Francesca Allegri

Helping improve dissemination of research: Toastmasters is a novel mechanism.

Competencies for health professionals and students often include the ability to transfer knowledge to different audiences in a variety of ways. Consultation, presentation, teaching, multimedia, and posters are some examples. A recent question on a national listserv about writing, editing, and proofreading services in health sciences libraries prompted this column about a potentially novel way of helping students and faculty in health disciplines to improve their abilities to communicate professionally. In addition to the poster design and review services that one library offers, it is also the host of two Toastmasters International clubs that provide participants a nonthreatening, real-world environment to improve the content, structure, methods, and delivery of their written and spoken messages. A librarian on staff is a member of and serves as liaison to the two clubs.

Low-Tech Scavenger Hunt Model for Student Orientation

ABSTRACT Scavenger hunts are an effective, fun way of orienting new students to the library. The low-tech nature and small scale of the scavenger hunt program described here might be more suitable for health sciences libraries than other models, particularly for libraries with small staffs. This model also includes a unique optional element useful for library marketing. This article describes the methods used, shares reactions of program participants, and provides suggestions for those considering orienting students in this way.