own actions.

3. Restless and adventurous, you defy categorization.

4. You relish a challenge demanding discipline and thoroughness.

5. You yearn for serenity. But while the idea of getting rid of everything that doesn’t bring you joy is appealing, you’d settle for a better grip on your electronic information.

6. When you attend an event, you like to make a dramatic entrance and leave others with a strong impression.

7. You’re modest by nature but know you shouldn’t hide your light under a bushel.

FlashClass Tracks

a. Reference and File Management

b. Author’s Toolkit

c. Data Management

d. Literature Review

e. Instruction and Presentation Design

f. PubMed Toolkit

g. Special Topics

Answers

1f: You’ve taken our Painless PubMed class and can already do a decent search. Next challenge: develop advanced skills.

2c: With these classes, you’ll stay abreast of increasing standards for data collection and sharing.

3g: Follow your impulse toward our 3D printing class or another novel topic.

4d: Stay on top of popular review techniques and methods.

5a: Simplify your digital life with the advanced skills in this track.

6e: Increase your impact as a teacher and presenter with structured communication and graphics.

7b: Maximize your academic visibility and get the most from your efforts.

~Pat Weiss

• Are you researching human diseases?
• Do you need to interpret a large human DNA sequencing dataset?
• Is your time and effort valuable?

Introducing Ingenuity Variant Analysis (IVA)—IVA helps biomedical researchers quickly discover disease-causing variants, with minimal false leads. It is a HIPAA-certified web platform for comparing and annotating comprehensively sequenced human genomes to shortlist compelling gene variants via an interactive series of filters. This is critical for the identification of variants most likely to impact symptoms, biological processes, signaling pathways, and/or genes known to be implicated in disease progression or drug response. Continue reading →

HSLS is home to both the Regional Medical Library for the Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) and the NNLM Web Services Office (NWSO). Both nationwide programs are funded through competitive, cooperative agreements, coordinated by the National Library of Medicine. The NNLM mission is to ensure that health professionals, researchers, the public health workforce, patients, families, and the general public have access to quality health information.

As the Regional Medical Library, HSLS supports the NNLM mission through outreach services such as project funding, training, presentations, exhibits, and other types of public programs. NWSO is responsible for developing and maintaining reliable web services for NNLM in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services information policies. To that end, NWSO recently led NNLM efforts to update its web presence with a new look and mobile responsive design.

The redesigned website offers the NNLM member base a more functional space to work with Network coordinators in their outreach efforts. In addition to the stylistic changes, the new website allows users to create accounts, which facilitate one-click class registration, and the ability to update their membership information quickly and conveniently; a new Members Directory provides an easy way to find member organizations by name, location, or organization type; and the website now offers a national listing of funding opportunities, to view NNLM awards that are available across the country, as well as a collection of previously funded projects, to provide insight and inspiration to members in their funding applications.

In addition to these enhanced views, the redesign afforded NNLM staff with the opportunity to revitalize and reorganize the information they share on their regional web pages. For example, coordinators now have the ability to develop online Resource Guides, which serve as comprehensive collections of products and materials geared toward a particular topic or audience. K-12 educators, public librarians, health professionals, and more can find information gathered specifically for their needs, which will increase their ability to incorporate NLM resources in their outreach and programming efforts.

~Renae Barger and Hannah Sinemus

 

Last year, Misti Kane, Metadata Specialist in the Digital Library Services Department, celebrated 20 years of working at HSLS.

After earning a BA degree in history from Pitt in 1996, Misti began her career at HSLS as a Library Specialist in the Circulation Department where she gave directions, handled account problems, and performed circulation transactions.

In October 2000, she transferred to the Technical Services Department where she was a Monographic Receipt Specialist. Her duties included receiving new books, claiming items not received, and copy cataloging of monographs.

Her most recent job move occurred in 2012, when she became Metadata Specialist. Her responsibilities include copy cataloging books and journals in both print and online formats, upgrading bibliographical records in OCLC and Voyager, and troubleshooting patron issues with electronic resources.

Over the years, one thing has stood out to Misti. When she first began working at HSLS, she noticed the library’s tables were loaded with library books that patrons used to do their assignments and research. Now, most of the books have been replaced with laptop computers. While print books still have a place in the library, e-books are becoming the norm.

Misti noted that her career has gotten more interesting over the years because each job has provided her with the opportunity to develop new skills. She thoroughly enjoys her job and working with her colleagues.

~Jill Foust

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

Publications

Author names in bold are HSLS-affiliated

Jonathon Erlen, History of Medicine Librarian published “Disability Studies: Disabilities Abstracts” in The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal, 12(4), 2016. Co-author was Megan Conway.

R. Jun Lin, Michele Klein-Fedyshin, Research and Clinical Instruction Librarian, Lauren Terhorst, et al, published “Systematic Review of the Effect of Nimodipine on Cranial Nerve Function Recovery in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, 2016: CRD42016051857.

Nicholas Stygles, Dio Kavalieratos, Michele Klein-Fedyshin, Research and Clinical Instruction Librarian, published “Characteristics of Efficacious Palliative Care Interventions for Advanced Heart Failure and Associated Changes in Patient Mood, Symptom Burden, and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review” in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, 2016: CRD42016052116.

HSLS offers classes on database searching, software applications such as Prezi, bibliographic management, and molecular biology and genetics. 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, who will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account. They are also open to UPMC residents and fellows, who will need to show their UPMC IDs. Continue reading →