Office of the Director
The Office of the Executive Director of Libraries, headed by Rajia Tobia, A.M.L.S., AHIP, Executive Director of Libraries, is responsible for overall planning, budget and personnel administration, building maintenance, staff development, and official communication with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and external institutions and organizations.
Collection Resources
The Collection Resources division, led by John Weed, M.S.I.S., Head of Collection Resources, is responsible for print and online journal and book acquisitions, electronic resource licensing and management, consortium participation, cataloging, and binding.
Library and Outreach Services
The Library and Outreach Services division, led by Jonquil Feldman, MALS, AHIP, Director of Briscoe Library and Outreach Services, coordinates services to assist library users and the community in finding and managing health sciences information resources efficiently.
Access Services, headed by Chris Gaspard, MLIS, Head of Access Services and Interlibrary Loan, staffs the Circulation and Library Services Desks and keeps the library open 110 hours per week. Library users come to the Circulation Desk to register for borrowing privileges and off-campus access, check out or renew library materials, add money to their print or photocopy accounts, pay fines and fees for Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery services, and pick up passwords for use with guest computers. Access Services staff are responsible for reshelving library materials and generally ensuring an inviting environment in which to study and do research. The Document Delivery service provides copies of library-owned materials in print or electronic format. Interlibrary Loan staff obtain materials not available in the Library’s collection from other libraries and also loans or provides copies of materials in our collection to other libraries.
Education and Information Services, headed by Katie Prentice, MLIS, AHIP, Head of Educational Services, assists library users in finding and using resources more efficiently. On-Call librarians provide reference and research assistance in person, on the telephone, by email or through instant messaging. Support is provided for users of computer-based learning programs, digital scanners, and resources for hand-held mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. A fee-based computer search service is available for those who need the expertise of a librarian to compile a comprehensive search of the literature. Librarians provide a variety of workshops on resources including PubMed, OvidSP MEDLINE, EndNote, RefWorks, creating and presenting research posters, resources for mobile devices, professional applications of social media such as Facebook, and collaboration tools such as Google Docs. In addition to regularly scheduled classes in the library, workshops can be offered by request at all campus locations and tailored to a group’s needs. Individual consultations are also available by appointment.
Outreach Services, headed by Peg Seger, MA, MLIS, Head of Outreach Services, is anchored by an annual outreach subcontract with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region (NN/LM SCR) and by the Circuit Librarian Health Information Network (CLHIN) program, begun in 1989. The NN/LM SCR outreach subcontract supports outreach activities such as participating in health fairs; providing instruction on using PubMed, Medline Plus, and other health related databases to health professionals and the lay public; and demonstrating tools for accessing health information at professional meetings and events. The community health information blog Staying Well Connected is also coordinated by Outreach Services.
The Library provides the following activities: participating in health fairs; providing instruction on using PubMed, Medline Plus, and other health related databases to health professionals and the lay public; and demonstrating tools for accessing health information at professional meetings and events. Staff offer accredited continuing education (CE) courses for nurses and pharmacists to provide skills to use databases and other information resources.
The CLHIN program provides information services to member hospitals and clinics in South Texas that have no other access to libraries or medical literature. Services include database searches on MEDLINE and other databases, document delivery and consultation on information management.
Click here to find out how you can contact library staff for assistance or to request a class or consultation.
Library Technology and Historical Collections
Library Technology and Historical Collections, led by Luke Rosenberger, M.L.I.S., manages the library’s computer systems, Web site, technical infrastructure, the Health Science Center’s Digital Archive, and the Libraries’ historical collection, programs, and services. Division staff also consult on issues related to scholarly communication.
The Special Collections section, led by Anne Comeaux, M.L.S., is responsible for the University Archives, the P.I. Nixon Medical Historical Library, and the UT Health Science Center’s records management program. The P.I. Nixon Medical Historical Library has nearly 5,000 books on the history of the health sciences. The records management program updates the Health Science Center Records Retention Schedule (RRS) and trains staff in records management practices. Records Management Representatives appointed in each department work with the library to protect vital records and to ensure the timely disposition of records based on the retention periods designated in the RRS.
The UTHSC Digital Archive, headed by the Digital Archive Team includes digital collections, historical materials from the P.I. Nixon Medical Historical Library, theses and dissertations from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and documents relating to the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. The records management program updates the Health Science Center Records Retention Schedule (RRS) and trains staff in records management practices.
The Web Team is responsible for design, development, and maintenance of all Health Science Center Libraries web sites, the staff intranet, and the web portions of the Digital Archive. The Web Team also offers usability consulting services to other departments on campus.
The Systems section, led by Eric Willman, M.S.I.S., is responsible for the library computer systems including library servers, software, hardware and peripherals for the public and staff, and for printing services. Library Systems staff install application software and maintain operating systems; assist library users with computer equipment and software; and are also responsible for the proper licensing of library software. Systems staff provide technical support to the public who are accessing library services from outside the library.
Tags: Briscoe Library, services
