Real Health: The Importance of Professionals in Today’s Information Climate
Substance Abuse Librarians & Information Specialists and Association of Mental Health Librarians,
May 3 – 6, 2017, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
For the 2nd year in a row, SALIS partnered the Association of Mental Health Librarians to present a combined conference.
Presentations and posters covered a range of multidisciplinary subjects on the conference theme “Real Health: The Importance of Professionals in Today’s Information Climate.”
With an increased debate between “real information” and “fake news”, the information professional’s work of providing unbiased and accurate information to their community, has become even more vital. Uncertainty in the future of our library budgets and resources can cloud our intended missions and goals.
Presentations considered how the work of information professionals needs to continue to address health information concerns, including substance abuse/use and mental health, in an era of uncertainty and challenges.
For the 2nd year in a row, SALIS partnered the Association of Mental Health Librarians to present a combined conference. Presentations and posters covered a range of multidisciplinary subjects on the conference theme “Real Health: The Importance of Professionals in Today’s Information Climate.” With an increased debate between “real information” and “fake news”, the information professional’s work of providing unbiased and accurate information to their community, has become even more vital. Uncertainty in the future of our library budgets and resources can cloud our intended missions and goals.
This year’s conference featured a special two-part power session “Mindfulness as Therapeutic Intervention,” by invited speakers Judson Brewer, MD, Director of Research; Nicholas Olendzki, PhD, Post-Doctoral Associate; and Madeleine Charney, MSLIS, Research Services Librarian, all from the University of Massachusetts. Presenters talked about how mindfulness is used as a therapeutic intervention in mental health and substance abuse treatment, with a group exercise of mindfulness! Multiple SALIS members presented “Creating a SALIS Legacy: Building an ATOD Archive with Knowledge for All,” an update on the SALIS/Internet Archive Digitization (Digs) Project.
Speakers from both AMHL and SALIS were featured in the program. Invited local speakers included:
- Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM, Boston University School of Public Health;
- Matthew Noe, Lamar Soutter Library, UMass Medical School; and
- Zlatina Kostova and Genvieve Kane Howse, UMass Medical School
View the full 2017 program. As always, SALIS greatly appreciates the support of its generous 2017 Sponsors and Exhibitors!
Hosts were Len Levin (University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA) and Sonja Mertz (Minnesota Prevention Resource Center). The two organizations convened for a joint conference on May 3-6 at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Worcester, MA. Attendees stayed at the Beechwood Hotel, near the meeting site, and enjoyed a tour of the American Antiquarian Society. as part of the conference program.
SALIS members may view the conference presentations HERE. For an archive of past SALIS Conferences please view HERE.