PNG Institute of Medical Research develops strategic plan | PNGIMR recieves mentoring from Robert Gibney | Librarian attends ICML 2009 Conference | New Staff | New Project launch attract many | Preventive Treatment for Malaria in Pregnancy Project Launch
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Librarian attends ICML 2009 Conference

By Susan Gandi

The Manager of the Library and Communications Unit, Susan Gandi, was sponsored by AusAid and the PNGIMR to attend the International Congress of Medical Librarianship (ICML) in Brisbane, Australia from the 31st September to the 4th October 2009.

While there she presented a paper titled “ Medical Library and Information Services in Papua New Guinea: an overview”. The paper covered an overview of the Medical Library and Information Services in Papua New Guinea. It highlighted the general lack of priority by health and education authorities in providing appropriate policies and financial support towards building information resource centres, libraries and internet facilities. The paper also highlighted the Institute’s efforts in providing one of the best medical library and information facilities in the country.

The event was a landmark occasion to celebrate the tenth anniversary and 55th year of the Congress and washeld for the first time in Australia. The ICML first met in 1953 in London, and over 300 librarians attended, and the Ninth Congress was held in Brazil in 2005. The status and issues confronting medical libraries, especially those in developing countries, has been raised by the ICML throughout the world. The Congress is held every four or five years giving the health library sector an opportunity to meet together to address major issues confronting the profession. Some of the issues that stand out when examining the history of the ICML include the high cost of journals, developments with library education, administration and operations and utilization of machines for bibliographic purposes. This purpose of the coaching was to identifying and understand each unit’s requiement, by facilitating the exploration of needs, motivations, desires, skills and thought processes to assist the individual staff members (Line Managers & Project Managers) in making real, lasting change. This involved questioning techniques to facilitate the staff’s own thought processes.

The theme, Positioning the Profession and the 10th ICML, embraced a range of areas central to health libraries throughout the world. The Congress was held in the centre of Brisbane, at one of the world’s most prestigious convention centres. It was an opportunity to report the impact of information specialists upon organizations and best means to position the health library and information profession for the future; status and ongoing development of international and local partnerships and collaborations in the 21st century; health informatics and the medical librarians; evidence based health care and libraries; health library research, education and training; marketing and promotion; and integration of the latest technologies with service delivery. American Library Association’s (MLA) accredited trainers provided continuing education.

These days, better library networking is the way to go for most libraries, especially those in developing countries where, library budgets are very low and sometimes nil. Standing with Susan the photo are two executives of the American Medical Library Association of which Susan is a registered member. The membership has provided her with opportunities learn more and keep abreast with the current developments especially in the electronic world of library and information sciences.