| Veterinary Medicine Library - U of I |
2010 no. 31 |
| Library Profile |
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| What is unique about your library?
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The collection. We’re the only library in the state
dedicated to collecting material on veterinary medicine and animal health. We
support the state’s only doctor of veterinary medicine training program. |
| What are the primary goals and objectives of your library? |
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| What cooperative efforts are you currently doing? |
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| Tell us a story about your library. |
A few years ago, I received a phone call from a Hollywood
set designer on location at a movie shoot in Arizona. The directors needed to
know what a western frontier veterinarian’s office might look like in the late
1800’s. We had some historical books with photographic plates from that time,
plus there were some good historical veterinary websites with visuals. I was
able to locate images of offices, instruments, operating rooms, etc., scanned
them and sent them to her via email. I didn’t hear anything back other than a
brief thank-you note. About a year later, I was watching the Russell Crowe
movie, 3:10 to Yuma, and there was
scene with a wounded man hauled into the veterinarian’s office for treatment. Sure
enough, there were the images and drawings I’d sent out to them. I stayed to
watch the credits, but we didn’t get a mention. Still, it was satisfying to see
the work we provided actually used in the scene. |
| If money were no object, what services would you add? |
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More human medicine resources. UIUC has identified several
new initiatives that will be focusing on expanding campus programs in health
and wellness. We depend on UI Chicago for support in that area now, but our access to their
clinical and evidence-based medical resources is severely restricted by
licensing agreements. I would like to have the funding to provide access to the
human medicine resources required of a major medical library.
Beyond adding resources, I'd like to find funding to digitize
and preserve the veterinary history of the state of Illinois. For example, there
were two colleges of veterinary medicine in Chicago in the early 1900's. Both
closed and very little historical record remains of their existence, their
graduates, or the schools' accomplishments. While the UIUC College of
Veterinary Medicine began in the late 1950's, we're already seeing a degradation
of the historical record. We need to acquire and preserve this information
before it's lost. |
| What is popular in your library? |
The course reserve collection is the most heavily used
resource in the library. Many of the classes have required reading in medical
textbooks that are not required purchases for the students. These are classics
in the field of small and large animal medicine, surgical techniques, disease
pathology, etc. |
| How does your library use online tools to connect to your users? |
Our online resources are essential to the educational programs and research efforts. Our communication with faculty and staff are almost exclusively electronic. Students still visit the library, but we’re seeing more and more communication possibilities with text messaging and other new social networking services. The Vet Med Library plans to incorporate the new technologies that are in demand. |
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Request a visit to your library Library of the Week Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes |
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