Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Woman Physicians

Traveling Exhibition Workshop

Friday, April 1, 2005


Bethesda, MD

Lisa M. Boyd, Consumer Health Librarian


National Network Office, NLM


National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM)

Who Are We?

  • 5,518 Local Health Science Libraries (PALs)

  • 50 Resource Libraries (RLs)

  • 8 Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs)

Goals of the RML Contract 2001-2006

  • To develop collaborations with NN/LM libraries to improve access to and sharing of biomedical information resources throughout the nation

  • To promote awareness of and access to biomedical information resources for health professionals and the public

  • To develop, promote, and improve access to electronic health information resources by network member libraries, health professionals, and organizations providing health information to the public.

Expectations

  • Recruit new members.

  • Promote more partnerships and collaborations with organizations that promote/support or provide consumer health information.

  • Identify effective and creative ways to reach special populations (minorities, seniors, faith-based and community-based organizations.

  • Evaluate what we do.

Membership in the NN/LM

Benefits include:

  • Certificate recognizing Network Membership.

  • Resource sharing/Access to Network ILL services.

  • Opportunity to serve on Regional Advisory Council/provide input on regional activities, programs & services.

  • Project funding opportunities.

  • Training & education.

Public Library Partnerships: An NN/LM Priority

  • Evaluation focus: outreach to 1) public libraries and 2) public health workforce

  • ML Evaluation Task Forces convened

  • Outreach objectives determined at the RML Director's meeting in Dallas, May 2002

NN/LM Outreach To Public Libraries: 3 Objectives

  • Increase links to MED+ on public library websites

  • Increase confidence level and skill of public librarians in answering health related questions

  • Encourage relationships between public libraries and "community health partners"

Task Force developed plans using a
Logic Model

Excerpt from Logic Model: Objective 3

Features of the Web Resource:
Working Together

  • Created by representatives from 4 RMLs and the National Network Office at NLM

  • Broken down into "digestible" sections

  • Focuses on information leading up to public libraries applying for funding for projects involving community partners, starting with members of NN/LM

Partnerships

Orange County Public Library System with community based organizations in Orange County, FL.

  • Learning Modules in Prenatal Care, Healthy Kids, Senior Wellness.

  • Outreach to Neighborhood Centers for Families in the County

Wicomico County Free Library & Peninsula Regional Medical Center & Wicomico County Health Department in Wicomico County, MD

  • Life Options Community

  • Access to electronic health information by county seniors.

Sno-Isle Regional Library & Whidbey Island Hospital Foundation in Island County, WA.

  • Connect patients & their families, health professionals, general public with reliable health information.

  • Hospital linked to Library reference and health resources.

University of Virginia Health Sciences Library & Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center in VA.

  • Train Promotoras in Blue Ridge region.

  • Web site of Spanish language materials and workstations in churches and public library

University of North Dakota Health Sciences Library & four North Dakota Indian reservations.

  • Provide information services and training for tribal health professionals.

  • Expand Linking Native Americans to Health Information Web site.