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Dragonfly, Autumn 1999 Consumer Health Initiative in the RML

NLM has undertaken a consumer health initiative, which includes services such as MEDLINEplus and changes in the RML program. Right now the Pacific Northwest RML is taking its first steps in the direction of consumer health information. We know many of you took your first steps years ago and are now running marathons, but we are pretty happy just to be starting!

Some steps we've already taken in partnership with others:

• We awarded an outreach subcontract to Oregon Health Sciences University a couple of years ago to develop specific consumer health materials. See http://www.ohsu.edu/bicc-Library/hoodriver/
• With special funding from NLM we are contracting with Maureen Carleton of the King County Library System to prepare a web-based tutorial on health information for public librarians.
• We are sponsoring a series of classes around the region, taught by Margaret Connors, for public and health libraries who are partnering to provide consumer health information.
• We have asked Nancy Press to take on the role of the RML's Network Librarian for Consumer Health Resources, starting January 1, 2000. Nancy will have a colleague in consumer health in each of the eight RML offices and also at NLM.

As we start up this new endeavor we want to take a long look at "what role health libraries should and can play in access to health information by the public for informed decision making in health." Tall order! So, we will need help. We plan to call on expert consumer health librarians and people in allied fields (health educators, health ethicists, public librarians, state librarians) to give us guidance and ideas.

Look at how much NLM has helped us, as health librarians, to provide services to health care professionals. Think of what we might be able to do with NLM's help in the area of consumer health!

URL: http://nnlm.gov/pnr/news/199912/health.html