Estelle Brodman and the First Generation of Library Automation

Abstract

Computing technologies have transformed libraries. Dr. Brodman's leadership in the early development and application of these technologies provided significant benefits to the health sciences library community.

Estelle Brodman: Educator Extraordinaire

“…While at Washington University, Dr. Brodman was able to develop the Periodicals Holdings in Schools of Medicine (PHILSOM) project, pioneering work in the field of library automation [7,8]. She stated, ''I think it was just in the air… at that period everybody was euphoric [about automation].''…”

Estelle Brodman, AHIP, FMLA, 1914–2007

“…Through extensive consultation and personal effort, she helped medical libraries in the international community become the best they could be, and she taught and published extensively in the field of the history of medicine. These efforts are largely detailed in her own words (MLA oral history [1] and her published works) and through the recent symposium on her life's work in the July 2008 Journal of the Medical Library Association [2][3][4][5][6][7].…”