November 27, 1998

Librarians from across the Partners system are working to form a Partners library network, a collaboration designed to bring a wider range of library services and resources to the Partners community.

Several initiatives are being planned to increase cooperation among the libraries. Such efforts include coordinating purchasing to reduce costs, improving availability of Internet services and other innovative technologies, and developing common policies to access library services.

The libraries already have established an integrated online catalog named MAGIC, which references books and journals housed at the MGH's Treadwell Library and at Spaulding, BWH and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute libraries as well as at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary. MAGIC is available at http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/library/library.htm.

Librarians representing the Partners library network include (seated, from left) Jackie Bastille, director of the MGH Treadwell Library; Judy Sacknoff, BWH; Debbie Almquist, Union Hospital of The North Shore Medical Center; (back row, from left) Kate Kelly, MGH; Lyn Dietrich, McLean; Barbara Pastan, Faulkner; Chris Bell, Newton-Wellesley; and Nancy Fazzone, The North Shore Medical Center. Not pictured is Chris Fleuriel, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.