Interested in research? Apply for the Jocelyn Rankin Memorial Scholarship!

The Jocelyn Rankin Memorial Scholarship assists Southern Chapter members in gaining needed skills and knowledge to perform, implement, and promote research projects within their institutions, communities, and across the field of medical librarianship. The scholarship honors Dr. Jocelyn Rankin, who founded SC/MLA’s Research Committee.

The amount awarded (not to exceed $500) can be used to defray expenses of a research-related continuing education course or workshop (e.g., tuition, travel, etc.). Preference will be given to courses sponsored by SC/MLA or MLA, however, the jury will consider courses sponsored by other organizations. Please review all scholarship policies and guidelines.

To apply for this award, email the application to Randall Watts (wattsg@musc.edu), Chair of the Honors & Awards Committee, no later than 30 days prior to course/workshop start date.

After the Annual Meeting, the awardees will write a brief report about the course/workshop for publication in the SC/MLA newsletter and blog.

SC/MLA Annual Meeting: Details Coming Soon!

The SC/MLA Annual Meeting is only 2 months away! The planning committee is finalizing details, and soon the registration page will be up and the CEs will be posted. The local arrangements team is scheduling tours and other activities so you can make the most of your visit to beautiful Greenville, SC! If you submitted a paper/poster abstract, you will be notified of your acceptance (hopefully!) by August 12. So much to look forward to, so stay tuned via the SC/MLA Blog, Southern Salutations!

Apply for the Library and Information Science (LIS) Student Award!

If you are a student member of the chapter, please consider applying for the Library and Information Science (LIS) Student Award. This $250 award is designed to encourage LIS students to attend the SC/MLA Annual Meeting by helping to offset registration and travel costs. Two awards will be granted per year.


To apply, email the LIS Student Award application and letter of recommendation (on institutional letterhead) from a LIS instructor or Health Sciences Librarian to, Randall Watts (wattsg@musc.edu) Chair of the Honors & Awards Committee by the September 1st deadline. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited library school within the region, and be a current member of SC/MLA.

After the Annual Meeting, the awardees will write a brief report about the meeting for publication in the SC/MLA newsletter and blog. Good luck!

Member Spotlight: Sandra G. Franklin

Every month, we would like to take a moment to learn more about a fellow librarian and SC/MLA member.  For July*, we would like you to meet Sandra, SC/MLA's 2015 Academic Librarian of the Year.  

Name: Sandra G. Franklin

SC/MLA Member Since: 1983

Officer/Committee Positions:   Too many committees to list, so here are the highlights!

• Southern Chapter
• Co-Chair, SC & MAC Joint Conference and Co-Chair Local Arrangements, 2006
• Chair of Strategic Planning, 2006-2007
• Chair of Nominating Committee, 2005-2006
• Chair, 2004-2005
• Chair-Elect/Program Chair, 2003-2004
• Secretary/Treasurer, 1994-1995
• Medical Library Association
• Academy of Health Information Professionals, Distinguished Level, since 1997
• National Program Committee, Atlanta Local Assistance Committee Chair, 2015-2018
• Board of Directors, 2013-2016 (Secretary 2014-2016)
• Search Committee to Appoint MLA Executive Director, 2014
• National Program Committee, MLA Austin,TX, 2012-2015
• Nominating Committee, 2008-2009 officer elections
• Leadership and Management Section, Treasurer, 2007-2011
• Credentialing Committee, Member 2001-2004; Chair 2004-2005

Disaster Apps for the Well-Prepared

What my Minnesotan eyes see during Florida's daily afternoon rainstorm

Considering that hurricane season is well under way in the southeast already and my hurricane go-bag is still only halfway packed (I’m from Minnesota originally and a blizzard kit doesn’t translate well to Florida), I thought I would interrupt our regularly scheduled tech tips to look at some interesting apps for disaster preparedness, for you or your library! 

Of course, if you want to use these apps in the midst of a natural disaster like a hurricane, you are going to need some way to keep your phone or tablet charged in the middle of a power outage, so feel free to take a moment and shop for external batteries and emergency generators before continuing.

SC/MLA Annual Meeting Call for Papers and Posters: Deadline extended to July 1!

Did you procrastinate on submitting a paper or poster abstract for this year's annual meeting? Or do you have a late-breaking project that you would like to share? Then today is your lucky day because the abstract submission deadline for meeting papers and posters has been extended to July 1!

This year's theme is Re-Think IT: The Evolving Landscape of Libraries.

Proposals should relate to:

• Innovative services, programs, or technology
• Transforming & re-designing space
• Research & data management
• Assessing and evaluating services
• Community outreach & information literacy programs
• Patient care, improving outcomes & patient safety

Visit the meeting's Call for Papers/Posters website for more details and submission instructions. Please direct questions to Gregg Stevens at stevens_ga@mercer.edu (papers) or Kelsey Leonard at KLeonard@mc.utmck.edu (posters).

Research Awards for SC/MLA Annual Meeting 2016

By J. Michael Lindsay, Chair, Southern Chapter Research Committee

The date for submitting poster and paper abstracts for Southern Chapter will be upon us before you know it!  As you are considering what to present, don’t forget about the Research Awards!  The first prize winner for research papers is $300 and the first prize winner for posters is $200.  Help advance the research progress of the Southern Chapter and maybe even win a prize by submitting a research-oriented paper or poster for consideration.