It is time to put the MAHSLIN Annual Meeting on your 2003 calendar. It will be Thursday, April 24^th. The meeting will once again be at the Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, MA. In addition to an update from the RML and a full schedule of expert speakers, you will also have the opportunity to see what is in bloom!

This year's program will focus on ways to boost you and your library's presence in your organization. You will learn techniques for improving and enhancing the image of your library.

Complete details will follow soon.

It has been five years since we last completed a salary survey. In October, the MAHSLIN board decided to conduct another survey in 2003.

I incorporated the comments and suggestions from the 1997 Survey, referred to the SLA, MLA and the Hospital Salary & Benefit surveys to prepare the following questionnaire for our 2003 Salary Survey.

Please be enthusiastic about this Survey and spread the word to our colleagues.

We expect a 100% return rate. Let me know if you or anyone else would like a paper version of this survey, I'll gladly send one out by snail mail. I hope to analyze the data and report the findings in April 2003 through the Newsletter and at our Annual meeting.

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.

Bonnie Hsu

St. Luke's Hospital

Health Sciences Library

101 Page Street

New Bedford, MA 02740

508-961-5267 (voice)

508-999-0219 (fax)

Return the survey to:

SLH_LIBRARY@southcoast.org

Massachusetts Health Sciences Library Network

Please return your completed survey by February 18, 2003

Electronically to: SLH_Library@southcoast.org

By Mail to: Ms. Bonnie Hsu, M.L.S., Health Sciences Library,

St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford, MA 02740

1. ___ Director/Department Head with supervisory duties
2. ___ Librarian in OPL (One Person Library)

Part of institution's management team

___ Yes ___ No

3. ___ Librarian, no supervisory duties
4. ___ Consultant
5. ___ Other Specify ____________________________

III. Education (If more than one applies, check both.)

1. ___ Doctorate
2. ___ MLS or equivalent
3. ___ MS or MA (other than MLS)
4. ___ BS or BA
5. ___ Other Specify ____________________________
6. ___ AHIP certification

1. ___ Total number of years in the library/information field
2. ___ Number of years in your present position

1. ___ Full time (35 hours or more)
2. ___ Part time (20-35 hours)
3. ___ Part time (less than 20 hours)

__________________________ Title __________________________ Department

1. ___ Union
2. ___ Non-Union

VIII. Basic Annual Salary (as of January 1, 2003)

Please provide salary based on full time (2,080 hours per year / 40 hours

per week).

$__________________

______%

1. ___ Paid sick leave G. ___ Long-term or short-term disability
2. ___ Paid vacation leave H. ___ Educational development assistance
3. ___ Medical insurance I. ___ Related Professional Activities
4. ___ Dental insurance J. ___ Retirement plan
5. ___ Life insurance K. ___ NONE
6. ___ Child day care L. ___ Other specify _________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MAHSLIN members Michelle Giberti and Matthew Eberle were married on October 19th, 2002 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Malden. The ceremony was officiated by Matthew's father, the Rev. Bill Eberle of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and Rev. J.C. Wood of St. Paul's Church was in attendance.

The couple met through their participation in MAHSLIN activities.

The reception was held at the Henderson House in Weston, part of Northeastern University. Several MAHSLIN members were in attendance. Mr. And Mrs. Eberle honeymooned in Aruba.

Michelle is employed at Cambridge Health Alliance, Somerville. She assists with MAHSLIN Executive Board PR efforts.

Matthew is employed at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals as an information specialist.

Best wishes, Matt and Michelle, from the MAHSLIN membership.

I am pleased to announce the completion of the $1.5 million renovation project of the Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. The primary goals of our project were to improve the appearance of the physical space while at the same time improving functionality and access to information technology resources. The Library now houses more than 80 public access computers, a state-of-the art teaching room that doubles as a computer lab when not reserved for Library instruction, and new custom-built Reference and Access Services Desks in addition to new carpet, fresh paint and new comfortable furniture. The Library has a feeling of a more open, attractive and welcoming environment. We invite you to come see our new look anytime you are in the area. Mark your calendars-I'd like to invite you to come see us on April 3, 2003 when we will be having our Annual Open House celebration.

February 5, 2003

8:15 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Mass. Medical Society Conference Center in Waltham

A joint program co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Health Science Librarians Information Network.

Supported in part by a grant from the NN/LM New England Region

In the Fall of 2001, the Education Committee of MAHSLIN surveyed its membership to develop continuing education plans for the coming year. Technology issues and topics ranked in all of the five highest slots. Clearly the membership sent a message of their need for continuing education sessions on a whole range of technology issues including web design, licensing, PDAs, networking, security, filters and wireless systems.

At a MAHSLIN Board meeting, it was recommended that the Education Committee plan out a full day of technology continuing education workshops and seminars. It was also recommended that MAHSLIN contact the Massachusetts Medical Society to see if there would be interest in planning a joint program.

The Massachusetts Medical Society had not presented a technology related program in 2-3 years and once contacted, agreed to work together with MAHSLIN. The MAHSLIN Education chair, Anne Fladger and committee member Alison Clapp presented the concept to the Executive Committee of MMS and it was agreed to proceed with planning such a day.

Goals and objectives for this program include:

• Provide a forum for physicians and health science librarians to work collaboratively
• Provide a forum that health science librarians and physicians can learn about cutting edge technology
• Learn how technology can enhance a physician's practice
• Learn how technology can enhance a health science library
• Attend and participate in various hardware and software demonstrations
• Learn about a number of technology concepts and issues including evidence based medicine, emedicine, web design, privacy issues, security and filters

Mark Funk's excellent presentation at the 2002 MAHSLIN Annual Meeting has inspired the North East Consortium for Health Information (NECHI) to develop a budget comparison survey of community hospital libraries.

The survey gives librarians in the region a tool that can be used to shore up inadequate budgets and compare and contrast demographics, such as bed size, collection size, and number of staff served.

Additionally, due to the recent state-level cuts in library services and the loss of the state consumer health contract with the Treadwell Library at Massachusetts General Hospital, NECHI is in the process of drafting an outreach letter to let area public libraries know that NECHI is willing to serve as a medical resource. The letter is flexible, giving individual NECHI members the option to determine their own level of involvement in outreach efforts.

In December, Donna Beales was graduated with honors from the GSLIS program at Simmons College.

Pat Davis has returned to the Membership Chair position within the MAHSLIN Executive Board. The Board wishes to thank Pat for stepping back into this demanding role.