Donna Flake, MLS, MSAS, leads the South East AHEC Robert M. Fales Health Sciences Library at New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), the largest health sciences library in southeastern North Carolina. The library offers medical, nursing, and allied health resources, as well as collections in pastoral care, consumer health, mental health, children’s health, and the history of medicine to the region’s health care professionals.

NHRMC recently announced that Flake has received the Medical Library Association’s 2016 Lois Ann Colaianni Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship and has been selected as a fellow, one of the association’s highest honors.

“It’s very thrilling to be selected by my peers. It’s an affirmation of my accomplishments in my job and throughout my career,” Flake said. “I hope these awards help further the mission of our hospital library in providing the best evidence-based information to the medical professionals of our region.”

The Lois Ann Colaianni Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship, also known as the Librarian of the Year Award, is given annually for contributions to excellence and achievement in the health information profession. The association also recognizes four librarians each year as fellows for their outstanding contributions to the field of health sciences librarianship. Flake, who has been a medical librarian for 39 years, received the awards on May 17, 2016, at the annual Medical Library Association awards dinner in Toronto.

“Donna serves as an advocate to our medical staff, nursing staff, patients, and community,” said NHRMC Chief Nurse Executive Mary Ellen Bonczek. “Donna is a national leader in library technology. Her professional expertise and knowledge are invaluable assets to New Hanover Regional Medical Center and the medical community of our region.”

For more information on the SEAHEC medical library at NHRMC, visit www.nhrmc.org/seahec/library. For more information on the Medical Library Association, visit www.mlanet.org.