Our goal is to promote awareness of and access to biomedical information resources for health professionals and the public. One of the ways we do this is by offering training in the effective use of Internet health information resources, highlighting National Library of Medicine and National Network of Libraries of Medicine products and services.

Consumer Health Classes

Prescription for Success: Consumer Health Information on the Internet
This introduction to consumer health information will cover the information-seeking behaviors of consumers, the basics of MedlinePlus, DIRLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and other reliable web pages such as those from professional medical associations and advocacy groups. It will cover sites devoted to pharmaceutical information for consumers, drug-interaction databases and herbal information (2-3 hours). (Approved for 3 MLA Contact Hours)

From Snake Oil to Penicillin: Evaluating Consumer Health Information on the Internet
This course will describe why it is important to evaluate websites. Participants will be given criteria for how to evaluate health information on the Internet. (2-3 hours) (Approved for 3 MLA Contact Hours)

Looking in all the Wrong Places: PubMed for Public Librarians
This class will cover basic and field searching, journal browser, single citation matcher, clipboard, history and other features. It will also cover how to obtain full-text articles. (2-3 hours) (Approved for 3 MLA Contact Hours)

Beyond an Apple a Day: Providing Consumer Health Information at Your Library
This class will cover the information seeking behaviors of consumers. It will also address the recommended core reference collection, as well as databases and newsletter/ periodicals. It will cover the reference interview, disclaimers and privacy as well as networking with medical librarians. The class will introduce the students to the Medical Library Association and its local chapters. It will describe possible ways to market this service in a community. (2-4 hours) (Approved for 4 MLA Contact Hours)

¿No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarians
Do you have a growing Latino population in your community? Do you need to find health information in Spanish fast but don't know where to look? Are the only words in your Spanish vocabulary burrito and gracias? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is the class for you. This 4-hour hands-on class will cover resources for learning basic, library, medical and Internet vocabulary. You will also learn to evaluate and identify health websites in Spanish to which you can direct your patrons. (Approved for 4 MLA Contact Hours)

Consumer Health: An Evidence Based Approach to Complementary & Alternative Medicine
This course is in no way a compilation of all of the complementary and alternative medicine resources that are available. Instead, it is an attempt to provide a look at evidence based and peer reviewed alternative medicine resources. (Approved for 4 MLA Contact Hours)

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", the participants will learn how to effectively provide reference services for mental health information. Participants will learn the best web sites, databases and collection development materials to respond to mental health related questions. Handling the reference interview with care and sensitivity will be explored. The class will include both hands-on and discussion. (Approved for 3 MLA Contact Hours)

This class is also available as part of the NNLM Distance Learning initiative. More information is available at: http://nnlm.gov/ner/training/caringforthemind.html

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PubMed, Toxnet, and Other Resources

NOTE:   PubMed classes come in a variety of formats and can be tailored to fit the needs of the group and the time frame available. There are some PubMed courses that are approved for MLA CE credit or CNE credit or CME credit -- those are listed here. However, it is important to note that these are not the only PubMed classes available.

Courses approved for MLA CE contact hours

Keeping up with NLM's PubMed
With a hands-on approach, this class will show attendees how to use the features of PubMed effectively. Attendees will be able to describe the contents of PubMed; formulate basic search strategies; display, print, and save results in various formats; revise and refine searches; and use special features such as Related Articles, Link to journals, Citation Matcher, and Clinical Queries. The class will be online and hands-on. The instructor will demonstrate online searches and students, at computers connected to the Internet, will be invited to follow along. Time for individual practice will be provided. (Approved for MLA CE contact hours: 2, 3, 4)

Making PubMed Work For You
This class is intended to hone basic searching techniques and the ability to develop search strategies that will take advantage of the PubMed interface to MEDLINE. The course will explore various methods for searching the PubMed system. Topics covered include using MeSH and search qualifiers, limiting search results, and refining your search. This course will provide an in-depth view of the system and demonstrate utilizing the features of PubMed to search effectively. The 3.5 version of the course provides the attendees with hands-on opportunities to practice their search techniques. (Approved for MLA CE contact hours: 3.5)

NLM Systems Update
This 1 1/2 hour lecture course focuses upon changes made to NLM systems in the past year. Participants will be alerted to PubMed feature updates, changes in the Gateway, and in MEDLINEplus. New products such as NIHSeniorHealth, Household Products Database, and Genetics Home Reference will also be discussed. (Approved for MLA CE contact hours: 1.5)

PubMed Expert Searching: Using PubMed to Get Advanced Results
Expert searching includes more sophisticated use of PubMed tools such as field qualifiers, the preview/index feature, creation of hedges in cubby, and creating links for a library web page. Greater knowledge of the Medline database and indexing vocabulary is also necessary in making expert search decisions. The class takes on a train the trainer focus to help participants translate these advanced searching techniques to other users. The class builds upon the user's own knowledge of searching to use PubMed more effectively. (Approved for MLA CE contact hours: 4.0)

Nursing on the Net: Health Care Resources You Can Use
Looking for the latest developments in patient care but finding too much, too little or inadequate information? This hands-on workshop is designed for librarians responsible for information services to the Nursing and Allied Health professions. Participants will learn to use and evaluate web based health information resources, find online news services, continuing online education courses, and consumer health web sites. Participants will also learn to search the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE database of over 15 million citations using the PubMed interface. The workshop will also cover MEDLINEplus the National Library of Medicine's web site for consumer health information. (Approved for MLA CE credits: 4.0, pending re-approval)

Public Health on the Web
This class presents a general overview of key electronic information resources in the field of public health. The crucial role health information serves in public health will be discussed. Resources will be presented on a wide array of topics including: health education and promotion, evidence-based practice, statistics and data sets and current awareness. Case studies will be used in class exercises to reinforce learning. This class is designed for information professionals and public health workers interested in increasing their knowledge of the many information resources available on the internet. (Approved for MLA CE credits: 4.0)

TOXNET
This in an introductory class on the TOXNET databases for inexperienced users. Participants will learn about the different databases available on TOXNET and what type of information in available in each database. In addition, participants will learn the various ways to search the databases. (Approved for MLA CE credits: 2.0)

First Look: Molecular Biology Resources from NCBI
Don't know much about biology? That's OK. Always been hesitant to look at those "other" databases from NCBI? Then this course is for you. It is designed specifically for librarians who have little or no experience using the molecular biology resources from NCBI. This course presents a brief introduction to some basic but fundamental concepts of molecular biology. Then, four different databases from NCBI are introduced: Entrez Gene, Entrez Nucleotide, Entrez Protein, and OMIM. Participants will have a chance for some hands-on practice in each of these databases. This course is an excellent starting point for learning about some of the NCBI resources. (Approved for MLA CE credits: 4.0)

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Courses approved for CNE credit

The following courses have been approved by the Texas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. These activities meet Type I criteria for mandatory continuing education requirements toward relicensure as established by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas. CNE accreditation by the Texas Nurses Association is recognized by all U.S. states except California and Iowa. Each course is accredited for 1 hour of activity (1.2 contact hours).

• Introduction to PubMed
• Introduction to consumer health resources at NLM: MedlinePlus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the NLM Gateway
• Internet basics for nurses

The outlines and objectives for each of these courses is available at http://nnlm.gov/scr/training/cne.html

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Courses approved for CME credit

These courses have been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of NIH/FAES and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine's regional medical libraries. The NIH/FAES is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

• Introduction to Consumer Health Resources at NLM: MedlinePlus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the NLM Gateway. (1 hour or 1.5 hour classes available)
• Introduction to PubMed (1 hour class)
• Introduction to PubMed "Plus" (2 hour class)
• Introduction to http://PHpartners.org (1 hour class)
• Introduction to http://PHpartners.org (2 hour class)

Information, including outlines and objectives for the above classes, may be found at http://nnlm.gov/training/classes.html

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Technology Classes

Geeks Bearing Gifts: unwrapping new technology trends

• Geeks PPT Presentation - Part 1 ( 1230kb)
  
• Geeks PPT Presentation - Part 2 ( 1103kb)
  
• Geeks Web Resources handout ( 84kb)