Notable Veterinary Medical Librarians
Isabel G. McDONALD
- 29 years as a primate research center librarian
- Librarian, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, 1961-1990
- Charter member, Veterinary Medical Libraries Section/MLA, 1973
- VMLS Chair, 1976-1977; Section Council representative, 1985-1990
- Isabel McDonald Library, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 1991-
Major Contributions to Animal Health Librarianship:
Veterinary medical librarianship is not limited to academic libraries serving schools of veterinary medicine at universities, but can also include related fields, such as primate research. Isabel G. McDonald was one of the first librarians at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, the first of eight U.S. regional primate research centers, and one of the nation’s first primate librarians.
Isabel McDonald was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1946 from the University of British Columbia and the following year a Bachelor of Library Science from the University of Toronto. Before becoming ORPRC’s librarian, her career included positions in a public library, a private academic library (Reed College), an academic medical library (Stanford) [1953-1957], and a medical society library (Vancouver Medical Association) [1957-1961]. Her first appointment at the primate center was as a visiting scientist in October, 1961, before being appointed research librarian and then head librarian, a position she held until her retirement in 1990.
Under her leadership, the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center library grew to over 19,000 volumes with more than 200 scientific journal subscriptions, and a unique history of primatology collection. Isabel introduced MEDLINE and Dialog online searching services to the library and initiated early participation in local interlibrary loan networks, including DOCLINE and OCLC. Isabel’s research and reference services were highly valued among colleagues within the region and among colleagues among the eight U.S. national (formerly regional) primate centers. Her publications include a book chapter and journal articles.
Isabel was, and continues to be, an active member in a number of professional organizations, including the Medical Library Association (at regional, national, and section levels) and, the Special Libraries Association, particularly the Biological and Life Sciences Division. Her MLA, participation, which dates back to 1953, included service on Section Council (1985-1990) and, the MLA Nominating Committee. She was a founding member of two MLA sections: the Veterinary Medical Libraries and the Research Libraries Groups/Sections, and she ultimately served as Chair of both sections. In 1972, she was one of six veterinary librarians who met informally at the MLA meeting in San Diego, California. The following year at Kansas City, she was present at the “unofficial” meeting where they decided to seek official MLA recognition. She also served as Secretary of the Medical Society Libraries Group. Since 1957 she has been an active member of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of MLA, holding several offices and serving on and chairing various committees.
An avid world traveler both through her career and into retirement, Isabel has participated in and supported international conferences and groups affiliated with medical and animal health librarianship. She attended five International Congress on Medical Librarianship (ICML) meetings at Washington DC [1963], Amsterdam [1969], Tokyo [1985], New Delhi [1990], and London [2000]. She also participated in the first five International Conferences of Animal Health Information Specialists (ICAHIS) from 1992 to 2005 as well as the 1st Conference of African Animal Health Information Workers in 1995 – all post-retirement. In conjunction with most of these conferences, she took the opportunity to travel and visit veterinary libraries. These pre-and post conference travels included visits to numerous libraries and librarians in Scandinavia and central and eastern Europe.
Because of her extensive knowledge and contributions to veterinary medical education, Isabel was chosen to serve alongside veterinarians and veterinary technicians as a public member of the AVMA’s CATAT (Committee on Accreditation of Training for Animal Technicians) Site Evaluation Committee for the veterinary technology program at Portland Community College in 1988. This same team recommended full accreditation for that program in 1993.
Isabel retired in fall of 1990. In recognition of her devotion and contributions through the years, the ONPRC Library at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, now part of the Oregon Health and Sciences University, was named the “Isabel McDonald Library.”
At the VMLS business meeting held at San Francisco in 1991, Isabel was one of three retirees recognized “for their many contributions.” She was also honored by receiving a life membership in the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association and recognition for her 45-year membership in SLA’s Biological and Life Sciences Division in 2009.
Selected Publications:
McDonald IG. Library facilities of the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center. In: Mount E, ed. Creative planning of special library facilities. New York: Haworth Press; 1988. p.159-64.
McDonald IG. Remodelled library facilities of the Oregon Regional Primate Center Research Center. Sci Tech Libr. 1983;3(4):21-30.
Honors and Awards:
The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) Library was named the Isabel McDonald Library in her honor. [cited 19 Mar 2010]. <http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/library/about/onprc-isabel-mcdonald-library.cfm>.
Veterinary Medical Library Section/Medical Library Association. Recognition for service, 1991.
Pacific Northwest Chapter/Medical Library Association. Life membership, 1991.
Special Libraries Association, Biological and Life Sciences Division. 45-year membership recognition, 2001.
Publications about Isabel McDonald:
McDonald I, Rosenwinkel HG. Interview with Isabel McDonald ; interview conducted by Heather Rosenwinkel, December 8, 1997. [Sound recording]. 2 sound cassettes (67 min.) and transcript. <http://catalogs.ohsu.edu/record=b1066790~S8>. (OHSU Oral History Project, no. 12).
MLA Oral History Project Interview:
Interview with Isabel McDonald; interviewed by Diane McKenzie and Vicki Croft, Sept. 23, 2008. Chicago: Medical Library Association. Oral History Committee. [in preparation].
Tributes and Recollections from Friends and Colleagues:
Joe S. Gloyd, DVM, Assistant Director, Scientific Activities, AVMA. Quote from a Dec. 1, 1988 letter thanking Isabel for her work on the Site Visit Evaluation Committee for the Portland Community College veterinary technology program.
Isabel, you were a tremendously effective public member. We were all privileged to have served with a knowledgeable person like you. Thank you for being such a conscientious evaluator.