Supporting the Spectrum Scholarship Program: perspectives from the Northern California and Nevada Medical Library Group.

The immediate past presidents and current president of the Northern California and Nevada Medical Library Group write to raise awareness of the American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship Program, share their approach to supporting Scholars in their region, and encourage Medical Library Association (MLA) chapters and MLA at large to build stronger infrastructures to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color librarians who are in school and recently graduated.

Methodological Considerations for Auditory Training Interventions for Adults With Hearing Loss: A Rapid Review.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate literature on auditory training published since 2013. Method A rapid review or a streamlined approach to systematically identify and summarize relevant studies was performed. Selected health sciences databases were searched using a search strategy developed with the PICO (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome) framework. Studies eligible for inclusion had older adult participants with hearing loss and utilized technology-based auditory training in laboratory or home settings. Results The study quality of most studies was found to be low to moderate, with concentrations between low and moderate. Major issues were related to study design and reporting, such as the need for blinding and a control group, larger sample sizes, and a follow-up for long-term outcomes of auditory training interventions. Wide variability in training approaches, participant backgrounds (e.g., audiograms, hearing aid use), and outcome measures are also noted. Conclusions Evidence on the effectiveness of auditory training is mixed. Future research should include high-quality randomized controlled trials with representative populations; follow-up periods to study long-term effects; and exploration of behavioral, electrophysiological, and self-reported outcome measures. Recommendations for study designs and methodologies are also discussed.

Avocado toast and pot roast: exploring perceptions of generational communication differences among health sciences librarians.

OBJECTIVE: This research explored health sciences librarians' perceptions of intergenerational communication in the workplace. METHODS: The authors developed and sent a survey to health sciences librarians through email discussion lists from August 2018 to September 2018. A chi-square test was performed to determine whether one's length of employment as a librarian was associated with belief that age and/or generation impacts communication in the workplace. RESULTS: A total of 150 respondents from 5 countries completed the survey. There was no significant association between length of employment as a librarian and respondents' belief that age and/or generation impacts communication in the workplace. However, regardless of length of employment, most respondents indicated that generational differences do have an impact on communication in the workplace. Also, most respondents expressed interest in institutional initiatives to foster intergenerational communication. CONCLUSION: The authors found that health sciences librarians believe that differences among generations impact communication in the workplace. Librarians, managers, and library organizations should consider providing training and other opportunities for health sciences librarians to improve their intergenerational communication skills.

"Game on!" Teaching gamification principles for library instruction to health sciences information professionals using interactive, low-tech activities and design-thinking modalities.

BACKGROUND: Gamification is correlated with increased motivation and engagement of learners and is increasingly being incorporated into library instruction. Opportunities for librarians to learn and practice principles of gamification can be helpful for those desiring to incorporate gamification into instruction. This report describes the development and delivery of an interactive special content session at MLA '18, the 2018 Medical Library Association annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, focusing on principles of low-tech game design for health sciences library classroom instruction. CASE PRESENTATION: The special content session, titled "Design, Play, Learn: A Special Content Session to Design a Game for Database Instruction," was designed and delivered using multimodal instruction (e.g., flipped classroom, didactic component, active learning) that also incorporated principles of design thinking. A pre- and post-survey was given to all participants at the beginning and end of the session to measure confidence and desire to incorporate gamification into instruction and as a formative feedback indicator for instructors. Participants reported increased confidence and desire to use games for library instruction after participating in the session. A selection of games was uploaded to a shared content folder designed for course participants as an ongoing repository for ideas and communication. CONCLUSIONS: For librarians who are interested in incorporating principles of gamification into library instruction, attending a relatively short hands-on workshop can facilitate learning and confidence around prototyping and creating games for use in library instruction. We intend to improve upon the workshop and offer it again in additional contexts, based on direct observations of the session and participant feedback.