MLA CE WEEK 1

Greetings All:

As my first post, I am exploring the usefulness of Blogs as a communication device and RSS Feeds as a research tool. In this Community Hospital Setting, our Medical staff consists mostly of older experienced physicians who have not had much exposure to online research tools. Medical Students do not rotate through our facility.

Most of these physicians are unlikely to expeditiously adopt new technology. Their very busy clinical practice schedules limit the time they will devote to learning or employing new technology. Most often they seek information solutions that rapidly provide answers they can endorse with confidence. Frequently, this involves consultation with another colleague over the telephone, or in the doctor’s lounge. Often the doctors will bring their queries directly to the librarian, with the expectation that answers can be found through an immediate search. If full text is needed, it will be copied from our collection, or ordered via Docline, and promptly delivered to their offices. RSS Feeds will help the Medical Librarian focus on changes in areas subject to frequent patron inquiries.

I am impressed with the potential of RSS Feeds for the dissemination of Journal TOC data to researchers who are following changes in specific areas of interest. We could certainly help our Medical Staff members by establishing RSS TOC Feed subscriptions. They will need some instruction to manage this new method of information delivery. How often the Medical Staff relies on this as an information gathering strategy remains to be determined. Younger physicians appear more familiar and more willing to adopt these tools.

This library blog may serve as a communication tool, posting information regarding new library services and hours in addition to hospital policy and procedure updates. As well, this blog can function as an additional avenue to submit queries or request specific assistance from the library.