SI-ASB-2009: National Library of Medicine


National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bldg 38, Bethesda, Maryland 20894 www.nlm.nih.gov	Projects 3
The National Library of Medicine (NLM), on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, is the world's largest medical library. The Library collects materials and provides information and research services in all areas of biomedicine and health care. explores the uses of computer and communication technologies to improve the organization and use of biomedical information supports a national network of local and regional medical libraries educates users about available sources of information so that they may conduct their own research concerning medical topics acts as a supplemental resource after local, regional, and other national resources have been contacted creates databases and databanks for public use provides grants Home of MedlinePlus and PubMed
Photos and Comments

I spent my week organizing and analyzing visitor emails and survey feedback regarding a consumer health website. People were very welcoming and willing to offer professional guidance/mentorship.

My experience reinforced my existing interests in federal, health sciences, and systems librarianship. NLM was a terrific host organization.

Projects

Analysis of NIHSeniorHealth Customer Emails and Survey Responses

Intern: Andy Hickner

Code: NLM-02

Interns
1

Review NIHSeniorHealth Emails and Survey Responses to provide NLM staff with suggestions for changes to the website. Student would identify, categorize and synthesize the following: suggestions for new topics; comments about page length; cComplaints about (lack of) search engine; comments about navigation; other frequent customer concerns. Project will require approximately 40 hours of effort. Timeframe covered by review will depend upon amount of data. Student will be provided emails and survey responses in Excel and will be expected to communicate summary findings as a Word document possibly including one or more charts or other illustrations. Project will help Library Operations prioritize our next steps for NIHSeniorHealth development. Student will work with Library Operation's Web & Information Management Unit staff.

Review of Congressional Appropriations Language for Policy Development, Office of the Director

Intern: Chrysta Meadowbrooke

Code: NLM-03

Interns
1

Review reports of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations over a 20 year time period and compile language, recommendations, and encouragements directed at the National Library of Medicine. These reports were for many years in print only; now available online, the Office of the Director wants a comprehensive compilation of the relevant language from the reports of the Congressional Committees on Appropriations and, to the extent possible, a summary of steps taken to respond to Congressional interests. The intern who selects this project will work with the Assistant Director for Policy Development and under the direction of the Program Analyst for the Office of the Director.

Unmatched Projects

Analysis of MedlinePlus Go Local Search Logs

Code: NLM-01

Interns
1

Analyze MedlinePlus Go Local (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/golocal/index.html) search logs to provide NLM staff with information on what users are searching for in Go Local (at least if they use the search engine). Using Excel identify: 1. % of searches for different types of services (e.g. Health facilities physicians other health care providers health information) 2. Most frequently used search terms (top 50 or 100 depending on where there is a logical break) 3. If time identify most frequently searched for services such as dermatologists (combining several terms from search logs) Project will require approximately 40 hours of effort. The first part will validate findings from the small sample that participated in the American Customer Satisfactions Index Survey while parts 2 and 3 provide new detailed information to identify what users are looking for. Work with librarians and staff from MedlinePlus Go Local team.

The SI Alternative Spring Break is open to graduate students of the University of Michigan's School of Information. Undergraduates looking for Alternative Spring Break opportunities should look into the University of Michigan Alternative Spring Break program administered by U-M's Ginsberg Center.