Learn about the history and future directions of MedlinePlus Go Local in Naomi Miller’s latest article, The NLM Hosted Go Local System: An Opportunity for Medical Libraries. Most importantly, learn how your library can benefit by participating in Go Local.

Welcome to October!

Marking Medical Librarians’ Month and to celebrate the work of medical librarians throughout the country, the National Library of Medicine has put out its annual page featuring the work of medical librarians and the interesting projects they conduct for their institutions and beyond.

This year New England Network Member institutions and their librarians in New Hampshire and Maine are recognized for their work respectively in theater and outreach to immigrant populations. Read about those projects at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/lo/profiles08/ner.html .

And you can read about the projects from all of the regions in the Network at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/lo/profiles08/.

Happy Medical Librarians’ Month!

Your local NNLM coordinators spent the past week at exhibiting at the ASTRO (American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Our participation at national exhibits help us to get the word out to health professionals about the high quality resources available through the National Library of Medicine. Most conference attendees were familiar with PubMed. Our objective is to educate about advanced search features. Though, the My NCBI feature came out in 2005. There is still a large majority of health professionals who are unaware of this outstanding feature. My experience is that when care providers learn about the “current awareness” feature (that they can save searches to have them emailed on a regular update)…there is much excitement. This is a time saving and educational tool, which is essential for keeping up to date with new research.

Keep your providers up to date on the “hot topics” most relevant to them. Help them to register for a MyNCBI account, customize searches with them and have them emailed to them. My observation is that most providers are just not using RSS yet. We need to be where are users are at…

Here is our own Lauri Fennell, Outreach and Education Coordinator, demonstrating MyNCBI.

Beyond an Apple a Day: Providing Consumer Health Information at Your Library

Want to improve your consumer health collection and services? Interested in improving your reference skills for providing health information for the public? Then this class is for you. Starting with a discussion about the information seeking behaviors of consumers, the class focuses on the provision of consumer health information services for the public. We will also cover health literacy, planning the service, the reference interview, consumer health online, collection development, collaboration, community partnerships, outreach and marketing. Students will also learn about how to stay up to date on consumer health librarianship.

Course approved:
• 8 Medical Library Association contact hours
• May be applied towards the MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization.

Dates: January and February 2009
Format: A course shell you can access online 24/7 at your own pace as well as two interactive online sessions (dates to be announced)

Assignments:
• forum discussion of health information seeking of providers and consumers
• patient education rewrite exercise
• forum discussion on aspects of the reference interview including challenges, evaluating health information and usage of disclaimers
• needs assessment for program development
• collection development activity
• practice literature searches
• create a sample outreach project
• develop an elevator speech to promote your service

Instructor: Michelle Eberle Consumer Health Information Coordinator, NN/LM NER
Interactive sessions co-facilitated by: Terri Ottosen Consumer Health Coordinator, NN/LM SE/A

To register: Please contact Martha Pearson.

On Tuesday, September 23rd, I had the honor of providing a training session to the health staff at the Wampanoag Tribe in Mashpee, MA. I had the opportunity to learn about the tribe’s health information needs and discuss opportunities for partnering with the tribe to educate about online health information. The Tribal Health Center is very eager to incorporate NLM consumer health resource training into their health information outreach.

Caring for the Mind: Providing Reference Services for Mental Health Information

Responding to mental health reference questions is challenging for even the most experienced librarian. In “Caring for the Mind”, participants will learn how to effectively provide reference services for mental health information for the public. Participants will learn the best web sites, databases and collection development materials to respond to mental health related questions. Best approaches to handling challenging reference interviews will be explored. This class will increase your knowledge of consumer level mental health resources.

Course approved:

· 4 Medical Library Association contact hours

· May be applied towards the MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization.

· 2 additional credits pending for interactive sessions

Dates: November 10- Dec 5, 2008

Course is free!!!

Format: A course shell you can access online 24/7 at your own pace as well as two interactive online sessions (dates to be announced)

Assignments:

Readings
Reflections on readings
Resource review / literature searches
Mini quizzes – no grades! …for self assessment only.
Crossword fun!

Instructor: Michelle Eberle, Consumer Health Information Coordinator

Please contact instructor with any inquiries about course.

To register: Please contact Martha Pearson.

Contributed by Cindy Stewart

The Heath Education Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

In October 2007 the Health Education Center (HEC) at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, was officially opened for business. The HEC serves DHMC patients, their family members, and the community at large.

The HEC is a collaborative effort among several departments: the Dartmouth College Biomedical Libraries, the Dartmouth College Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, and the hospital’s Center for Shared Decision Making. The Center for Shared Decision Making helps individuals with difficult healthcare decisions. Shared Decision Making staff in the HEC offer helpful videos from their Decision Aid collection.

The HEC is focused on connecting the dots between information requirements, the need for emotional and educational support, and
on-site counseling for medical decision making. Biomedical Libraries staff, a health
educator, and Center for Shared Decision Making staff are available to assist users. A team of trained volunteers from the hospital’s Volunteer Services department also helps to make the HEC a friendly and welcoming environment.

Computers and Internet access are available 24/7 for individuals to check email, search the web for health information, and to work on a health status questionnaire. The health status questionnaire is required of many of the patients at DHMC. If they do not have a computer or Internet access at home, or if they are not comfortable using a computer, they can work with a HEC staff member or volunteer on their questionnaire. There is a quiet reading room, equipment for viewing video based decision aids and other health education material.
There is also a classroom for use by support groups and other health-related programs (including tobacco cessation, advance directives, and finding health information).

For more information about the Health Education Center, visit http://www.dhmc.org/goto/hec or contact Cindy Stewart, Associate Director, Dartmouth College Biomedical Libraries.

Hello everyone.

This note announces the availability of subcontract and awards funding from NER for 2008-2009. I’ve pasted information relevant to both subcontracts and awards below. Please contact Javier Crespo if you have any questions or want to talk about project possibilities you’ve been thinking about.

NER announces the availability of Health Information Outreach Subcontracts. Health Information Outreach Subcontracts assist Network members and other health-related agencies in their efforts to provide information services and training to audiences not normally reached. Target audiences can be health care workers, librarians and others who refer consumers to health information, and consumers.

Subcontracts fund extended health information projects that generally run from 12 to 18 months. The Health Information Outreach Subcontract’s primary aim is to broaden access to health information resources featuring National Library of Medicine resources.

Total amount to be funded for any or all approved projects is $40,000.
Proposals are due October 28, 2008.
Awardees will be contacted on or before November 30.
Funded projects can begin their performance period after January 1, 2009.

The complete Request for Proposal (RFP) is available at http://nnlm.gov/ner/funding/rfps/Health_Info_Outreach_Subcontract_y3.pdf

Proposals are accepted from Full or Affiliate members of the NN/LM NER. Partnerships with affiliate members, public health agencies, state, county and /or local public health agencies and community-based groups are strongly encouraged. Proposals are encouraged from community-based agencies and organizations working with providers and patients or other agencies seeking to conduct a health information project.

In addition funds are limited but available for the following awards:
Express Outreach and other awards
Community Engagement Awards support short-term outreach projects for advancing health information
Course Development Awards support the development of instructional programs
Exhibits Awards are for members’ participation at venues that promote health information resources.
Technology Awareness Program Awards fund learning programs for the application of technology in health information
Internet Connectivity Awards fund the expanded access to health information needed in libraries and other settings

There’s more information for both subcontracts and awards available at http://nnlm.gov/ner/funding/

As we are making plans to attend October’s NAHSL Conference (our 50 anniversary!) here are a couple of courses to be taught by NER and para-NNLM staff. Consider attending!

Your Library’s Value: Needs Assessment, Program Development, Program Evaluation-Cindy Olney
4 MLA CE Credits (pending)
Sunday Morning CE (8:00 am - 12:00 pm)

Course Description:
One goal of evaluation is to assess and improve the “value” of a program or unit. In this workshop, participants will first learn how to define “value” by assessing the needs of the many different stakeholders in their environment (users, administrators, library staff, etc.). They then will learn to map their programs and services against institutional goals using a logic model and develop an evaluation plan to investigate and document their libraries’ contributions to the institutional mission. The workshop will end with a presentation about online library-value calculators, which participants can use for cost-benefit analysis and return-on-investment.

Target Audience:
Health sciences librarians (although information will be applicable to other library settings) Difficulty Level:
Introductory
Class Objectives:
By the end of the class, participants will be able to translate larger institutional goals into library goals and outcomes, then develop a plan to provide and evaluate programs and services that will demonstrate their library’s value.

Instructor: Cindy Olney, PhD
Cynthia Olney is an evaluation specialist for the NN/LM Outreach Evaluation Resource Center, has provided consultation for numerous National Library of Medicine and other health information outreach projects, and will present this OERC workshop.

The Healthy Librarian - Michelle Eberle
2 MLA CE Credits
Tuesday CE (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm)

Course Description:
Learn simple strategies to cultivate wellness in the workplace at your library. Participants will learn skills to manage challenges of the job including emotional patrons and a sedentary job. This interactive session will explore practical solutions including stress management skills, ergonomics and how to incorporate more activity into your day.
Resources for improving one’s health literacy including health check tools and developing resiliency for changes in the profession will be explored. Participants will leave with enhanced knowledge and practical skills for incorporating healthy habits into their daily work.

Target Audience:
Anyone interested in managing stress, ergonomics and creating a healthier workplace Difficulty Level:
Beginning
Class Objectives:
Know why workplace wellness matters Learn the difference between workplace wellness and a health promoting work culture c. Gain valuable tools to enhance workplace wellness in the following areas: nutrition, ergonomics, stress management, exercise and fitness and beyond the workplace Leave feeling rejuvenated with creative ideas to make their library a health promoting workplace

Instructor:Michelle L. Eberle, MS LIS
Michelle Eberle, is the Consumer Health Information Coordinator (CHIC) for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, New England Region. With a position with a really neat acronym, she travels around New England educating librarians, health professionals and consumers about National Library of Medicine resources and services.
Michelle earned a Masters in Library and Information Science from Simmons College in Boston, MA where she was blessed to meet her husband, Matt, also a medical librarian. Michelle graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut with a Bachelors of Arts in Social Work. After graduating from Simmons, Michelle worked at the Somerville Hospital as a solo Medical Librarian. At Somerville Hospital, she discovered her passion for consumer health librarianship by serving on the patient education committee.

See the other education offerings to be offered at NAHSL ‘08 at: http://nahsl.org/2008/ce.html

The September issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research, is now online at http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/. In this issue of NIH News in Health:

Good Health to Go
Eating Smart at School
Even in the chaotic world of the school cafeteria, children can make smart food choices. You can play a key role in helping children learn the fundamentals of healthy living—eating well and staying active—whatever pressures they face outside home.
full story

Back to School with Diabetes
Plan Ahead for a Smooth Start to School
Notebooks, erasers, pencil sets and backpacks are on most kids’ back-to-school lists. But if your child has diabetes, you should add a few extra tasks to the list. Planning ahead, and getting help from others, will help pave the way for a successful year.
full story

Health Capsules:

• Children’s Physical Activity Drops
• Diabetes and a Healthy Pregnancy
• Featured Web Site: NIDA Goes Back to School

Click here to download a PDF version for printing.

Subscribe to receive email alerts when new issues of NIH News in Health are posted by going to https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=nihnewsinhealth-l&A=1.

Please pass the word on to your colleagues about The NIH News in Health. We are happy to send a limited number of print copies free of charge for display in offices, libraries or clinics. Just contact us for more information.

If you’re an editor who wishes to reprint our stories, please see http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/about.htm for information.

Sincerely,

Harrison Wein

Harrison Wein, Ph.D., Writer/Editor
National Institutes of Health
Office of the Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison
Bldg. 31, Rm. 5B64A, MSC 2094
Bethesda, MD 20892-2094
Phone: 301-435-7489
Fax: 301-480-4026
E-mail: weinh@od.nih.gov