A few weeks back, I had an opportunity to attend the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) meeting in San Diego. I particularly like the meeting because there are real-life presentations from institutions working on interesting network, education, library, and information technology problems and projects. All in all, I probably attended around 10 presentations in a one day format. In light of recent Facebook data issues, the most compelling presentation by far was on the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The GDPR is, simply put, an EU regulation on individual data protection and privacy that goes into effect on May 25. It aims to give control of personal data back to citizens. This will have a major effect on all European and foreign companies holding the data of EU citizens. Even England, with its Brexit status, has agreed to enforce and adhere to the new regulation. GDPR compliance will be strictly enforced, with penalties equaling 4 percent of worldwide revenue or 20 million euros, whichever is higher.

The presentation I attended was by a representative of a major European publisher, and it was obvious they were taking the new regulation very seriously. Although the GDPR contains more specifics on how companies will collect, protect, store, and destroy personal data than can be addressed in this column, here are a few key points: Companies that collect personal data must explain what data they intend to collect and why. All personal data a user provides must be available and portable to that user. There are extensive sections on the rights of the consumer. And because the law protects individuals in the EU even when their data is gathered and used elsewhere, the regulation will affect publishers, banks, search engines, universities, tech companies, etc., and will have broad implications for any entity doing business with the 28 EU countries.

If you want to learn more, you can visit the GDPR public portal, read Nitasha Tiku’s overview in WIRED magazine, “Europe’s New Policy Law Will Change the Web, and More“, or simply search the term “GDPR.” Facebook indicated recently that it plans to comply with the GDPR’s data privacy rules, and not just with GDPR “controls and settings.”

Explore immersive worlds of virtual reality at the HS/HSL Innovation Space! Our new HTC Vive VR headset puts you up close with human anatomy, molecular visualizations, underwater experiences, the physics of space, and more.

Stop by the iSpace during VR walk-in hours, weekdays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Staff will be on hand to strap you in and guide you through this emerging technology.

See our VR guide for more information.

Take a break from reality and slice up some virtual fruit salad! The HS/HSL’s Innovation Space is hosting a Fruit Ninja VR study break from May 7 through May 16.

The top score will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Second and third place winners will earn $25 gift cards. To enter, take a screenshot of your high score and post it on social media (Twitter/Facebook) with the hashtag #HSHSLSTUDYBREAK.

Drop by to get your game on between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

The HS/HSL is proud to introduce the UMB Data Catalog, a searchable and browsable collection of records describing datasets generated by UMB researchers. The UMB Data Catalog promotes research collaboration and data sharing by facilitating the discovery of datasets that may be otherwise hard to find or unavailable from data repositories. Rather than functioning as a repository to store data, the Data Catalog provides information about datasets, including a description of the dataset, keywords, file format and size, access rights, and links to associated articles. With the UMB Data Catalog, researchers can describe their data and make it discoverable, but they are not required to share their data. Instead, the Catalog allows users to request data access through an author, an administrator, or a repository. By allowing researchers to identify common research interests and by supporting the sharing and reuse of research data, the UMB Data Catalog has the capacity to promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

The University of Maryland, Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HS/HSL), is a member of the Data Catalog Collaboration Project (DCCP), along with New York University (NYU); the University of Pittsburgh; the University of Virginia; the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and Duke University. Members run their own installations of the Data Catalog, developed by NYU, but work together to share and improve system design, content curation, and outreach efforts.

The HS/HSL thanks the researchers who have contributed to the UMB Data Catalog during its initial development phase.

• Sergei P. Atamas, MD, PhD, School of Medicine
• Peter Doshi, PhD, School of Pharmacy
• Corey Shdaimah, LLM, PhD, School of Social Work
• Jay Unick, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work

Help us build the UMB Data Catalog! If you are interested in submitting a dataset, have a suggestion for additional datasets to add, or need more information about the project, please Contact Us.

The UMB Data Catalog was developed by the University of Maryland, Health Sciences and Human Services Library in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under cooperative agreement number UG4LM012340 with the University of Maryland, Health Sciences and Human Service Library.

As the academic year comes to a close, we would like our graduating students to know what resources they can use after graduation.

• Journals and Databases: Alumni retain access to HS/HSL’s electronic resources for 2 months after graduation. After that, you will need to visit the Library to use the onsite computers.
• RefWorks: If you have saved references in RefWorks, consider migrating them to a freely available tool so you do not lose them when your access expires 2 months after graduation. Two free options, Mendeley and Zotero, are described on our Other Citation Managers page.
• Free Databases: Once your electronic access expires, you will still have access to public databases for literature, drug information, and more. A few examples are highlighted below. Additionally, be sure to investigate what resources you have through your new workplace and any professional organizations of which you are a member.

The HS/HSL wishes you all the best in your future endeavors!

Four portable monitors have been placed around the Library. Feel free to move them to any table, study carrel, or study room you desire. There are two additional monitors that have been fixed in place, one on the 3rd and one on the 4th floor on the Greene Street side of the building.

To honor the memory of John Crawford, whose book collection founded the Library, the HS/HSL Historical Collections is opening its doors on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hosted by the new historical librarian and archivist, Tara Wink, all are welcome and encouraged to join us to experience some of the treasures for yourself.

Stop in to see volumes from the Crawford Collection, materials documenting the exceptional history of the University of Maryland Baltimore, and letters from the Walter/Reed James Carroll Collection from the fourth U.S. Army Yellow Fever Commission. Additionally, two exhibits showcasing the University’s influence in World War I and the 1918 influenza epidemic will be exhibited. Come and page through historical volumes, such as De Medicina, published in 1497.

Light refreshments will be served.  The Historical Collections is located on the 5th floor of the HS/HSL in Room 503. For additional information, questions, or to donate items to the collections, please contact Tara Wink, twink@hshsl.umaryland.edu or 410-706-5048.

Dr. John Crawford and his Medical Library:

Dr. John Crawford passed away on May 9, 1813 after a short illness. After his death, the Faculty of Physic of the University of Maryland recognized the educational value of his collection and purchased his books from Eliza Godefroy, Crawford’s daughter, for $500.  This collection became the foundation of the school’s medical library, the first in America.

Dr. John Crawford was born in Ireland on May 3, 1746. He was educated at Trinity College of Dublin before starting his medical career as the surgeon on the Marquis of Rockingham of the East India Company. In 1779, Dr. Crawford was appointed surgeon to the naval hospital on Barbados, where he served until 1782, when a bout of ill health caused him to go to England. Once his health improved, he resumed his position in Barbados until accepting a new job as Surgeon-Major with the Dutch government at Demerara in 1790. Another health issue caused him to return to England in 1794.  While in Europe, he completed his MD degree from the University of Leyden. In 1796, Dr. Crawford moved to Baltimore, MD.

While in Baltimore, Dr. Crawford introduced the practice of vaccinating for smallpox in the summer of 1800 and was active in establishing the Baltimore Dispensary, which opened in 1801.  That same year, Dr. Crawford, a long standing Mason, was elected to the position of Grand Master of the Masonic Order in Maryland, a position he held until his death.

In 1807, Crawford published a series of works on the “Theory and Application to the Treatment of Disease.” In these publications, he outlined his theory that diseases were caused by animalculae (insects or worms). This theory was not well received by the medical community and was ultimately rejected by his colleagues.  Undeterred, Dr. Crawford continued to study this theory until his death.  In 1811, he commissioned a treatise entitled, “A Lecture Introductory to a Course of Lectures on the Cause, Seat and Cure of Diseases.  Proposed to be delivered in the City of Baltimore.” This treatise would become the foundation for the course of lectures he gave at his home in the fall of 1811. The following year, Crawford became Lecturer on Natural History at the University of Maryland Baltimore.

Unfortunately, Crawford’s theories on contagion were never accepted during his lifetime and he died a poor man, with the exception of his extensive library, believed to be the biggest medical library in Baltimore. It is unclear exactly how large the collection was when purchased for the University of Maryland, but estimates range from 300 to 450 volumes.  Today the collection includes 569 volumes of influential medical works.

Lauren Wheeler, MLIS, joined the HS/HSL in March as the Information Services Librarian. She comes to us from Lansing Community College in Lansing, Michigan, where she worked as a Reference and Instruction Librarian. She received her Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. As the Information Services Librarian, Lauren will work to provide expert search services to students, faculty, and staff. She is excited to learn more about the UMB community.

April Wright, MLS, joined the HS/HSL in April as the All of Us National Program Community Engagement Coordinator. She is responsible for working with public libraries to build programs and awareness around the All of Us National Research Program and health information literacy. She has worked both in and on behalf of public libraries and is active in various community literacy initiatives.

Publications & Presentations

Everly Brown, MLIS and Shanell Stephens, BA, co-presented “We Want to Hear from You!” at the USMAI Access Services Annual Meeting in Columbia, MD on April 12, 2018.

Emily F. Gorman, MLIS, AHIP, co-presented “Mortal or Moodle? A Comparison of In-Person vs. Online Information Literacy Instruction” at the Distance Library Services Conference in San Antonio on April 13, 2018.