Gemma Siemensma | HLA Convenor

It is exciting to be in 2022 with life getting back to some semblance of normality. HLA continue to tick off priorities and we eagerly seek input from our members to ensure we are speaking with a unified voice for health libraries. Please review the below and provide feedback:

The draft Guidelines for Australian Health Libraries – 5th edition https://hla.alia.org.au/draft-hla-guidelines-automated-searches/ are now available for review.

The new HLA website https://hla.alia.org.au/ was released recently – please look over it and send any feedback and comments to our webmaster Rob: Rob.Penfold@health.qld.gov.au

Our online events have kicked off again and we encourage you to attend, learn new skills and grow as health information specialists. Add these dates to your calendar and register early to avoid missing out:

May 4th & 24th - Citation analysis workshops (SOLD OUT – held over from 2021)

May 12th – Informal networking event. Zoom details will be on e-list.

May 24^th – Search design for systematic searching (2^nd session). https://www.alia.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=HLA0008B

June 8th – HLA Awards – updates and Q&A. https://www.alia.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=HLA0010A

June 9th & 16th - Identifying Unpublished Trial Data: Trial Registers, Clinical Study Reports and Other Information Sources. https://www.alia.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=HLA0011A

Also to come…

More informal networking events
Advocacy - lunchtime session
Artificial intelligence - lunchtime session
Library spaces – lunchtime session
Visual Design for Beginners course
Searching workshops – with national and internal speakers
A small face to face conference and networking event on the east coast in November if possible! (Factor it in to your budgets and planning)

One of the things I value most about health libraries is the amazing professional networks (and friendships) that I have made. There are many health library related Communities of Practice that are driven by passionate health librarians and library technicians. Details are listed below so make contact if you are interested in growing your own network and learning from your peers:

Are you a Manager? Join the Australian Health Library Managers Collaborative – contact Cheryl.Hamill@health.wa.gov.au
Are you a Hospital Librarian? Join the Hospital Librarians’ CoP – contact Keren.Moskal@monashhealth.org (please note this is group is suitable for mid-career librarians and non-managers. Managers are encouraged to join the Australian Health Library Managers Collaborative)
Are you a Library Technician? Join the Health Library Technicians Community of Practice Group – contact Helen.Rowe@monashhealth.org

The HLA Executive is also looking to expand as we continue to work through our strategic priorities. In particular we are after people who might be keen to look after our social media channels, help with our professional development / events, maintain our archives, someone with design skills, an early career health librarian, someone to offer university sector insights, librarians from states not already covered (ACT, SA, NT, TAS) and anyone who wants to contribute to the wonderful health library sector. If you are keen please email gemma.siemensma@bhs.org.au with a brief paragraph about yourself and what you feel you can bring to the HLA Executive. Don’t forget to include your personal ALIA membership number too.

Have a fabulous year and may we meet in person soon.