Executive Director, Library and Archives, Genentech Center for the History of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY
MLS, St. John’s University, 1995
repository.cshl.edu; library.cshl.edu/memoryboard
Photo by Constance Brukin
As a child in the USSR, Mila Pollock loved both her grandma’s extensive library and the medical stories her mom, a physician, told her. Eventually, that combination led her to medical librarianship. From 1981 to 1992, she worked in the reference department at the State Central Scientific Medical Library in Moscow. She loved the job but immigrated to this country to be with her American husband, Don, a dedicated science teacher, to whom she credits much of her success here.
Debbie Rand, then the director of Long Island Jewish Hospital Medical Library, New Hyde Park, NY, became her mentor and helped inspire her to pursue her work in the States. “She made me believe I could implement the knowledge I had while learning new things,” says Pollock.
Throughout her 16-year career at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), Pollock has been innovatively providing medical professionals and scientists access to vast amounts of historical knowledge. Her oral history project has been one of the most rewarding. It began spontaneously in 2000, during a gathering of scientists. Pollock spoke with them about their work and the future of the field. “I realized that if I could record the conversations of these extraordinary people, then many others would be able hear what they had to say. I sent a staffer out that day to buy our first simple video camera. Today our collection of 157 video interviews is widely used.”
Pollock and her colleagues are working on a comprehensive website and ebook on the Human Genome Project (HGP), not surprising given that CSHL houses the papers of Nobel Prize laureate James D. Watson, first director of HGP and codiscoverer of the structure of DNA, who led the lab from 1968 to 2003. “I have never met a science librarian with more spunk and creative mettle than Mila Pollock!” Watson says.
Pollock’s passion is making navigating topics with immense amounts of information less challenging. “My most fervent hope is to do similar projects, especially one covering the history of cancer research.”
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Don Pollock
Congratulations Mila!
As Jim Watson famously said,
Mila is the best science librarian in the world!
Posted : Oct 08, 2020 03:01
Jonathan Wachtel
Enjoyed learning these impressive details about you and your passion.Posted : Aug 26, 2016 03:53
Donna Gibson
Mila - Congratulations on being recognized as a Mover & Shaker. A well deserved acknowledgement of your contributions to your organization and to our network of information professionals!Posted : Mar 29, 2016 01:21
Laura Whitman, MD
From Moscow to New York City, I have admired Mila's intellectual curiosity and bright spirit. Congratulations, dear friend! Laura Whitman, MDPosted : Mar 27, 2016 02:01
Carol Feltes
One of the most rewarding aspects of academic research librarianship in the greater NYC area is the wonderful professional networking and fantastic colleagues. You are right at the top of the list, Mila. Congratulations! You ARE a "mover and shaker."Posted : Mar 22, 2016 01:23
Holly Miller
Congratulations, Mila! Working with you is always exciting. You have fantastic ideas and tremendous energy. You are the epitome of a Mover & Shaker.Posted : Mar 19, 2016 12:06