Sister Libraries Initiative

General Description
ICS Sister Libraries Initiative was designed as a model of multi-library support for 2 selected international libraries. This multi-library support relationship differs from traditional sister library models by additional use of technology for information exchange, document delivery, training, continuing education, and communications. The MLA Board granted permission for the committee to approach software and journal vendors, humanitarian organizations, governmental agencies for fund-raising to support these two libraries. The project benefits have gone both ways: ICS members and their libraries benefited from this project, as well as the two chosen sister libraries.

From 1999- April 2003, the Sister Library Initiative worked with the Medical Research Library of Latvia, and the Holberton Hospital Medical Library in St. John’s, Antigua in the Caribbean.

ICS Sister Libraries

LATVIA
The Sister Library Initiative selected the Medical Research Library of Latvia. It is located in Latvia's capital - Riga. This library serves as the National Medical Library of Latvia. The library's URL is http://www.mzb.lv, and it includes an English version. The Medical Research Library of Latvia coordinates eight branch libraries throughout Latvia.

Medical Research Library of Latvia
The Latvian contact is Velta Poznaka, Library Director.
Email: Velta.poznaka@lmb.gov.lv
URL: http://www.lmb.gov.lv/HOMEPAGE1.HTM

ANTIGUA
Holberton Hospital is central to the health system, since it is the only public acute care health institution on the island of Antigua. General and specialist services are provided in medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, radiology, and pathology. In addition, private sector or foreign specialists provided services in otolaryngology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, neurology, and radiology. In 1995, there were 4,271 discharges from the general hospital; the average length of stay was 8 days. The hospital was damaged by the 1995 hurricane, and its bed component was reduced to 135 beds from 200 beds in 1991. Plans are under way to build a 200-bed acute care hospital to replace Holberton Hospital.

This library serves medical students, nursing students, doctors, nurses, paramedics affiliated with the hospital, as well as patients and the general public. This library has outdated library collections and physical facilities which are in great need of upgrading.

NOTE: The Mount St. John's Medical Center Library relies heavily on donations of books and journals in order to enhance and keep current the library's print collection. If you would like to see a list of needed items click HERE. To donate items to the library please contact the director, Glendine Smith (contact information beliow)

The major accomplishments of this program included:

• Providing DOCLINE setup, installation of Ariel software, and establishing a vast network of US and Canadian libraries to give free Interlibrary Loans. A total of 1,920 ILLs have been donated to the two libraries thus far.
• Providing Antigua its first computer, and NLM providing Antigua its second computer.
• Organizing over 100 US and Canadian libraries to donate books and journals to both libraries (over 5,800 items to Latvia, and over 1,400 items to Antigua).
• Establishing a mechanism for free shipping from two key US cities, to both libraries.
  

  -For Latvia: Partnering with the Latvian Welfare Organization in Milwaukee and Cleveland for shipping the books and journals from the US to the Latvian library. These two Latvian Welfare Organizations received the books and journals in the mail, repacked them, and paid for shipping them to Latvia.

  -For Antigua: Partnering with an Antiguan citizen who arranged for free airlifts of the materials from Southern Florida to Antigua.

• Soliciting support from library vendors to provide products, money, databases, and obtaining these databases for Latvia - MD Consult, STAT!Ref, UpToDate, and obtaining these databases for Antigua- UpToDate, STAT!Ref, and 3 Ebsco databases.
• Soliciting MLA institutional membership for the two libraries for 2 years. MLA approved this.
• Improving access to health information in both countries through the resources above, and increasing physicians’ awareness and use of library services.
• As a separate motion, which was approved by the MLA Board, permission was granted to raise funds for Glendine Smith (Library Director of the Antiguan Library) and Velta Poznaka (Library Director of the Latvian Library) to attend MLA in May 2004.

More information on this program can be found at these websites:

• The Latvian Library’s description - http://www.mzb.lv/sister-l-p.htm
• Paper presented at MLA on this program - http://qcom.etsu.edu/medlib/sislib/frame.htm

What happens from this point forward?

This program ended in April 2003, but at the same time, 2 libraries have stepped forward to establish library-to-library Sister Library Programs with the two libraries.

The Coastal AHEC Library in Wilmington, North Carolina has become the Sister Library of the Latvian library. Donna Flake is the primary contact. The website of the Coastal AHEC Library is http://ahecweb/library, and Donna Flake’s email is Donna.Flake@coastalahec.org.

The Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library of the University of South Alabama in Mobile has become the Sister Library for the Antiguan library. Ellen Sayed is the primary contact. The website of the Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library is http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/, and Ellen Sayed’s email is esayed@jaguar1.usouthal.edu.

Sister Library Committee

Committee Members: 

• Vicki Croft
  Washington State University
  Pullman, WA
  (Chair 1999-2001)
• Donna Flake
  Coastal AHEC
  Wilmington, NC
  (Chair 2001-2003)
• Avril Reid
  Caribbean Epidemiology Center, CAREC, Pan American Health Organization
  Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies
  (Chair of Antiguan Subcommittee)
• Janet Fisher
  East Tennessee State University
  Johnson City, TN
• Eve-Marie Lacroix
  National Library of Medicine
  Bethesda, MD
• Livija Carlson
  University of Minnesota
  St. Paul, MN
• Daniel Dollar
  Yale School of Medicine
  New Haven, CT
• Diane Ebro
  Stillwater, OK
• Leslie Mackler
  Moses Cone Health System Library
  Greensboro, NC
• Ms. Obianuju Mollel
  Edmonton, Canada
• Lenny Rhine
  University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Justin Robertson
  Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library,
  University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
• Barbara Ruelle
  Emory University, Atlanta, GA
• Ellen Sayed
  Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library,
  University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
• Jan Willis
  National Library of Medicine
  Bethesda, MD

Words of thanks from the Library Directors:

Velta Poznaka, Library Director of the Medical Research Library of Latvia, writes:

We are very glad and proud that now we can offer qualitative and up to date information, new databases and so many more medical journals and books to our users – the medical professionals of Latvia. Now in our library, health care specialists can get the needed information more quickly and more easily. The number of refusals has considerably decreased. When materials ordered through ILL arrive in just 2 – 4 days, it is very exciting to see the eyes of our library’s users wide open in surprise. All of this has given feelings of pride and a greater sense of professionalism to the librarians at the Medical Research Library of Latvia. The library’s prestige has been raised in the medical community of Latvia.

We were swelling with pride when Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga was invited to the White House recently, and together with your president George Bush, spent time discussing safety in the World. All people on the Earth, which is so huge and at the same time so woundable, need friends. Can we measure the friendship by the amount of money donated, or the number of books or databases? Each time when we take a look at the books, journals or we tell about databases, we with thankfulness and fondness are thinking about people, who have worked so hard and so unselfishly to help our library. I suppose that before the year 1999, many of you did not know of Latvia. You have helped us to change our library’s life. I would like to tell the world that somewhere far away from USA, on other side of the ocean, is a small library where people love and respect the wonderful members of the Sister Library Committee, the MLA membership, and all those librarians who have extended the hand of friendship. We are thankful for the tremendous and incredible job you have done, for spreading goodwill and for sharing knowledge. There is a place here in Latvia where you will be welcome anytime.”

Glendine Smith, Library Director of the Holberton Hospital writes:

"I am very grateful and honored that you have so graciously adopted the Holberton Hospital Medical Library.

Over the past months we have received and achieved so much. Among other things we have received 2 Computers, Printer, Internet Connections, database and Ariel software for quick and efficient delivery of document. We now see an increase in our membership, walk-in users and visitors. I am very pleased to say that because of your assistance, the library is now more user-friendly.

A world of thanks to Ms. Avril Reid for selecting us as one of the two needy libraries in the world, and for taking time out of her busy schedule to travel to Antigua to set up the new computer and to train me in DOCLINE, database and email. I am truly grateful for this.

A special thank you is also extended to Mrs. Agnes Meeker for working so diligently in arranging free delivery of books and Journals from Patrick Air Force Base to Antigua and specially delivered to the Medical Library.

I am overwhelmed when I see not only the Physicians, Nurses, and Para medicals, but also other categories of staff using the facilities, because of the programs that have been put in place.

The other joy I feel is that of self-sufficiency. It gives me a sense of satisfaction when I can go straight to the system and retrieve relevant and accurate information in a timely manner; and to hear the Users say 'This is just what I wanted.'

I am also grateful for the exposure in using Docline, PubMed and other databases. With the opening of the new hospital I feel more confident and competent in the dissemination of information. I have achieved so much in one day that would have made my hours longer.

Not only am I happy and delighted about all the changes, but also appreciative of this commendable gesture extended to us by you the Sister Library Members. With a heart filled with gratitude I say thank-you."

Celebration in Latvia applauds MLA’s
Successful Sister Library Initiative (July 3, 2003)

There was a gala celebration of the program with Latvia on July 3, 2003 in the Latvian Library in Riga. The celebration was organized by Velta Poznaka, the Library Director of the Medical Research Library of Latvia. Donna Flake, chair of the program for the last 1 ½ years attended too. Also in attendance were representatives from the American Embassy in Latvia, top Latvian government officials, representatives from these US based organizations- The American Latvian Association, the Milwaukee Latvian Welfare Association, the Cleveland Latvian Welfare Association, and the Latvian Physicians and Dental Group. Additionally, physicians and librarians from Riga, Latvia attended. Representatives from all these groups spoke and said that the program has been a tremendous success. The spirit of goodwill, friendship, and warmth was palpable in the air!

Latvian American Groups That Continue to Support the Medical Research Library of Latvia

The Latvian Welfare Auxiliary of Milwaukee continues to receive books and journals from US medical Libraries and ship them to Latvia. The Latvian Physicians and Dentists Association has published a number of articles in their newsletter, LAIKS, and is supporting the project, and the American Latvian Association has given their support.