A Librarian's Guide to NCBI

A Librarian's Guide to NCBI is a course for librarians on NCBI tools and resources . The course consists of an online portion, Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Searching, and a 5-day in-person course held at the National Institutes of Health that builds on the knowledge and skills provided by the online class.

Course Overview

Health science librarians are invited to participate in a rigorous bioinformatics training course, A Librarian's Guide to NCBI, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine NLM Training Center (NTC). The course provides knowledge and skills for librarians interested in helping patrons use online molecular databases and tools from the NCBI.  Prior knowledge of molecular biology and genetics is not required.  Participating in a Librarian's Guide will improve your ability to initiate or extend bioinformatics services at your institution.

Online Pre-Course and In-Person Course Components

There are two parts to A Librarian’s Guide to NCBI, listed below.  Applicants must complete both parts. Participants must complete the pre-course with full CE credit (Part 1) in order to advance to attend the 5-day in-person course (Part 2).

• Part 1:  Fundamentals in Bioinformatics and Searching (online, asynchronous) October 26 – December 11, 2015

This course is offered online (asynchronous) from October 26 – December 11, 2015. The major goal of this course is to provide an introduction to bioinformatics theory and practice in support of developing and implementing library-based bioinformatics products and services. This material is essential for decision-making and implementation of these programs, particularly instructional and reference services. The course encompasses visualizing bioinformatics end-user practice.  It places a strong emphasis on hands-on acquisition of NCBI search competencies and developing a working molecular biology vocabulary through self-paced hands-on exercises.

• Part 2:  A 5-day class at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland (in-person) March 7 – 11, 2016.

The in-person course will focus on using the BLAST sequence similarity search and Entrez text search systems to find relevant molecular data. The course will describe the various kinds of molecular data available, and explain how these are generated and used in modern biomedical research.  The course will be a combination of instruction, demonstration, discussions, and hands-on exercises (both individual and group)

Instructors

Instructors will be NCBI staff and Diane Rein, Ph.D., M.L.S., Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Liaison from the Health Science Library, University at Buffalo.

CE Credits

Students successfully completing the Fundamentals course (Part 1) will earn 18 MLA CE credits. Those successfully completing the 5-day in-person class (Part 2) will earn 36 additional MLA CE credits.

Who can apply?

• Applications are open to health science and basic science librarians in the United States.
• Applicants will be accepted both from libraries currently providing bioinformatics services as well as from those desiring to implement services.
• Enrollment is limited to 30 participants.

What does it cost?

• There is no charge for the classes. Participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging and related costs for the in-person portion.

Applying to the Course

Applications now closed.

Librarian's Guide On-site Course information

Location: The Mary Woodard Lasker Center for Health Research and Education (Building 60, Room 134)

Modules and Other Components

• Biology Basics 
• Sequences, Assemblies and Genomes 
• Using NCBI BLAST
• Libriarian's Guide Graduate Forum
• Gene Expression and Biological Pathways
• Biomolecular Structure and Function
• Patron Question Practice
• Variation
• Clinical Support Resources
• Drugs and Other Small Molecules

Group projects

Participants will work in groups of 3 to 4 members. Each group will work together to produce a report on an assigned human gene. NCBI staff will provide a list of human genes and assign one at random to each student group.  On Friday afternoon, each group will report on strategies they used and results that they found when trying to gather information about the assigned gene.

Schedule

Monday, March 7: Molecular Basics and Genes and Introduction to course project

Tuesday, March 8: Structure; BLAST part 1, protein BLAST

Wednesday, March 9: NCBI BLAST part 2; Gene Expression and Pathways

Thursday, March 10: Sequence Variation; Clinical Support Resources

Friday, March 11: Drugs and Other Small Molecules, NLM Tour, Gene Reports

Please write to ncbi_course@utah.edu with any questions.