MAC Messages Number 90:
November/December 2001

Message from the Chair
By Janice Kelly, MAC Chair

The cool sea breezes welcomed all to Ocean City, MD this October for the 2001 MAC annual meeting. As refreshing and relaxing as the location was, the meeting and CE's were stimulating. MAC members reported on their interesting projects in the contributed paper and poster sessions. We learned about PDA's in libraries. Wallace McLendon told us how PDA's evolved from an Ouch to an Ahah! Dr. Seth Robinson told us how medical residents use their PDA's to get organized, for ready reference, and to play! Dr. Bill Detmer told us we are headed towards a mobile knowledge and delivery environment. We also heard from Helen Colevins, Pat Thibodeau, Connie Schardt and Gabe Rios about providing support for handheld devices in the academic and hospital settings and, some of the issues and caveats we might face.

On Friday we heard Carol Jenkins' plans for her year as MLA president. Joanne Marshall and Keith Cogdill gave us advice on how to measure and report our value. Our panelists told use the value of getting involved in our institutions' culture and being involved in library-related groups such as MAC. And we learned what's new at NLM.

For those who missed coming to Ocean City, check the MAC website at http://www.cbil.vcu.edu/mac/events/2001/meeting.html for some of the speakers' slide presentations.

Ocean City wasn't all work. We enjoyed a lovely welcome reception, roundtable discussions and the awards banquet. Several MAC members received awards at the banquet. Join me in congratulating this year's award winners: MAC Librarian of the Year: Janice Kelly, Marguerite Abel Service Recognition Award: Lynn Eades and One-Person Library Recognition Award: Mary Alice Sherrard. There were many other awards bestowed on MAC members that evening. See Ann Duesing's article in this issue.

We had a busy business meeting. Election results were announced. Your new officers are:
Chair Elect - Russet Hambrick
Secretary - Patricia Vaughn
Nominee to the MLA Nominating Committee - Patricia Hinegardner.
Congratulations to all.

At the business meeting, Stella Seal and Steve Squires reported on the results of the recent MAC needs assessment. To follow up on the needs assessment, I am in the process of reconvening the strategic planning task force to review the results and to suggest ways we can make MAC more responsive to the needs of its members. If you are interested in serving on this task force, please let me know.

For a complete rundown of the meeting, see the minutes of the 2001 business meeting in this issue.

Before I close, I want to thank all the local arrangement and program committee members for an excellent meeting. Also thanks go to the MAC officers, committee members and chairs, Chapter Council representatives, task force members, and AHIP advisors for a very productive year. I look forward to working with you all in the coming year.

Now, jot down in your PDA the dates of the next annual MAC meeting - October 17-20, 2002 in Washington, DC. Also, read Jonathan Lord's article on the exciting possibilities for our 2003 meeting!!!

Go to the next article |
Return to the Table of Contents | Return to the top