Deconstructing Twentieth Century Medical Libraries: From Typewriters to Digital Libraries

ABSTRACT

The last 40 years has represented a time of change for the profession of library and information science, turning many of our constructs inside out. In 1977 the author attended library school, typewriter in hand, and with no thought that computers would one day alter the experience of “library” for everyone. This reflection provides an opportunity for the author, who was interviewed in this journal in the August 2010 issue (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15424065.2010.505510), to bring closure to a career in gratitude. Included are lessons learned throughout a career that spanned the beginning of the Internet, the arrival of Google, and a resurgence of new medical school libraries. One of the special challenges addressed is successfully juggling the career goals of a two-career marriage.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital libraries
• new academic libraries
• new medical libraries
• retirement
• two-career couples

Acknowledgments

Throughout this narrative, I have named names but not nearly all of them. I have had wonderful mentors and bosses, co-workers, and colleagues located in many places. Many people were both mentored by me and mentored me at the same time. To name a few of my most memorable bosses: Maureen Pastine, Nancy Wright, Judy Johnston, Edward Tawyea, Richard Usatine, David Steele, Sebastian Alston, Alma Littles, Nehad El-Sawi, and Steve Miller. The one theme that binds all of these people together is the extreme kindness they showed me, often when I least deserved it. Colleagues and friends have sustained me and shown me the way. One faculty member stands out, Jerry Boland. Through his own research and use of evidence-based medicine tools and sharing of his knowledge and practical use of these resources, he made both the FSU and ACOM libraries better. In addition to those already named in the article, I was fortunate to work with many more who hold special significance as I made decisions in my career, started new initiatives, or just needed a fresh perspective. I wish to acknowledge the following: Dennis Baker, Gail Bellamy, Valerie Bennett, Diane Campagnes, Dawn Bick, Rose Bland, David Boilard, Cecilia Botero, Judy Burnham, Geneva Bush, Nancy Clark, Lee Clemans-Taylor, Pam Doffek, Luda Dolinsky, Mark Flynn, Donna Goldman, Allison Howard, Jeff Hunt, Terri Johnson, Faye Jones, Janice Kelly, Ann Koopman, Gerry Krishnan, Beth Layton, Tiffany Moxham, Joanne Muellenbach, Cynthia Olney, Kaye Robertson, Kathryn Rost, Sharon Schwerzel, Anne Seymour, Jean Shipman, Becky Shiveler, Shenifa Taite, JoAnn Van Schaik, Betty Warner, Joyce White, Roy Zeigler, Julia Zimmerman, and Diana Zinnato. I wish I could name them all, the close friends both on the job and local, regional and national colleagues. This is perhaps the biggest lesson of all. One does not get anywhere without trusted colleagues. Throughout my time in my career many people have cut me slack, sacrificed their own goals to help me, shown me kindness, given freely of their time, and shared some laughs and tears. Most of all, I thank my husband Ben. Since that first day in the Map and Geography Library when we were graduate students, Ben has been at my side. He has provided suggestions at exactly the right times always with respect, with my best interests at heart and thankfully with a good sense of humor. Finally, I thank the University of Illinois, School of Information Sciences, and its classes of 1977 and 1978, my first colleagues.