NSW Health Librarians Forum

Shifting Sands Through Innovation: the Qatar Experience.

Karen Joc

Business Development Manager

Softlink Australia

Digital Resources/Reference Librarian (The American University in Cairo)

Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 Digital Resources/Reference Librarian

The American University in Cairo (AUC) seeks a dynamic, experienced Digital Resources/Reference Librarian. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating the management of the Library’s digital/electronic resources. Specific duties include the coordination of a project to populate and implement a new electronic resources management system. He/she will also function as a member of the Reference Team as well as have some responsibilities for staff training and other duties as assigned including collection development.

more…)

Posted in Reference, Middle East, Electronic Resources Management, Digital Services Librarian, Middle East, United Arab Emirates, Library, Academic

Source: http://innopacusers.org/jobs/2007/05/30/digital-resourcesreference-librarian-the-american-university-in-cairo/

Supervisor - Learning Resources Services (Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) United Arab Emirates)

Monday, October 13th, 2007

Supervisor - Learning Resources Services (Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) United Arab Emirates)

This key position supervises the technical services department, coordinates system library policy and manages the III integrated library system to its maximum potential. The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) is a system of 14 colleges in 7 centres in the United Arab Emirates one of the most progressive and modern countries in the Middle East. We are the leading institution in the region and promote innovation in the development and delivery of all educational programs.(more…)Posted in Technical Services, Systems, Administration, Middle East, Acquisitions, Middle East, United Arab Emirates

Source: http://innopacusers.org/jobs/2007/05/30/digital-resourcesreference-librarian-the-american-university-in-cairo/

Reference Librarian (3n.o’s) US$48,000 plus Full Expatriate Package

An innovative and pioneering project, started jointly by an internationalmedical college in the United States of America and the Qatari governmentwill begin offering a six year Doctor of Medicine Degree. This will be thefirst American University to offer a degree of this type in a foreigncountry. The Qatar campus will adopt the same curriculum as used in theUnited States.

The Reference Librarian will be responsible for general reference service;assisting patrons in the use of electronic reference resources; presentinglectures and bibliographic instruction as part of the User EducationProgram; recommending additions to the library’s collections, both referenceand general; maintaining records of reference activities for reports, etc.;and, participating in programmatic elements of the National Library ofMedicine’s NN/LM (National Network of Libraries of Medicine.) Participatesin general Orientation activities. May elect to participate in otherlibrary functions such as the teaching portions of the User EducationProgram and other functions as they may become available. Participation oncommittees, teams, task forces, and involvement in special projects isexpected as deemed necessary or assigned by the supervisor, Director orAssociate Director of the Library. Must be flexible regarding hours, whichmay be altered occasionally as the need arises.

Applicants should possess a Masters degree in library and/or Informationscience from an accredited institution and an understanding of generallibrary procedures; excellent oral and written communication skills; shouldhave the ability to organize, prioritize, and be detail oriented, as wellas the ability to work with a diverse clientele.

3 Most Common Questions

• Did I have to cover?

• Could you drive?

• Could you drink?

The Ruling Family

The Al Thani family have been in the region since the 18th Century.

The Emir was appointed on 27th June 1995.

Heir Apparent

Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani

Prime Minister

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani

Qatar University

• College of Education by a decree from the Emir of Qatar in 1973.

• become the University of Qatar in 1977.• As of 2005 there are 5 colleges:

• College of Education, • College of Arts and Sciences• College of Shariaa and Islamic Studies• College of Engineering• College of Law and College of Business & Economics

1st Lady of Qatar

Official Website:http://www.mozahbintnasser.qa/

Catchphrase:

“today we plant

Seeds tomorrow we build

Frontiers”

Education City• Qatar Foundations Premier project• A multi Institutional campus for education,

research and technology• Its goal is to prepare graduates to take on

leadership roles in key professions• 5 leading US universities• Qatar Academy• Al Jazerra Children’s Channel• Learning Centre• Academic Bridge Program

The Universities

Carnegie Mellon QatarUndergraduate degrees in:

Business

Computer science

Texas A & M University QatarUndergraduate degrees in:

Chemical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

The UniversitiesVirginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar Offer courses in:Art Foundation Program CoursesGeneral Education, Electives and VCUQ-wide CoursesFashion Design CoursesGraphic Design CoursesInterior Design Courses

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarDegrees in

Liberal Arts and Science

WCMC-Q

• Established in 2001

• Joint Venture of Cornell University and the Qatar Foundation

• 1st intake of students enrolled in Pre-medical Program in 2002

• Branch of Weill Medical College in NY

• 1st time a US Medical degree has been offered outside the US

• WCMC-Q must provide equivalent medical degree standards to that of their NY counterparts

• First coeducational as well as medical university in Qatar

WCMC-Q’ Building

Facilities

Facilities

Faculty

Number of Faculty based in Doha

Pre-medical 28

Medical 32

Medical – voluntary 95

Pre-Medical Students

Enrollment for 2006 - 2007

2nd Year Pre-medical 35

1st Year Pre-medical 61

Foundation 18

Medical Students

Enrollment for 2006 - 2007

Class of 2008 (4th Year Medical) 16

Class of 2009 (3rd Year Medical) 17

Class of 2010 (2nd Year Medical) 27

Class of 2011 (1st Year Medical) 30

Medical Curriculum

Clerkships

Challenges of a Start Up

• No local support• Forming, Norming, Storming Performing• So many different backgrounds and ideas• Few had medical experience• The infrastructure was not in place• MacIntosh Environment• Developing Country• You didn’t perform the job you were hired to do

About DeLib

Mission

The Distributed eLibrary is a catalyst in the interaction between intellect and information for the advancement of medical knowledge and the promotion of excellence in health care

DeLib - Vision

Provide leadership in the establishment of a rich information environment that is service centered, deliberately digital, and collaborative.

DeLib Values

Collaboration

Communication

Foresight

Diversity

Quality

Support

Synergy

Delib Organisational Structure

Library Director

Associate Library Director

Acquisitions coordinator

Manger, InformationServices6 Reference Librarians2 Information and Reference Technicians1 Information and Reference Assistant

Manager, SystemAdministrationE-Resources LibrarianSystems LibrarianSystems Technician

My Role

Information Services/Clinical Liaison Librarian

Clinical CurriculumPDAsInformation TechnologyReference Clinical OutreachHMC LiaisonCoordinator staff developmentand training

Collection & Collaboration

Overview

• 147 major research databases for both Medicine and Basic Sciences

• 2,600 ebooks• 3,549 ejournals • 2,000 books• $5 Million Budget• Seamless Resource Linking via Web bridge• Access to both Cornell Ithaca and New York’s Libraries

collections• 70 Public available iMacs• Catalogue and other core resources are fully accessible

via PDAs

Course Support

PDAs

• Wireless Palm Tungsten C PDAs were given to all Medical Students and Faculty

• Each PDA that was issued at WCMCQ is loaded with a Gold Standard suite.

• New PDAs (Life drives) were issued to the class of 2008 in 2007 to co-incide with their clinical rotations and the Gold Standard for year 3 was adjusted accordingly.

Evidence Based Medicine

• 4 weeks of the curriculum of Medicine Patients and Society 1 (the clinical program)

• Co facilitated by faculty and librarians

• 3 or 4 in-class scenarios (facilitated PBL style)

• 3 or 4 homework scenarios • Homework was marked collaboratively by librarians and

faculty

Clinical Program

• MPS 1 & 2

• Clinical Clerkship

• Preceptors – located at Airport and Westbay

• WCMC-Q Faculty @ HMC

• Workshops were accredited with CME credits

Sidra Medical and Research Center

1st of its kind in the region

Inextricably linked

to WCMC-Q and

HMC

Sidra

• Model of “one of multiple institutions”

• Part of the new medical zone on the Education City Campus

Sidra

• 7.9 Billion Dollar Endowment from Education City

• Totally Digital

• Staffed by WCMC-Q appointed faculty

382 bedsEach generously sized with

3 zones to accommodate the

patients family/an area for

nurses/medical staff

Visitors to WCMC-Q

Medical School Mixes

You know you have been in the ME too long when

• You don't look twice when a $250,000 car drives by.• You know a friend who won a free car from the local mall.• It is normal to see a sheep or goat in the front seat of the car.• Every fast food chain delivers until 4 in the morning.• You had to look both ways to cross a one-way street.• You are used to giving directions using landmarks; street names

confuse the hell out of you.• It's normal to wake up and have four or more Pakistani men fixing your

AC.• Police drove on the shoulder of the road and cut people off.• Most people on the road don't realize there is a speed limit. Neither do

the police• You owned Titanic, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars Episode 1 weeks

before they were playing in the cinemas.• You rode Quad Bikes, dirt bikes, and jet ski's... when you were 8 years

old.• Security guards let you do whatever you want if you shouted at them in

Arabic and told them you knew some Police brigadier's cousin.• Everything is “inshala” including when your furniture is going to be

delivered