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January/February 2006: Issue 128
UAMS Library Hosts Annual SCC/MLA Meeting
The UAMS Library and health sciences librarians in Arkansas recently hosted the annual meeting of the South Central Chapter of the Medical Library Association (www.library.uams.edu/SCC2005/). SCC/MLA has approximately 500 members who work in health sciences libraries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. Approximately 200 people attended this year’s conference, which was held at the Peabody Hotel on October 22-26.
The theme of the meeting was Public Health Challenges: The Librarian’s Role, and plenary speakers included Dr. Joe Thompson and Dr. Joycelyn Elders. The program included 20 paper presentations, 26 posters, six sharing sessions, and a technology expo. Numerous committee meetings were also held during the conference.
UAMS librarians took active roles in the program. Jan Hart made a presentation on MedEd Portal, and Rena Sheffer discussed linking software during the Technology Expo. Susan Steelman presented a paper on public health professionals’ information needs. Mary Ryan facilitated a sharing session on scholarly communication issues, and Dena Plaisted facilitated a session on Interlibrary Loan. Several members of the staff participated in at least one of the six continuing education courses taught during the meeting. Abby Holt served as SCC/MLA Secretary this year and took minutes during the business meetings.
Many members of the UAMS Library staff worked at the meeting, including staffing the registration and hospitality tables, providing technical support for several events, etc. Dena Plaisted was in charge of local arrangements, Mary Ryan chaired the Program Committee, Susan Steelman coordinated exhibits and sponsorships, Abby Holt was responsible for printing of programs and other materials, Heather Smith, Mike Crume and others provided technology support, Libby Ingram was in charge of registration, and Nancy Sessoms was responsible for decorations.
Social events included “A Night at the Movies” at the downtown public library, which was sponsored by the Regional Programs/AHEC Office and coordinated by the AHEC librarians. Conference goers said farewell at a formal banquet at the Clinton Presidential Center. Next year’s conference will be held in College Station, Texas on October 20-25.
For further information, contact Dena Plaisted, Head of Document Access Services, PlaistedDenaK@uams.edu.
 Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Keynote Speaker for HLIS Luncheon, and Mary Ryan, UAMS Library Director. |
 Preparing for the Opening Session, Dr. Larry Milne, UAMS Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Joe Thompson, Chief Health Officer for Arkansas, and Mary Ryan, Conference Program Chair |
 Abby Holt (UAMS), SCC Secretary, Mary Ryan (UAMS), SCC Program Chair, and Millie Moore (Tulane), Winner of the 2005 Distinguished Service Award. |
 AHEC Librarians: Destiny Carter and Robin Layne (Southwest), Vicki de Yampert (El Dorado), Cathy Privett (Helena), and Grace Anderson (Ft. Smith). |
 Susan Steelman (UAMS), Coordinator for Exhibits and Sponsorships, with Susan Bader (Baylor University School of Nursing), SCC Past President |
 Marty Thompson, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Library Director, shares a laugh with Dena Plaisted (UAMS), Chair of the SCC Local Arrangements Committee |
 Enjoying a break together: Mike Crume, UAMS Technical Support, Heather Smith, UAMS LRC and SCC Technical Support, Ben Ridout, UAMS Librarian and SCC Local Arrangements, and Abby Holt, UAMS Librarian and SCC Secretary. |
 Nancy Sessoms (UAMS), Decorations, Libby Ingram (UAMS), Registration, Edwina Walls-Mann, Retired UAMS Librarian, and Mary Hawks (UAMS), Local Arrangements relax in the lobby of the Clinton Presidential Center before the Farewell Banquet. |
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