Wright State University clinical medicine librarian receives regional 2013 Distinguished Librarian of the Year Award

Bette S. Sydelko

The Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association recognized Bette S. Sydelko, M.S.L.S., M.Ed., AHIP, with the 2013 Distinguished Librarian of the Year Award at its annual meeting in October in East Peoria, Ill.

Sydelko, coordinator of assessment and outreach and a clinical medicine librarian with University Libraries at Wright State University, has been instrumental in advancing the skills of WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine students in the domain of evidence-based medicine and clinical decision-making.

She has worked to improve consumers’ health information skills by presenting to advisory board meetings and educating organizational partners. She also has written numerous book reviews of medical reference resources, contributed to publications on medical library tools and services and developed curricula for evidence-based medicine.

She has been a member of the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association since 1991. She served two terms as membership secretary and cochaired the 2009 annual meeting. Currently, she is the chapter’s representative on the MLA Chapter Council.

Sydelko has held many leadership positions in the Ohio Health Sciences Library Association and the Medical Library Association. She is a member of the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the American Medical Informatics Association and the Central Group on Educational Affairs of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The chapter also recognized Sydelko for being a superb mentor, encouraging those new to the profession and serving as a positive role model for them.