Thirty-Five Years and Counting BQSI/MB Formula for Success: Cooperation, Education and Resource Sharing

Abstract

In 2010, the Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and the Bronx Health Sciences Librarians (BQSI/MB) celebrated its 35th anniversary. Over the years this organization has grown from a small group of hospital librarians to a much larger one that now includes medical librarians representing all types of institutions from all five boroughs of New York City. Along the way, the group met new challenges and achieved many goals. This article summarizes some key BQSI/MB experiences and achievements that may be of help to those in other library consortia.

Keywords:

• continuing education
• cooperative purchasing
• library consortia
• networks
• professional development

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Narciso Rodriguez for his help with searching through the BQSI/MB archives and providing the historical records they needed.