This page was last updated on April 19, 2005. Credits
Newsletter Editors
Jon Crossno
UT Southwestern Medical Center Library
David Midyette
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
It appears to be the end of another year of duty for your friendly, neighborhood newsletter co-editors since we're gearing up for the MLA Annual Meeting in San Antonio. And here for your perusal and review is the pre-meeting issue, which is just chock-full of all information and goodies to whet your appetite.
This issue includes the standard introduction from the SIG co-conveners, housing update for the meeting, and a preview of the wonderful and varied programs on which the SIG has collaborated this year. Also, the annual meeting guide is here, with not only the usual "The 'Unofficial' Guide to Who's Where and When", preliminary information about the SIG social and business meeting, and day-by-day listing of SIG-related events but also a preview of the 10th anniversary party being planned by our own Jerry Perry and a rather thorough "LGBT Dining & Nightlife Guide", which is also available in PDF for convenient printing by those who would like it.
The issue closes out with three more "11 Questions" offerings from SIG members (Donna Berryman, Karen Zundel, and Jacqueline Leskovec) and a little extra something from a former active SIG member who is now raising wine grapes on his Oklahoma farm.
So after a strange and unusual year (where one of us was briefly a member of the walking — er, um, make that "non-walking" — wounded), we look forward to the new one. And hope that injuries do not repeat themselves!
Your Newsletter Co-Editors, Jon & David
May and San Antonio are closer to us now than ever. Are you ready? Your co-convenors have been working hard to have things ready for you when we get there, so listen up! The quiz at the end will be a practical one: will you be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there?
The SIG is sponsoring three programmes this year:
Our programme planner, Michael Scott, is to be congratulated for having the energy and ability to allow us to make such a big impact on the Section programming this year. We hope that many of you will be able to attend these interesting offerings. At this point, all of these programmes are scheduled to occur in the Convention Centre, but check your programmes for room assignments when you arrive and don't be surprised if they move.
Our SIG business meeting will occur on Wednesday morning, 18 May, at 7 a.m. in the Marriott Rivercenter, Conference Room 13-14. We have lots to discuss and hope that there will be a good turnout for the meeting in spite of the early hour. If you have any burning issues you want addressed, please contact one of us (Sheila or Tom) before the end of April to ensure that we get your issues on the agenda.
Once again this year, our group concierge, Richard Klein, has made special arrangements for us with the elegant and old-world Menger Hotel in San Antonio, right across from the Alamo. More details on our accommodations are available elsewhere in this newsletter. One of the best parts of any MLA meeting is the networking — meeting old friends and making new ones — and the SIG really has a handle on this! Stay with us and have a good time. Conferences are much more meaningful and memorable when you enjoy yourself.
Finally, we are celebrating our accomplishments as we revisit the city of our birth this spring. The 1994 meeting in San Antonio was the one at which Section Council accepted our application to become a Special Interest Group of the Medical Library Association. Ten years of growth and activity means we have much to be proud of since last meeting in San Antonio.
Our annual group dinner will be at Zuni Grill (details elsewhere in this newsletter) at 7 p.m. on Monday, 16 May, followed by a reception at the Menger Hotel. Jerry Perry is working with the hotel on the reception, so watch the listserv for details closer to the meeting date. Be sure to contact Sheila (if you haven't already done so) as soon as you see this newsletter because our reservations for dinner have to be made early.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you there and we know that those of you who can't attend will be with us in spirit, as well, helping to make this a really big celebration!
Tom Flemming, Co-Convener (2003-2005)
Sheila Snow-Croft, Co-Convener (2004-2006)
Here is the hotel count for our group, as of March 25, 2005, at the Menger Hotel:
| May 12 | 1 room | May 16 | 13 rooms | ||
| May 13 | 3 rooms | May 17 | 12 rooms | ||
| May 14 | 8 rooms | May 18 | 11 rooms | ||
| May 15 | 12 rooms | May 19 | 4 rooms |
Our nightly quota from May 14 through May 19 is 15 rooms per night ($120 per night, single or double, plus 16.75% tax), and we are keeping it at such. Call 800-345-9285 to make reservations (mention "Special Interest Group"). Please note that as of April 14, rooms at the Menger that were not taken up for our quota were released. From this point on, price and space is on an availability basis only.
We also have rooms available at the Emily Morgan Hotel on May 11, 12, and
13. The negotiated rate for these nights is $149 per night (single or double)
plus 16.75% tax. Call 800-824-6674 or 210-225-5100 to make reservations (mention
"Special Interest Group"). The rooms at the Emily Morgan were also
released on April 11, and price and space is now on an availability basis
only.
Also, please remember that both hotels have a 72-hour cancellation policy.
While the Menger is "sold out" for May 11, 12, and 13, room blocks
that are unsold for those times will be released beginning April 20. Therefore,
there is a chance — and again just a chance — that openings might
be available. You may try calling the hotel after the 20th to adjust your
reservations accordingly, if space is available (800-345-9285 or 210-223-4361).
If anyone needs any further advisement, trouble-shooting, etc., please feel
free to contact Richard, either at his residence phone number 773-327-4618
or by email at rsklein_98@yahoo.com.
The Menger Hotel — a 350-room, registered historic property — offers its guests some unique and fascinating amenities, aside from the famous bi-level bar where Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders and the very grand lobby not only festooned with antiques, carved ceilings, marble floors, and potted palms but also the locale for the mid-1950s movie "Giant", starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. These amenities include the following:
In 1882, Oscar Wilde was spotted strolling around in the sub-tropical courtyard "sipping spiked lemonade and smoking long foreign cigarettes."
As in a historic property, rooms may vary in size and appearance. You may find yourself with a room containing assorted antiques and canopied or two-poster beds, a view of the gardens or the Alamo, or a balcony. Rooms feature air-conditioning, data ports, wireless Internet, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, televisions, and phones.
Transportation is available to the hotel from the airport by taxi and shuttle. To and from the airport, taxi costs range about $10 to $14 (prices vary; subject to change). The Airport Shuttle runs $12 one-way and $22 round trip (prices subject to change).
Valet parking with in/out privileges is available for $19 per day (prices subject to change). Various city lots around the hotel are also available, ranging in price from $5 to $13 per day (prices subject to change).
Just a block and a half from the Menger (behind the Alamo), the Emily Morgan Hotel is cited as one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in America and served for a long period of time as a medical arts building. If you look closely, terra cotta gargoyles hanging over the ground floor windows hint at toothaches and other medical conditions.
Don't miss these great SIG co-sponsored programs at this year's MLA Conference!
From skits to presentations, we've got it all.
On Monday, May 16th, from 2:30-4 p.m., the SIG is proud to co-sponsor
"Overcoming Challenges: Magnificent Medical Contributions." A mixture
of speakers and posters will showcase the contributions by those who overcame
adversity to make significant contributions to the field of medicine.
On Tuesday, May 17th, from 2:30-4 p.m., get ready to put on those boots
made for walking (go-go, cowboy, mukluks, etc.) as the SIG is co-sponsoring
not one but TWO programs at the same time. (According to the Convention Center's
Web site, the rooms are just down the hall from each other — which could mean
steps or a mile — but think of it as exercise.)
I hope all of you can take time in a sure-to-be hectic MLA schedule and attend these wonderful programs. I want to thank everyone involved in this year's programs and thanks to the SIG for the opportunity to serve as Program Chair.
Michael Scott, 2005 Program Chair
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Sun
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
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Thu
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Fri
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Sat
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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Who?
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Arrive?
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Staying Where?
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Depart?
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Notes
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| Richard Barry |
10th
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In Schertz (w/ sister) |
21st
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Renting car |
| Bryan Vogh |
12th
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Marriott (12 & 13) Menger (14 on) |
20th
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| Dale Prince |
12th
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Marriott Rivercenter |
20th
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Rooming w/ M. Scott |
| Jerry Perry |
12th
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Menger |
20th
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Rooming w/ T. Flemming |
| Michael Scott |
12th
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Marriott Rivercenter |
20th
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Rooming w/ D. Prince |
| Bill Karnosack |
13th
|
Menger |
19th
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Rooming w/ K. Zundel & S. Harvey |
| Jon Crossno |
13th
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Emily Morgan (13) Menger (14 on) |
19th
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Rooming w/ R. Mackes (Menger); may have car |
| Karen Zundel |
13th
|
Menger |
19th
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Rooming w/ B. Karnosack & S. Harvey; renting car |
| Sally Harvey |
13th
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Menger |
19th
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Rooming w/ B. Karnosack & K. Zundel |
| Sheila Snow-Croft |
13th
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Marriott Rivercenter |
19th
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| Jeff Huber |
14th
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Menger |
18th
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| Kathryn Shkal |
14th
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Marriott |
18th
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| Bill Fleming |
14th
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Menger |
19th
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| Dick Miller |
14th
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Menger |
19th
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| Michael Newman |
14th
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Menger |
19th
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| Robb Mackes |
14th
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Menger |
20th
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Rooming w/ J. Crossno |
| Tom Flemming |
14th
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Menger |
20th
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Rooming w/ J. Perry |
| Anne Seymour |
15th
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Menger |
19th
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| Chris Shaffer |
16th
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Menger |
19th
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| The Menger Hotel 204 Alamo Plaza San Antonio, Texas 78205 210.223.4361 Toll Free 800.345.9285 http://www.mengerhotel.com/ |
The Emily Morgan Hotel 705 Houston Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 210.225.5100 Toll Free 800.824.6674 http://www.emilymorganhotel.com/ |
| San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter 101 Bowie Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 210.223.1000 |
San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk 711 East Riverwalk San Antonio, Texas 78205 210.224.4555 |
Come join us at Zuni Grill on the San Antonio River Walk at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 16th, to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. The restaurant is an easy walk from the Menger Hotel, but for those of you who would like to know, the actual street address is:
Zuni Grill
223 Losoya
San Antonio, Texas 78205
We will be ordering of the restaurant's full menu, and a full bar is available.
Sales tax and a 20% gratuity will be added to the final bill. Separate checks will not be accepted so attendees are asked to please come prepared with plenty of cash.
From Restaurant Web site (http://www.zunigrill.com): "Zuni Grill features Southwest cuisine that's an eclectic blend of South Texas favorites, grilled specialties, the freshest ingredients, and inspired combinations by award-winning chefs. Chilies, cilantro, tomatillos, and our signature Zuni salsas (one red, one green) combine for a 'Zunique' cuisine! Multi-level seating offers an open-air view of the River Walk scene, amidst a relaxed and colorful setting shaded by towering cypress trees."
Co-Editor's Notes [JC]: "I've eaten here a couple of times on previous trips to San Antonio. The atmosphere is great, and it's a real treat to eat on the patio — as long as the weather is agreeable. But you probably care more about the food, which is excellent! I can personally recommend the Blue Corn Enchiladas."
Wednesday, May 18
Rivercenter: Conf Room 13/14
7-9 a.m.
If you have possible agenda items, please be sure to notify either Tom or Sheila as soon as possible.
Here is a brief summary of SIG-related events during this year's meeting. The information presented here was either supplied by SIG members or obtained by searching the MLA's Itinerary Builder/Program Viewer for names from the SIG's membership roster.
Links to paper or poster abstracts have been supplied when available. Please note: Not everyone may be attending the meeting, but even if someone is not attending, the work will be there. So come on out and show your support.
Confirmed attendees are denoted by an asterisk [*].
| 5:45-7:45 p.m. [CC: Exhibit Hall B] | Welcome Reception & Opening of Hall of Exhibits |
| 2:30-4 p.m. [CC: River 007CD] |
Managing Library Schizophrenia (Part 1): Staffing *Gerald Perry: "Divining the Future for a Divine Future: Using a 'Futures Committee' to Imagine the Library We Want" [View Abstract] |
| 2:30-4 p.m. [CC: Room 203] | Overcoming Challenges: Magnificent Medical Contributions Sponsored by History of the Health Sciences, Chiropractic Libraries, and Relevant Issues Sections and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Health Sciences Librarians SIG |
| 4:30-6 p.m. [CC: Exhibit Hall B] |
Poster Presentations — Odd Numbers *Greg Bodin: "63. Evaluation of Two National Network/Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) Programs Designed to Improve Access to Online Health Information" [View Abstract] *Ammon Ripple: "139. Expert Googling: Best Practices and Advanced Strategies for Using Google in Health Sciences Libraries" [View Abstract] |
| 7 p.m. | SIG Social: Zuni Grill (see above) |
| 10 p.m. | SIG 10th Anniversary After-Dinner Party (Note: More information to come; stay tuned!) |
| 8-9 a.m. [Rivercenter: Conf Room 7] | Relevant Issues Section Business Meeting |
| 2:30-4 p.m. [CC: River 008B] |
Challenging Patrons, Challenging Questions *Michael Scott: "Bigotry or Research? A Librarian and the Literature Search to 'Cure' Homosexuality" [View Abstract] |
| 2:30-4 p.m. [CC: River 006C] |
Diversity in Collection Development *Paul Blobaum: "Collection Development Strategies for Health Care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered People" [View Abstract] |
| 4:30-6 p.m. [CC: Exhibit Hall B] |
Poster Presentations — Even Numbers Ammon Ripple: "8. Online Current Awareness: An Overview of Options and Strategies" [View Abstract] Martha Stone: "10. Reaching Out to Serve the Diversity Within" [View Abstract] Gail Persily: "72. The Library as Place: Defining Library Space Needs for a New Campus" [View Abstract] *Jeff Huber: "88. F2F Connection: A Community Health Information Outreach Project*" [View Abstract] *Dale Prince, *Greg Bodin, and *Bryan Vogh: "96. Really Simple Syndication (RSS): The Future of Content Delivery" [View Abstract] *Dick Miller: "122. Simplified Access and Smarter Searching: Enhancing the User Experience While Improving Efficiency in Website Management" [View Abstract] |
| 7-9 a.m. [Rivercenter: Conf Room 13/14] | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Health Sciences
Librarians SIG Business Meeting |
| 7-10 p.m. [Offsite: La Villita] | Futuro Magnifico Party |
The following dining options are offered for your consideration. A few select Riverwalk locations (in addition to Zuni Grill, site of our SIG Social Dinner [see above]) are listed here, but there are countless other dining establishments to be found on the Riverwalk.
The restaurants are sorted by distance from the Menger Hotel (according to Mapquest.com). Places frequented in years past by the Crossno family (during visits to San Antonio in the co-editor's youth as well as on more recent expeditions) are marked with 2 plus signs ("++").
Several gay-friendly locations were also identified by a local insider we were fortunate to find at the UT Health Sciences Center-San Antonio Library (UTHSCSA Library). These are marked with an asterisk ("*").
Landry's Seafood House on the Riverwalk (0.2 miles)
517 N Presa St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.229.1010
http://www.landrysseafoodhouse.com/
Seafood, Cajun-style; moderate to expensive; casual dress
Twin Sisters Bakery & Café (0.25 miles)
124 Broadway St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.354.1559
Breakfast & lunch only (closes at 3pm); vegetarian options abound
++Boudro's on the Riverwalk (0.3 miles)
421 E Commerce St
San Antonio, Texas 78203
210.224.8484
http://www.boudros.com
Southwestern food; moderate to expensive; located on Riverwalk; casual to
business casual
Co-Editor's Note [JC]: I ate here with my family last year,
and it was fantastic. Every single item we selected was absolutely delicious!
(FYI, I had the Gulf Coast Seacakes.)
Casa Rio (0.3 miles)
430 E Commerce St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.225.6718
http://www.casa-rio.com/
Inexpensive Tex-Mex; casual dress
++Las Canarias Restaurant (0.4 miles)
(in Hotel La Mansión del Rio)
112 College St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.518.1000
Expensive continental/southwestern cuisine; business casual dress
Co-Editor's Note [JC]: Lunch offerings are tantalizingly
wonderful, as I discovered on my one and only visit last year. And the restaurant
offers a "champagne brunch" on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
*Ácenar (0.5 miles)
146 E Houston St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.222.2362
http://www.acenar.com
Southwestern/fusion; located just off Riverwalk; moderate to expensive, casual
to business casual dress
*Biga on the Banks (0.5 miles)
203 S Saint Marys St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.225.0722
http://www.biga.com
Expensive continental cuisine; beautiful setting; business casual dress
Fig Tree Restaurant (0.5 miles)
515 Villita St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.224.1976
Expensive American cuisine; casual to dressy
++Little Rhein Steak House (0.6 miles)
231 S Alamo St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.225.2111
Expensive steakhouse in a quaint little limestone cabin (part of the city's
original settlement, La Villita); serves thick steaks and hearty potatoes.
Co-Editor's Note [JC]: It is expensive, but it's more than
worth it!
El Mirador (0.8 miles)
722 S Saint Marys St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.225.9444
Located short drive from Riverwalk; awesome Tex-Mex; casual dress
*Rosario's Mexican Café y Cantina (0.8 miles)
910 S Alamo St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.223.1806
La Margarita Mexican Restaurant & Oyster Bar (0.9 miles)
120 Produce Row
San Antonio, Texas 78207
210.227.7140
Located in El Mercado (short drive/walk from River Walk); inexpensive to moderate
Tex-Mex; casual dress
++Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery (0.9 miles)
218 Produce Row
San Antonio, Texas 78207
210.225.1262
http://www.mitierracafe.com
Inexpensive Tex-Mex; located in El Mercado (short drive/walk from Riverwalk);
casual dress
Co-Editor's Note [JC]: Every time my family made a trip to
San Antonio when I was a kid, we always made at least one stop here. The atmosphere
is fantastic, and the food is downright awesome! The bakery offers authentic
Mexican pastries and desserts.
*Madhatter's Tea (1 mile)
320 Beauregard
San Antonio, Texas 78204
210.212.4832
http://www.madhatterstea.com
Gay-owned place serving tea, breakfast, lunch, and dinner; casual dress
*Liberty Bar (1.8 miles)
328 E Josephine St
San Antonio, Texas 78208
210.227.1187
http://sanantonio.citysearch.com/profile?id=10102260
American food; awesome Portobello mushroom sandwich; great pot roast; wonderful
bread.
*La Fonda on Main (2.3 miles)
2415 N Main Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78212
210.733.0621
Great Mexican food in a 1930s house; very nice patio.
*W D Deli (2.5 miles)
3123 Broadway St
San Antonio, Texas 78209
210.828.2322
Soups and sandwiches; gay-owned, open for dinner during the week.
Our insider at the UTHSCSA Library also provided this information, but he did say that it needed to be prefaced by a caveat his friends gave him: "Lower y'all's expectations. Please lower them."
According to his friends, the best bet is the Bonham Exchange (a.k.a. the "Bottom Exchange), which is the most architecturally interesting nightlife location.
Bonham Exchange (0.2 miles)
411 Bonham St
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.271.3811
http://www.bonhamexchange.net/
This nightclub is situated within an old men's gymnasium from the end of the
1800s, and it has been around forever. It is actually just a couple of blocks
from the Menger Hotel. According to our insider, the multi-level club is somewhat
busy on Friday nights but is THE place to go on Saturday nights —
at least until midnight when everyone then goes to the bars on North Main.
For other locations, you'll actually need to go a little farther afield: specifically, a little strip of bars/clubs on North Main across from San Antonio College. These are near downtown, but not too close. So if you're going, it is advisable to either drive or take a taxi.
Pegasus (1.6 miles)
1402 N Main Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78212
210.229.4222
Silver Dollar Saloon (1.6 miles)
1418 N Main Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78212
210.227.2623
Country/western bar with a large patio.
The Saint (1.6 miles)
1430 N Main Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78212
210.225.7330
Heat (1.6 miles)
1500 N Main Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78212
210.227.2600
Largest gay bar in San Antonio; open daily; includes video room with 30+ screens,
a heated outdoor patio, and dance floor; modern & upscale.
When is your birthday?
Dec. 17th
Where are you located geographically?
Central Massachusetts. I live and work in the town of Shrewsbury which is right next door to the third largest city in New England: Worcester, MA (pronounced "Wooo-stah").
Where did you get your MLS?
Dominican University, it says on my degree. In reality, this was a cooperative program between Dominican University (IL) and the College of St. Catherine's (St. Paul, MN). So, I did most of my work at home in MN. Then, I had to spend a semester on campus at Dominican. It was great. Four of us lived in the old nuns' quarters in the Fine Arts Building. It was a riot! We had more fun than any four women should be allowed to have...
What was the worst part of library school?
The tuition. A close second was sitting through one certain professor's lectures. This person would actually take screen shots of everything he did on the internet, transfer them to overheads, and then spend 2 hours saying, "And then I clicked on this ... and then I clicked on this ... and then I clicked on this ..."
How do you really feel about cataloging?
It's a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there...
What would your mother say was your most embarrassing moment?
Hmmmm ... so many to choose from. Probably the time I accused my younger sister of wearing my underwear in front of a room full of people. No, maybe it was the time in high school that I played in a piano competition and the judge said to me, "I have a piece of advice for you, young lady. Start on the right note and end on the right note — please!" Or, maybe it was. Oh, never mind. I'll have to ask her.
What would you say was your mother's most embarrassing moment?
On her very first trip to GA to visit me, we went out for breakfast. When she ordered eggs, the waiter said, "Would y'all like grits with that?" My Minnesota mother replied, very seriously, "Well, I've never had grits before. I'll try just one."
How did you come to medical librarianship?
I used to work in health insurance/employee benefits. Prior to the advent of HMOs, I was one of the folks at your insurance company that used to say, "I'm sorry, that's not considered medically necessary, so it is not covered under your plan." When I got tired of that, I went to library school...
An informationist is...
A really good librarian.
What is your fondest SIG/MLA memory?
Can't say I have one. I'm a lurker. Maybe this year??
What is the most trivial fact you have rattling around your head?
When you do a search in the Hazardous Substances Data Bank in Toxnet, it automatically adds 20 synonyms to the search. Sheesh.
When is your birthday?
The last day of the first month.
Where are you located geographically?
Latitude: 27° 58' North
Longitude: 82° 38' West
Where did you get your MLS?
Dominican University (Formerly Rosary College), River Forest, Illinois
What was the worst part of library school?
Thinking that I might graduate without meeting that special someone (I didn't get out much). But I did, and we are celebrating the 5th anniversary of our Ring Thing this year.
How do you really feel about cataloging?
Some of my best friends are catalogers.
What would your mother say was your most embarrassing moment?
As a child I was sleepwalking to the bathroom and took a right turn when I should have taken a left...
What would you say was your mother's most embarrassing moment?
I'm not allowed to divulge family secrets.
How did you come to medical librarianship?
While working as a registered nurse in the mid 90's, I stumbled upon Netscape and the Internet. Thus was born a fond relationship between my health care background and computers and databases.
An informationist is...
A librarian by any other name would smell as sweet.
What is your fondest SIG/MLA memory?
Realizing that the SIG existed and knowing that other professionals support this cause.
What is the most trivial fact you have rattling around your head?
The dog barking on the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album is named Chuck.
When is your birthday?
It's the same as several other unique folks: Bette Midler, Woody Allen, Richard Pryor, the actress who played Jessie Brewer on General Hospital. :-)
Where are you located geographically?
North of Maryland, east of Ohio, south of New York and west of New Jersey. Some people think it's the pothole capital of the world.
Where did you get your MLS?
Panther country ... aka Dan Marino's alma mater. :-)
What was the worst part of library school?
That I didn't meet Ammon Ripple sooner! :-)
How do you really feel about cataloging?
It's just way too complicated for someone who's philosophy is "keep it simple".
What would your mother say was your most embarrassing moment?
When I fell off the dock into the Monongahela River wearing my good Sunday clothes. I was an adult at the time.
What would you say was your mother's most embarrassing moment?
Giving birth to two babies (who are NOT twins) in 1945. One in January; one in December.
How did you come to medical librarianship?
All roads lead to Ellis Paul.
An informationist is...
someone who can figure out my birthday with clues given above. It's also anyone who can track down where the good live music is at the MLA annual meetings. :-)
What is your fondest SIG/MLA memory?
Oh my ... so many ... but I guess it would have to be my "speech" in support of the SIG petition before the vote at the Hospital Libraries Section business meeting on May 17, 1994. It passed by two votes: 111 to 109. Oooh ... my hands just got clammy thinking about it.
What is the most trivial fact you have rattling around your head?
I thought by now you'd ask me my favorite food or favorite color or favorite song or favorite singer or something I can answer with conviction!! I was hoping you'd ask me if there's something I want you all to KNOW about me!! But since you didn't, I'm just going to tell you! Because of MLA, I'm an Ellis Paul groupie! 135 shows around the country since that first life changing event during MLA in Seattle 1997. Talk about trivia! :-)
Co-Editor's Note [JC]: Hopefully, many of you will fondly remember Mitch Walters, former Web Services manager at the UT Southwestern Medical Center Library, former LGBT SIG member, and previous SIG co-convener (2001-2002). He left the UT Southwestern Library in January 2003 to go back to Oklahoma and grow wine grapes, pears, and many vegetable varieties on "the farm". He was kind enough to prepare the following letter to all his former SIG friends. Enjoy!
When one is ready to do something different after 20 years in libraries, unusual possibilities can appear — like starting a vineyard. Several elements conspired to make this the right choice for my new career. I had always been an avid gardener, though living in the city meant that I'd worked mostly with ornamentals. An interest in wine led to an interest in wine grapes, and the more I learned about grape growing the more intrigued I was to try it. A couple of weekend picnics at the family farm in northwestern Oklahoma grew into an effort to restore the nearly 100-year-old orchard there, and an appreciation of the strong feelings I had for the place. Put all of these together, and you wind up with what we've called "the Vineyard at Longwood Farm" — 600 vines, half of them Chardonnay and the other half Riesling. Barring insects, birds, fungus and hail storms, we'll have our first harvest this August.
The vineyard is sort of the centerpiece of the farm. But we also have the orchard with about 70 fruit trees; we sell produce from our vegetable garden at the farmer's market in town; and Ken's beloved chickens supply eggs for us and assorted friends and neighbors.
And speaking of Ken — you might wonder, since moving to rural Oklahoma, if we've had to hide the fact that we're a couple. Not a bit. Nobody seems to be much concerned about who sleeps with whom. I guess people have more important things to worry about, and "live and let live" seems to be the prevailing attitude.
Sitting here on a frosty February morning looking out at the quiet winter landscape, there's really no place I'd rather be, except sometimes maybe at a nice cheery Starbucks sipping a grande decaf mocha and reading the Dallas Sunday paper. Part of me will always be a city boy, but now I can satisfy that part with quick weekend trips.
Greetings to all my old friends in the SIG. Maybe I'll see you in San Antonio.
Best Wishes,
Mitch
This page was last updated on April 19, 2005. Credits