TML News and Notes: August 2006

The Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Science will sponsor the Changing the Face of Medicine Traveling Exhibit from June 20-August 3, 2007. The exhibit, sponsored by the US National Library of Medicine, celebrates the lives and achievements of America's women physicians.

The Tompkins-McCaw Library offers a podcast of the latest library news. Tune in to the VCU Libraries Help page, or the Tompkins-McCaw Library page, to hear the latest news. Additional podcasts will be integrated into the VCU Libraries Search Guides, Tips, Handouts, and Tutorials resource guide.

If you have suggestions for new podcasts on health sciences topics, please contact Bob Johnson, Tompkins-McCaw Library Education Services Librarian.

The VCU Libraries and the Center on Health Disparities Presents a discussion on the use of Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at VCU and in the larger public health community. This brown bag discussion will focus on the needs of researchers, public health professionals and others as they relate to the utilization of GIS to better understand geographic relationships and how they impact health outcomes, public health risks, disease transmission, access to health care and other public health concerns. Dessert and drinks provided.

Location: 1st floor Conference Room, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, MCV Campus
Date: Thursday, October 5, 2006
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 p.m.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Shannon Jones at 804-828-0626 by September 22, 2006.

For directions to Tompkins-McCaw Library, visit http://www.library.vcu.edu/tml/information/tmldirections.html

RefWorks is an extremely useful tool for VCU students, faculty, and staff. RefWorks is an online citation database manager that allows you to create your own personal database by importing references from online databases. You can then directly import citations into your term paper, grant proposal, research article, or other publication, and automatically generate a formatted bibliography.

RefWorks allows you to:

* Easily generate a bibliography and format it in any major bibliographic style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc). RefWorks also has a library of citation styles from publishers, making it easy to format your bibliography for Nature, Science, or other journal titles.
* Access RefWorks from any location. RefWorks is a web-accessible tool available through the VCU Libraries Web site for both on campus and off-campus users.
* Share your personal RefWorks database with others. RefWorks is a great tool for researchers working on grant proposals and other collaborative projects.

Access to RefWorks is available through a number of VCU Libraries links including the QuickLinks menu, A-Z list, library catalog, and the RefWorks guide.

To learn more about using RefWorks, visit the online RefWorks Guide. This helpful resource guide includes step-by-step instructions, useful pointers for new users, and information about upcoming Refworks classes.

Take advantage of a number of upcoming classes offered by the Tompkins-McCaw Library on a variety of topics, including PubMed, RefWorks, Finding Full-text articles, Drug Information, the Instructional Media Workshop, ordering articles using ILLiad, and more. Information about upcoming events and orientations offered by the Tompkins-McCaw Library and the James Branch Cabell Library is available through the VCU Events calendar

For more information about training opportunities at Tompkins-McCaw Library, please contact Thelma Mack at 804-828-0017 or mackta@vcu.edu.

The impact of pandemic influenza will be felt in every community by every citizen. Hospitals will be overwhelmed and pharmaceutical interventions will be in short supply. Critical infrastructure such as transportation, commerce, utilities, and public safety will be disrupted. With simultaneous outbreaks occurring over large geographic regions, communities will have to rely on local resources and coordinate their preparedness activities across all sectors. Networks and relationships have to be established to communicate and manage the risks, now and during the pandemic.This program will examine the case of California’s Santa Clara County, where the community is preparing for a pandemic that will challenge their public health system and affect every aspect of their daily life. This program will seek to increase awareness of the local, state, and federal response to pandemic influenza and steps communities should take to prepare. Seating is limited and advanced registration is required.

Location: Tompkins McCaw Library, Room 2- 010
Date: Friday, September 29, 2006
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
Register Now at: http://publichealthgrandrounds.unc.edu/webreg/ParticInput.cfm?SiteID=52294

For more information about this webcast, visit the Public Health Grand Rounds web site.

This hands-on course focuses on the advanced search features of web search engines and the cutting edge of searching. Participants will use various search engines, compare the features and utility of each and develop search strategies that will increase the precision and scope of their searching. The students will have discussions, exercises and view short presentations as a part of the class. The class includes: discussions of web search engines, indexes and hybrids of the two, commercialism and how it influences searching, finding current events information with search engines, specialized databases for special needs and topics suggested by the participants. Advanced registration is required.

Location: Tompkins-McCaw Library - LIMERC, Rm. 2-012 MCV Campus
Date: Friday, October 27, 2006
Time: 1:00-5:00 pm
Register Now at: http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/it/course_detail.asp?ID=3615

For more information about this workshop, contact Shannon Jones at sdjones@vcu.edu or 828-0626