Last week the members of SLA@Simmons took a trip to Worcester to visit the University of Massachusetts Medical Library. Located within the hospital, the library serves the general public, clinicians, and UMass Medical School. We spent our first hour chatting over refreshments with the librarians on staff. Due to the scope of the needs of the patrons, the staff boasts a variety of services: from clinical and educational off-site visits, consultations with clinicians on early morning rounds at the UMass hospital, to supervising the public desk area, organizing symposiums, contributing to hospital and university publications, and running the archives; the demands of serving both an educational and public institution require pretty much any skill you can imagine a librarian needing to have.

After touring the library, we learned a bit more about the entry level fellowship currently offered to recent MLS graduates: The two-year fellowship provides structured, hands-on training to guide the fellow toward a professional career in academic medical librarianship. More information can be found here. (The National Library of Medicine also holds similar fellowships!)

We hope to have Meredith Solomon, the Education & Outreach Coordinator for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine/New England Region visit our Boston campus in the fall in order to discuss fellowships and opportunities like these:

National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Region

MAHSLIN (Massachusetts Health Sciences Library Network) Annual Conference

• May 1, 2015
• Massachusetts Medical Society
• Waltham, MA
• $40 – Conference and first year membership ($12.50 for membership only)

NAHSL (North Atlantic Health Sciences Libraries)

• Student Membership is FREE
• Annual Conference: October 18-20, Providence, RI, Omni Hotel

If you're interested in Medical Librarianship, these are a great way to get involved right away!

**Additionally SLIS students with an interest in Scientific Data Management are encouraged to register for the University of Massachusetts and New England Librarian e-Science Symposium to be held April 9. The symposium agenda aligns nicely with the topics that were covered in the LIS532G Scientific Data Management class offered at Simmons this past fall. Registration is FREE, but space is limited.**

Thanks so much to all the Simmons students who joined us last week, and to all the wonderful librarians at the UMass Medical Library-- we thank you for your enthusiasm and graciously taking the time to visit with us.