NJ-Based Health Sciences Technology Consortium Expands to 20 Eastern Seaboard States
PRINCETON, N.J., March 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A technology-sharing, cost-cutting consortium organized by the non-profit Health Sciences Library Association of New Jersey's Group Licensing Initiative (HSLANJ GLI) is expanding participation to include hospitals and medical facilities throughout the entire eastern seaboard, a 20-state region from Maine to Florida, including Washington D.C, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The consortium, in its 15th year, offers hospitals the latest medical information and research—more than 700 digital resources from 14 academic publishers, at a cost savings of 15-70% off regular pricing—through negotiations and the leveraging of group purchasing power. The expansion allows hospitals in the New England Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) to participate beginning in 2017, joining those in the Middle Atlantic (NNLM/MAR) and Southeastern Atlantic Regions (NNLM/SEA).
"We recommend the HSLANJ GLI as the lead organization capable of assisting health sciences librarians obtain digital resources," says Kate Flewelling, Executive Director, NNLM/MAR.
"As libraries are becoming dependent on electronic resources… the HSLANJ GLI presents opportunities for them to streamline purchasing, using cost-saving initiatives, building a hospital consortium for the hospital librarians, trying to make their dollar go further," says Mary Piorun, Director, NNLM/NER.
More than 125 medical librarians regularly participate in the HSLANJ GLI; one of the charter participants is Barbara S. Reich, Director of the Medical Library at Hackensack Meridian Health.
"Our collection of online resources has expanded greatly and HSLANJ has saved us tens of thousands of dollars over 15 years," says Reich. "Acquiring high-quality, online resources offers the opportunity for better patient care and patient safety in today's rapidly-changing healthcare environment."
"Very few consortia are organized like the HSLANJ GLI, offering resources a la carte. Most consortia require an 'all-in' model," says Reich, who also chairs the GLI's steering committee. "We so appreciate all the vendors who work with us."
Founded in 1972, HSLANJ (www.hslanj.org) is a non-profit organization encouraging professional development and advancement of librarianship to improve the quality of library services provided by health care organizations. HSLANJ and the GLI are managed by Robert T. Mackes, MLS, AHIP.
The HSLANJ GLI expansion into the NER is funded in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM012347 with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.