1. Estoril Echo 2
EAHIL Council Meeting First Timers´ Reception
Over thirty EAHIL Council Although 93 people,
members gathered together registered as First Timers,
at the Estoril Conference only 50 turned up for the
Centre on Tuesday at 14.00 occasion and those who did
with Arne Jakobsson, Past not come missed a very
President, well assisted by interesting evening in
Marshall Dozier as Cascais, a small fishing
facilitators. After the normal town along the coast from
business matters, the main point on the agenda was Estoril. First of all we visited the Santa Marta fort and
how can EAHIL support new members’ participation and lighthouse and the museum. The fort dates from 1650
how members can support EAHIL in achieving this. The while the lighthouse started operation in 1868. In
brainstorming of this issue was facilitated by the 1981 the lighthouse was automated thus dispensing of
splitting into four groups, each one with the objective the need for keepers. We then walked over to the
of coming up with one major idea. Some of these Santa Maria House, beautifully situated at the
were: entrance of the Cascais bay, designed by Raul Lino,
attract young members by granting them the famous architect who believed in the return to
financial assistance, such as student traditional Portuguese styles. Combined with a
registration fees; cocktail of fruit, wine and a variety of hors d’oeuvres
periodically have online conferences – we were permitted to see this beautiful treasure. The
however, this was countered by the argument house was built in three phases; 1902, 1914, 1918 and
that personal contact was one of the most is covered in 17th and
important aspects of attending conferences; 18th century tiles, with
conference costs could be reduced by putting a magnificent wooden
out to tender hotel accommodation and oil painted ceiling
reduced registration (reduced fees for group attributed to Antonio
registrations). Booking accommodation de Oliveira Bernardes.
through EAHIL conferences should never be These tiles were taken
more expensive than booking directly which from an old convent in
is often the case; Lisbon and depict the theme of the struggle between
virtue and vice.
workshops between conferences should really
be small, focussed, unexpensive events; These First-Timers’ evenings have as their aim to
participation to conferences and EAHIL welcome and introduce newcomers to EAHIL as well
membership should be professionally as a unique chance to make friends at the beginning
rewarding through an accreditation system of the conferences/workshops. This evening certainly
which our President Suzanne Bakker realised these objectives and a very pleasant and
appropriately named “ EAHIL miles”. memorable time was had by all attendees.
The meeting was concluded on an optimistic note
after three hours, spent over nice coffee and cookies.
Ioana Robu Suzanne Bakker and
Flatiel Vilanculos with a
Turkish Delight picture of architect Raul
As a forerunner to the EAHIL Workshop in Turkey Lanco in the background
in 2011, all participants are invited to visit the
Turkish delegation at their stand. Gussun Gunes,
Huriye Golaklar; Didar Bayir, Tyba Akbaytork and
Ayla Gunel are looking forward to meeting you.

2. Estoril Echo 2
Opening Ceremony Conference Catering
Over 300 participants Everyone appreciated
attended the Opening the excellent lunch
ceremony in the served on the first
Estoril Congress floor cafeteria, with an
Centre. After opening extensive seating area.
speeches from the It was a sumptuous
Chair of the LOC, buffet and vegetarians
Margarida Miera and were well catered for
the Chair of the being offered a separate menu.
Scientific Programme, Isobel Andrade and the
EAHIL President, Suzanne Bakker, Alexandre
Quintanilha took the floor.
Alexandre currently
chairs the Council of
Associated Laboratories
of the Ministry of
Science in Portugal. He
has an impressive
portfolio of scientific Welcome Reception, Hotel Palacio, Estoril
publications and always
has been involved in This took place in
science policy. His keynote speech on the Evolution of the palatial settings
Knowledge and its Impact on Bioethics was inspirational in of the Hotel Palacio.
its currency and relevance to current issues to which They even had laid
everyone could relate. Many people commented that down a red carpet
it was one of the best Opening speeches at any for us! This was an
EAHIL conference and this was reflected in the ideal time for social
appreciative ovation he received from the delegates. networking with
friends, colleagues and new acquaintances.
The Estoril Congress Centre is very well equipped to
handle an EAHIL conference, offering spacious The buffet was enjoyed
accommodation for the exhibitors’ area (ground by all who attended,
floor), poster display on the first floor as well as accompanied by a local
providing an excellent forum for networking and brass band who played a
social interaction. medley of familiar tunes.
Even visiting the toilets
Participants will have benefited from the fact that the was an experience in
exhibition area was open from registration enabling a lavishness and luxury of
longer period in which to meet the exhibitors. bygone times.
However, though no numbers have been allocated to
the stand, it is hoped that everyone will us the
As in previous EAHIL meetings the Editorial
opportunity to meet the representatives from these
well-known companies who support EAHIL. Don’t team will be delighted to meet participants
forget that there are free promotional gifts, many of and listen to their comments and viewpoints
which are very useful. regarding the conference.

3. Estoril Echo 2
CEC Reports Marion and Hans really outdid themselves this time.
They held, or should we say “performed”, a highly
A search strategy for systematic reviews Mala Mann interesting and intensive course. The very important
Whatever your background in evidence searching you and complex world of EBM searching strategies and
would have enjoyed her presentation and shared her techniques was given in a most attractive and direct
enthusiasm that transforms medical librarians into way, making this highly complex subject really
helpful partners of physicians. You would have understandable and applicable. They should be
discovered a great Medline searching interface, work complimented for their well worked out course
on improving search strategies, learnt how to balance scenario, for their artistic skills (they even performed
search sensitivity and specificity, or simply shared tips for us and we performed for them) all in order to
and EBM teaching experiences fully illustrate and present the real-life situations we
Francoise Paslan might face daily in our libraries. All course
Navigating the evidence base: planning and delivering effective participants agreed that such a course would be more
library services Andrew Booth than welcome on a future occasion.
Andrew Booth is the editor of the only book in
Evidence-based Librarianship (EBL) and has
published a lot of articles on the subject. Andrew had
a very practical approach to the course; he offered
group work and went through the process of how to
use evidence in our library according to evidence
based librarianship.
Emerging technologies and tools Guus van den Brekel
Guus pulled off another excellent hands-on seminar,
provided a visual wealth of interesting and useful How to design and start a library liaison program
Internet sites and his use of multimedia to inform Blair Anton
participants captured our attention. No-one was 10 people (far too small!) attended a very enthusiastic
sleeping here! And I’m sure everyone will be taking workshop. She gave us an insight into how librarians
home some inspiring ideas to try out can go into clinical departments and make the work
of clinicians easier while at the same time demonstrate
BioMedical web nuggets Friedhelm Rump that as librarians they have their own skills and
Friedhelm Rump’s curse on “Biomedical web expertise. Finally, Blair stated that you should “keep
nuggets” presented a clear overview on Internet always being a librarian”. Welch Medical Library
search engines and special tools freely available on the recently decided to focus on liaison librarians for
Internet. The hands-on approach allowed participants answering user needs instead of collections. Most
to try searches in their own subject areas. books will be discarded. I am very curious about these
developments. Maybe a theme for a next EAHIL
conference workshop?
First Timer comments
Fons van den Eeckhout, The Netherlands
Eva Alopaeus recommended us to come here as it’s
easy to make contacts, important to follow new
trends, opportunity to meet health librarians, I think it would be good if the material presented at
collaborate and network. the CE courses could be made available for those
Thomas Frantzen, Yommine, Maud, Frida, who did not have the opportunity to participate.
Sahlgrenska University Hospital Library
PICO workshop Hans Ket and Marion Heijmans Flatiel Vilanculos

4. Estoril Echo 2
Exhibitor Comments
EBSCO Claire Honeybourne & Annalisa
Science AAAS – Christina Schlecht & Kiki Mamberti
Forsythe EBSCO have a great record of supporting EAHIL
First time exhibitors at EAHIL. One of the reasons events. The position of the exhibition and location of
for coming to EAHIL is to promote a new Journal their display has seen a heavy traffic flow to the
Science Translational Medicine. This is an emerging EBSCO stand. As well as reinforcing existing
branch of medicine that embraces research and publications and services they are keen to promote
clinical trials with particular reference to cancer, new products such
diabetes, nanotechnology, genetics and immunology. as “DynaMed”. A
Librarians are seen to be in touch with clinicians, slight downside to
researchers and other personnel in this inter- the first day was the
disciplinary subject area. A number of people from timing of their
many countries have taken up the special offer on the Presentations which
journal. coincided with
other sessions, and
Special Federated Search Offer from WebLib sadly no-one turned
for EAHIL Conference Participants up. Claire and
Leave your visiting card at WebLib’s booth and Annalisa are looking forward to meeting more
win a federated search engine. The winner of the delegates at their stand.
draw will get her/his federated search for FREE
the first year (2400 EUR value). You do not need Proquest – Jody Burton & Claudia Reyland
to order to win!! Traffic has been
lighter at our stand
Van de Bilt Publishers’ Agents and long lulls
Theo and Janet van de Bilt are freelance agents who between visits,
work on behalf of a number of publishers. They hope unlike previous
to raise their profile amongst healthcare librarians, years. Presentations
who they see as a target market, particularly in the had not been
area of electronic medical publications. They have advertised well and
been pleased to see existing customers and meet it should be made
potential new clients. They stated that some very part of the programme.
good deals have been initiated through EAHIL and
how worthwhile it is coming to be an exhibitor. Thieme – Uwe Stehle
So far it is going very
OUP – Tracy well – both new and
James existing clients with
OUP has been lots of queries. The
represented at downside was no one
previous EAHIL attended Thieme’s
events and see the presentation – the
conference as a timing in the
big important programme conflicted
market activity. with parallel sessions EAHIL is still very worthwhile
Tracy said how beneficial it has been to have the supporting as you get to meet Healthcare librarians
exhibition open from the start of the Conference. and people from all over Europe and indeed
worldwide..

5. Estoril Echo 2
Public Health Information Group A Flying Start!
EAHIL Public Health Information Group will have Yesterday morning EAHIL 12 was launched with the
an informal Dinner gathering at the Restaurant Costa warmest of good wishes from the Chair of the Local
Da Estoril, Ave Amaral (opposite the entrance to the Organising Committee, a senior official from the
Conference Centre) on Thursday 18 June 2010 Gulbenkian Foundation (among our generous
starting at 7.30 pm sponsors), and the Mayor of Estoril. We then heard
an inspirational opening address from Alexandre
The Business meeting of the EAHIL Public Health Quintanilha. If the role of a university professor is to
Information Group to be held on Friday 19 June make his audience think, then he certainly
2010 at 10.45 -12.15 in the Auditorium Conference accomplished that. Expounding on the theme of The
Centre. evolution of knowledge and its impact on bioethics, he cited
Paivi Pekkarinen and Sue Thomas fascinating quotes from great thinkers and scientists
over the last five hundred years. He explained that
Mafra Palace-convent Library Tour without curiosity and imagination there is no
The Library visit to the Mafra Palace convent takes knowledge. Curiosity influences/ determines the
place this afternoon (Thursday 17 June 2010). The questions we ask; imagination influences/
library is housed in a beautiful Baroque Building, and determines how we attempt to answer those
contains over 35,000 leather-bound volumes dating questions. With clear uncluttered slides and not a note
from the 14th-19th century. in sight he highlighted the changes of the last 40 years
underlining the paradigm shifts in the 1980’s that
The coach will leave from the Conference Centre at have moved us from certainties to uncertainties.
2.30pm. The return journey will depart at 6pm from
the Mafra Palace. Putting these in the context of healthcare he spoke of
the role of health librarians in providing
information/evidence to help us all struggling with
Guess who braved the sea in Estoril? dilemmas. Librarians everywhere have a role in
helping citizens to be free, responsible and
autonomous. Quoting Richard Rorty (2009) he
summed up his themes. Take care of freedom and
truth will take care of itself. What a gripping opening
address! As we go back to our daily work it will stay
with us and inspire for years to come.
Shane Godbolt, UK & Donna Flake, USA
Are you concise?
What is your opinion of the Estoril
A small prize for identifying this EAHIL Conference?
delegate. Answers to the Estoril Echo team by Sum it up in one sentence and the there will
Friday midday. be a prize for the best answer!!
Answers by midday to the Estoril Echo team!
A really nice restaurant, already tested,
Office behind the Information desk in the
is the Reijos in Cascais. Rua Frederico
foyer of the Congress Centre.
Arouca 35. Tel: 21/4830311
Tuulevi Ovaska

6. Estoril Echo 2
Comments from the 1st Timers Flatiel Vilanculos,
Mozambique,
Lorraine Toews, Canada, Secretary- General
Lorraine is working in a veterinary library in Calgary, of AHILA
Canada. She heard about the EAHIL conference
from colleagues in Canada and the USA and decided Flatiel came to
to find out more the Association. Lorraine will be Portugal with two
presenting a paper during the conference. main goals:
Ann de Meulemeester, Belgium to ensure access to Portuguese language
Ann is a Bio-medical Librarian who learnt about information resources;
EAHIL from colleagues and decided to attend the to establish a partnership between the AHILA
CEC and Conference. The course Emerging Technologies and EAHIL by tapping into the EAHIL
and Tools by Guus Van den Brekel and Mala Mann’s experience regarding funding and association
course Systematic Reviews were very useful for her. management.
Mien Chew Chin, Singapore He is very happy to be here because he can learn a lot
Chin hopes to meet a lot of medical librarians at the from our European colleagues that can be adapted to
Conference. She works for the Ministry of Health in the mutual benefit of both associations.
Singapore. Chin attended the PICO workshop which Claudia Leuker, Reference Centre for Ethics in
was very good and the Writing for Scientific Publications the Life Sciences, Bonn, Germany
which she really enjoyed. Both workshops met her Claudia attended this conference for the first time due
expectations. to an EU grant regarding biomedical ethics. She is
hoping other colleagues will e able to benefit from
What was being said? other EU grants in the future.
The Editorial team will
award a prize for the Herminia Arrazola, Oviedo, Spain
most amusing caption She was delighted to renew her attendance at an
for this photo of EAHIL conference after a ten year break. Although
Aileen and Christer an EAHIL member since 1992, financial constraints
Lagvik from Sweden have hindered her attendance in the last decade.
Linda Thorn & Karin
Elinor Bastin, UK Bystrom, Sweden
Eli comes from the Oxford Healthcare Library and Linda is a Biomedical
was encouraged to come by other EAHIL members. librarian working in the
Although a first timer, she is giving a presentation and Uppsala University while
has submitted two posters. Karin works as a Medical
Librarian in the hospital.
Charlotte Van Der Valk, Netherlands Both decided to take the
Charlotte enjoyed attending the PICO workshop. opportunity to come to
Charlotte has taken on the role of Secretary for the EAHIL and found the Systematic Reviews workshop
new Complementary and Alternative Specialist very good. When asked about their flight to Estoril
Interest Group. The inaugural meeting of this group they stated that it was very bumpy on route and again
will be on Thursday. on landing.