INFO-RX: Newsletter of the Health Sciences Libraries   October/November 2010 /YOUR PRESCRIPTION FOR QUALITY HEALTH INFORMATION/

/TO ACCESS THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE NEWSLETTER GO TO: HTTP://MYUMINFO.UMANITOBA.CA/INDEX.ASP?SEC=857/

As October comes to an end so too does much of the construction that has transformed the Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library over the past eight months. In our latest renovation update we anticipate the new library fully open for business once again, with bright new spaces for work, study, and collaboration. In this issue of Info-Rx we want to draw your attention to some trends in the provision of health care information. Starting with the more traditional sources of information ? research journals ? we report on the latest impact factors for the top 20 journals in your field.

Along with the developments in ebooks and web-based educational resources, you have probably noticed the growing use of mobile devices, particularly the iPhone, in health care. There are many excellent apps already available, but did you know that the library provides access to a number of our licensed online resources in iPhone-friendly format? In Part 1 of a series we look at five subscription-based services for the iPhone: AccessMedicine, Lexi-Comp, MD Consult, Procedures Consult, and UpToDate.  Do you use social media? If not, you probably know many who do. We discuss how health care professionals, organizations, and libraries are using social media today.

October was Medical Librarians Month. The 2010 celebration focused not only on the important role of the librarian as a partner in health care, but also examines the critical issue of health literacy and the contribution of librarians to local, national and international interventions to improve health literacy. We review some of the grim facts about health literacy and provide you with a select list of health literacy resources, both in print and online.

Finally, a warm welcome to Dr. Judith Littleford, who has been appointed Course Coordinator, Information Literacy and Biomedical Informatics at the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Littleford will be working closely with librarians to develop instructional strategies and resources across the medical curriculum.

NEWS

A NEW STEP IN FOSTERING INFORMATION LITERACY AND INSTRUCTION IN BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS Dr. Judith Littleford has been appointed Course Coordinator, Information Literacy and Biomedical Informatics.   RENOVATIONS: THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER Books and journals are back on the shelves, the seminar rooms look incredible, and the library will soon be fully open for business.   SOCIAL MEDIA AS THE MEDICAL MESSAGE How health care practitioners and health libraries are using this new tool to reach out, engage and interact.   THE LATEST IMPACT FACTORS ARE IN. DO YOU KNOW THE TOP JOURNALS IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES? View the core journals as measured by impact factor for medicine, nursing, dentistry, rehabilitation, and pharmacy.

HEALTH LIBRARIANS CONFRONT THE ISSUE OF HEALTH LITERACY More than half of working age adults in Canada (55% or 11.7 million) are estimated to have less-than-adequate health literacy skills   THERE'S A MED APP FOR THAT! PART 1 - UM LIBRARIES IPHONE-FRIENDLY RESOURCES

Useful library resources you can add to your iPhone to improve patient care.   FEATURES

WHAT YOUR PATIENT READS: DRINKING FOR TWO? IS DRINKING WHILE PREGNANT HARMFUL?   CONSUMER HEALTH: MEDLINEPLUS: NEW DESIGN FOR AN EXCELLENT CONSUMER HEALTH WEBSITE

@ YOUR LIBRARY: FOLLOW OUR RENOVATIONS ON OUR SPECIAL BLOG     /INFO-RX /IS THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARIES. ITS PURPOSE IS TO INFORM OUR PRIMARY AUDIENCE OF SERVICES OR RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP THEM TO ACCESS QUALITY HEALTH INFORMATION. /INFO-RX/ IS PUBLISHED SIX TIMES A YEAR. COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, OR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO:  INFO-RX@UMANITOBA.CA