Mark your MLA calendar for the launch of the Middle Atlantic Region Strategic Plan!

Based on feedback from network member libraries in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and with the endorsement of the Regional Advisory Committee, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) is pleased to invite MLA attendees to the launch of our Strategic Program Plan for Member Participation. Please join Karen Brewer, Director of NN/LM MAR, and members of the RML staff for this informative and celebratory launch. Attendees will receive a pocket copy of the plan and our brand new MAR eco-friendly bag.

Date: Sunday, May 18/08
Time: 8:00 a.m. -9:00 a.m.
Place: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Hong Kong room, Gold level, West Tower

For those who cannot attend, the full version of the plan is available on the NN/LM MAR website, http://nnlm.gov/mar/about/plansreports.html

Against the Odds: Making a Difference in Global Health.

A new exhibit at the National Library of Medicine

Located on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland (just outside of Washington, DC), the exhibit examines the revolution in global health taking place in towns and cities around the world. Communities, in collaboration with scientists, advocates, governments, and international organizations, are working on an international level to investigate complex global health issues, ranging from community health and conflict to disease and discrimination.

Free of charge and open to the public, this exhibition introduces some of the scientists, advocates, communities, and organizations who have made a difference—working together, against the odds, for the benefit of all.

Prior to the public opening on April 17^th, the Library held an opening program featuring a global health panel moderated by CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen featuring young activists and health advocates featured in the exhibit. A webcast of the panel is available for viewing here: http://videocast.nih.gov/Summary.asp?File=14435

The approximately 4,000 square foot exhibit is comprised of six different sections including:

• Food for Life; Brazil and its citizens are featured in this area of the exhibit as the country is currently facing an epidemic of obesity as well as a lingering crisis of hunger and malnutrition.
• Action on AIDS; In the face of discrimination, negligence, stigma, and ignorance, advocates for health and human rights have fought against the spread of the disease.
• An End to Violence; Physicians and campaigners have used evidence gathered by medical personnel and the testimony of witnesses to highlight the terrible toll of warfare. This work has led to treaties banning the use of landmines and agreements against nuclear weapons testing.

Additional information about the exhibit, including directions and docent-led tour information can be found at www.nlm.nih.gov/againsttheodds.

The exhibit web site also contains interactive features for those not able to visit such as:

• Games and instructional resources for middle- and high-school students and educators
• Global health perspective database, where readers can join in the dialogue on global health issues
• Monthly columns from global thought leaders reflecting on current events, key issues, or historical milestones in global health

The May 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:

Frightened of Food
Living with Food Allergies
Imagine what life would be like if you had to constantly check out the ingredients in your favorite foods to make sure your life wasn’t in danger after eating even a tiny bit. For some people with severe food allergies, that’s become their way of life.

Of Air and Asthma
Air Pollution’s Effects
A growing number of Americans are sniffling and suffering with allergies and asthma. If you’re 1 of the 23 million Americans who suffer from asthma, you might get some relief by taking steps to reduce indoor allergen levels and modifying your lifestyle to avoid the ill effects of air pollution.

Health Capsules:

• Keeping Off Lost Weight
• Older Corneas Can Make Good Transplants
• Featured Web Site: Gear Up!

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. 

Live from Computers and Libraries 2008

Susan Robishaw
Assistant Director Health Sciences Libraries
Geisenger Health System

I’m getting my technological batteries recharged at Computers in Libraries 23rd annual conference. I’ve attended several over the years (too difficult to figure how many!) and I’ve always found it to be very worthwhile. Usually, I have a hard time deciding just which sessions to attend. Then there are the free Cybertours. These 15 minute, standing room only sessions take place in the exhibit hall. Given by “savvy web experts,” they compete for my limited time yet add value I’m reluctant to do without.

Today, I’ve been attending sessions on Integrating Hi Tech with Hi Touch. Of the morning’s sessions, the 2nd one on Digital Convergence & People Apps was more useful than the first one, which was interesting, but definitely public library oriented. The current session is High Touch with Customer Care. The first presenter spoke about patient education and did an excellent job! Her talk was relevant, practical and informative. She’s going to post her slides on her patientmatters blog. The current presentation is about taking summer reading online, so I’m tuning out.
The last session for today is “Library Staff Training: High Tech & High Touch. Staff training is a perpetual endeavor and doing it well is a challenge. I’m looking forward to learning some new techniques.

BTW: I finally feel like I’m a member of the “in” group. I brought my recently purchased laptop, a notebook actually. It has wifi, so I can log into the hotel’s wireless T-mobile network, use Word to compose this blog entry, and to take notes during presentations. I like to sit up front so I can hear better. Another advantage of sitting in the front is that there are tables with surge protectors. In the last session, my red Dell XPS was sandwiched between 2 other Dells. The one to my left was satisfactorily mundane: a gray notebook about the same size as mine, but visibly an older model. The owner commented favorably about mine. The one to my right, though, I must admit, caused me a few minutes of laptop envy; it was smaller and sleeker than mine, but still a pedestrian gray. Another Dell just sat down it’s both black and bigger. The owner doesn’t seem to mind though.

www.slideshare.net/informationgoddess29
http://patienteducationmatters.blogspot.com

The NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region (MAR), as part of its outreach and library improvement programs and its Strategic Program Plan for Network Members, is accepting applications from MAR full and affiliate network members to plan or determine the feasibility for future library improvement and outreach projects. Library improvement includes strengthening the technological capabilities of libraries to respond to changes in the health information environment and to users’ needs, the ability of libraries to share resources, share and build on best practices, identify emerging opportunities and threats to libraries and develop a plan to address them. Outreach includes reaching out to communities that a library does not usually serve, or expand services to communities that are underserved and offering training, document delivery partnerships, collaborative programming and reference and research support.

Planning is the foundation for success of any project. Three awards at $15,000 each are available.

Deadline for submission of applications: August 1, 2008

Examples of potential planning award projects are:

• Developing, expanding or promoting consortia that provide improved access to biomedical literature or provide improved library services
• Developing models of e-licensing and e-serials management that can be used by small to medium-sized hospital libraries
• Developing a region-wide leadership institute and mentoring program
• Hosting a series of planning meetings with potential outreach partners.
• Conducting a state-wide library disaster/emergency preparedness planning meeting.
• Holding meetings to identify historical medical collections in the region for inclusion in NLM’s Directory of History of Medicine collections.

Other planning projects or ideas are welcome.

Eligibility

• Full or affiliate MAR members in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
• Partnerships between MAR members and community, health, senior and diversity organization are strongly encouraged.

For more information, including cost proposal instructions and online application form go to: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/planning.html

If you have questions or require assistance contact Kathel Dunn, Associate Director, at 1-800-338-7657, 212-263-4197, or rml@library.med.nyu.edu . Awards will be announced on the MAR discussion list, MARL as well as the MAR newsletter, the MARquee.

What do portfolios filled with handouts and cow stress toys have in common? 

They are both being used in a promotional campaign to raise awareness of library-sponsored resources and evidence-based nursing practice research at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.  Utilizing the Micro-Award Grant funding from NN/LM-MAR, portfolios have been purchased and filled with handouts advertising library services, full text access to e-journals and e-books, evidence-based practice resources, and information about Loansome Doc. 

These portfolios will be handed out as part of a brief presentation on library services at medical department meetings, nursing leadership meetings, nursing orientation and other internal forums.  One portfolio is designed for the nursing audience and one for the physician audience.  Physician briefings will highlight e-resources and Loansome Doc.  Nursing presentations will include discussions of nursing evidence-based practice and how to think about the sacred cows of patient care.  Nurses who provide suggestions for evidence-based nursing practice research topics will be given a cow stress toy to reinforce the need for such research activity.  Door prizes, USB drives for physicians and disposable digital cameras for nurses, will be awarded at the end of each presentation.

Evaluation forms are included in every portfolio for feedback.  It is hoped that there will be an increase in the use of library services, especially hits on the library web page and its content, and an increase in the number of Loansome Doc registrants.  By putting these resources into the hands of our physicians and nurses we will empower them to look at research as a tool for improved patient care and quality.

Mary Jo Russell, MLS, AHIP- Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie, NY

This class will review the current NIH Public Access policy, including definitions of public and open access, submission requirements and who it applies to. The class will also demonstrate how one library - the NYU Dental Library - is implementing the policy at its institution.

Tuesday, April 1, from 11:00am - 12:00pm

Register at rml@library.med.nyu.edu or call 1.800.338.7657

There are still a few spots left in both workshops. Register for either or both classes by sending an email to rml@library.med.nyu.edu

Registration is free. Class break refreshments and lunch are included for attendees. The classes are limited to 25 registrants. Please register by March, 28, 2008.

The goal of the Outreach Evaluation Workshop Series is to develop the ability of those who conduct health information outreach projects to gather and use evaluation data for program improvement and decision-making.

These workshops are hosted by NN/LM MAR and taught by Susan Barnes and Cindy Olney of the Outreach Evaluation Resource Center, NN/LM Pacific Northwest, University of Washington. Attendance at previous workshops is not a prerequisite.

Data Collection for Health Information Outreach, 8:00-12:00, April 15/08
In this workshop, participants will learn to apply good principles of data collection to assure that data - both qualitative and quantitative - will be useful in making project decisions. The emphasis will be on efficient methods that can keep data collection at a manageable level.

Data Analysis for Health Information Outreach, 1:00-5:00, April 15/08
Participants will learn basic methods for compiling and analyzing qualitative and quantitative evaluation data to maximize their usefulness in project improvement and decision-making.

Class date: Tuesday, April, 15, 2008
Class times: Data Collection for Health Information Outreach: 8:00-12:00; Data Analysis for Health Information Outreach: 1:00-5:00
Location: New York University, Frederick L. Ehrman Medical Library, 550 First Ave., New York

HRSA’s free online course: Unified Health Communication 101:

Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency has now been approved for 5 MLA Continuing Education Contact Hours.

Additional information about the course can be found at:
http://www.hrsa.gov/healthliteracy/training.htm

Tox Town is now available in both English, http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov and en español, http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/espanol. Visitors can learn in English or in Spanish about environmental health concerns and over 30 toxic chemicals in these imaginary neighborhoods: a City, Farm, Town, US-Mexico Border, and Port.In either language, Tox Town uses neighborhood scenes along with color, graphics, sounds, and animation to add interest to learning about connections between chemicals, the environment, and the public’s health. Tox Town’s target audience is high school, college and graduate students, educators, and the interested public.

Tox Town en español identifies Spanish-language information in a subject area – environmental health and toxicology – that currently has few Web resources. To supplement the limited Web resources in Spanish, nearly 100 pages of background information describing environmental health concerns were translated and reviewed by a team of bilingual health information specialists.

Tox Town is ideal for supplementing classes in environmental science, earth science, forensics, and health. Also, students learning to read either English or Spanish may use Tox Town to improve language skills as they toggle back and forth between the Spanish and English text.

Tox Town joins three other Spanish-language Web resources from the National Library of Medicine. ToxMystery, for grades 2–6, features a bilingual talking cat that teaches about possible chemical hazards around the home, http://toxmystery.nlm.nih.gov. MedlinePlus (en español at http://medlineplus.gov/spanish ) directs users to hundreds of Spanish-language resources on health including drug information, news stories and interactive tutorials that read aloud in Spanish or in English. The AIDSinfo Web site, home for treatment guidelines, drug information and clinical trials related to HIV/AIDS, also has a Spanish version, infoSIDA, available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/infoSIDA.

Tox Town® is a project of the Specialized Information Services Division of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Promotional materials and Tox Town images for Web sites and publications are listed at http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/clipart.html. Please send your comments or questions on Tox Town to tehip@teh.nlm.nih.gov.