MAC Messages Number 89:
September/October 2001

Medical Librarians Share Promotional Ideas at Second Annual MLA Swap 'n Shop
By Tomi Gunn, Public Relations Assistant, MLA

Medical librarians attending the MLA 2001 conference in Orlando, FL, in May took advantage of the Medical Library Association's (MLA) second public relations Swap 'n Shop exhibit. Designed to showcase creativity in library promotion and to allow health sciences information colleagues to exchange public relations ideas, the Swap 'n Shop booth was open throughout the meeting with representatives from Public Communications, Inc. (PCI), MLA's public relations consultant, present to discuss promotional ideas with members.

"Perhaps the best critique of the Swap 'n Shop was voiced by visitors who said, 'Wow, I could do that!' Members brought many innovative items ranging from simple fliers and bookmarks to elaborate CD-ROMs and full-color posters. Nearly everyone who visited the booth commented that they had been inspired by something, and many planned to try out ideas in their own libraries. That was the goal of the Swap 'n Shop so we are very pleased with the members' reaction," commented Kathleen Boylan, vice president, PCI, Chicago, IL.

After members swapped materials, samples were placed in six different categories and judged for creativity, accomplishment of stated goals, and best use of available budget and resources by PCI representatives.

First, second, and third place distinctions and ribbons were given in all but one of the categories. The winners are as follows:

Hospital-based Libraries - Ongoing Campaigns
First place - Family Resource Center at Children's Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Second place - Hopwood Library, UPMC Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA
Third place - Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, CA

Hospital-based Libraries - One-Time Promotions
First place - Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE
Second place - Bristol Hospital and Health Care Group, Bristol, CT
Third place - Sacred Heart-Saint Mary's Hospitals, Rhinelander, WI

Academic-based Libraries - Ongoing Campaigns
First place - Medical College of Wisconsin Libraries, Wauwatosa
Second place (tie) - University of Florida, Health Sciences Center Library, Gainesville
Second place (tie) - University of Louisville, Kornhauser Health Science Library, KY
Third place - University of Nebraska Medical Center, McGoogan Library of Medicine, Omaha

National Libraries/Professional Associations - Ongoing Campaigns
Texas Medical Association, Austin

National Libraries/Professional Associations - One-time Promotions
First Place - American Association of Orthodontists, St. Louis, MO
Second Place - National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Third Place - The British Library, London, England, UK

MLA wishes to congratulate all winners of the second annual MLA Swap 'n Shop contest for their creativity and innovation in promoting their libraries.

MLA is a nonprofit, educational organization of more than 1,000 institutions and 3,800 individual members in the health sciences information field. MLA members serve society by developing new health information delivery systems, fostering educational and research programs for health sciences information professionals, and encouraging an enhanced public awareness of health care issues.

For more information, contact Tomi Gunn , Public Relations Assistant.

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