National Network of Libraries of Medicine

nnlm.gov

Dragonfly

Newsletter of the NN/LM PNR
Winter 2003 -- Volume 34, Number 1

In this issue:

Articles

Review of Outreach Funding Projects

by Linda Milgrom, Outreach Coordinator
NN/LM PNR

The RML has offered network members various types of grants and funding support for outreach projects since the mid 1990's. National Library of Medicine grants have been available even longer. Some solicitations were very limited in scope, small amounts of money to do short-term activities, while other awards for multi-year projects were in the $30,00-$40,000 range. Project managers submitted reports of their progress and were encouraged to share their discoveries with colleagues. However, no systematic follow-up was conducted, leaving RML staff wondering if relationships fostered by outreach projects were sustained, how librarians and project managers reflected on their experiences, and reconsidering procedures and parameters for regionally-sponsored funding opportunities.

To begin to assess past outreach, we contacted the project directors of recently completed RML-funded projects. Since there was so much variation in network programs over the years, we decided to interview (by e-mail or by phone) managers of projects completed in 2001* (the most recently completed activities) and those completed in 1998**(the first year of general outreach funding from the RML). We reached contact staff for most of the projects (12 of 15) and talked generally of impressions of their outreach experiences, using the following questions as a guide:

Since your project ended have you been in touch with the individuals or groups involved in your outreach? Have you continued collaborating with them?
Did your experience lead you to other outreach activities?
Can you identify any lasting benefits of your outreach project (to you, your institution, or your outreach partners/recipients)?
What effect did RML funding have on your project? Would you have liked the RML to be more (or less) involved in your activities?
Are you interested in doing additional outreach?
What advice would you offer others tackling outreach projects?
Do you have suggestions for modifying the RML's approach to outreach? (e.g., Should projects be funded for longer periods, should partner agencies be required to contribute more substantially?)

Findings

The majority of outreach project managers had very positive comments about their experiences. Ten of the twelve respondents reported continuing interaction with outreach partners (or participants). Not surprisingly, the same ten stated (in response to Question 2) that the RML funded project led to other outreach activities. Lasting benefits mentioned included greater community recognition of the library, improved relationships between participant organizations, increased visibility and appreciation of the library professional ("the contribution a librarian can make in working with communities"), and better understanding of the needs of rural providers.

The impact of RML funding (Question 4) was crucial. Several awardees reported they would not have considered, or been able to accomplish, their projects without funding. There was great variation in the type and amount of support (financial and emotional) provided by the RML. Several project managers, with existing relationships in outreach target communities and a clear sense of their needs and interests, completed projects quite independently. Others were in more continuous contact with RML staff. All reported that RML involvement was "just about right." Project managers also uniformly responded that they are interested in doing more outreach, though one mentioned institutional procedural obstacles. Their advice and suggestions reflect "real-life" outreach experience, including:

Work with the community from the very beginning, including when outcomes are defined.
Offer noontime trainings, offer lunch, make it fun!
Equipment purchased for outreach has had lasting utility throughout the institution.
Short duration of outreach projects is beneficial because activities remain focused (quarterly reports also help).
(conversely) For community based work, long time frames are required because active members of the community are often over-committed and group dynamics slow down any project.
Plan evaluation to measure progress "as you go," rather than trying to wrap it all up at the end.
Find a good contact person/collaborator, someone with power in partner agency.
Need more money.
Don't bite off too much.

Implications and Changes:

As we've learned from these and other outreach activities, the RML has made modifications in our funding opportunities. Most notably, outreach project awards were increased to $15,000; mini-awards with simple application templates were initiated; and we offered planning and evaluation workshops. Despite these changes, the number of proposals has not increased (except for mini-awards), and most are submitted by network members who have previously conducted funded projects. Therefore, for the next cycle of funding we will propose many new initiatives, suggested in large part by previous participants. Possible enhancements include a continuum of varied outreach support (from needs assessment prior to a full-fledged project through impact grants to encourage follow-up) as well as funding for new directions (hardware/software for electronic document delivery and professional development). Stay tuned!

For descriptions of current funding opportunities and summaries of recent projects, see http://nnlm.gov/pnr/funding/.

*Projects completed in 2001:

Web-based sources of health information for nurses, ICNE, Spokane, WA, Bob Pringle
Promotion of web-based geriatric care topic, Oregon Pacific AHEC, Corvallis, OR, Karen Bondley
Southwest Oregon diabetes outreach, Southwest Oregon AHEC, Roseburg, OR, John Irwin
Online training for patients and healthcare professionals in Butte and Dillon, St. James Hospital Library, Butte, MT, Laurel Egan
Access to Electronic Health Information for the Public, Idaho Health Sciences Library, Pocatello, ID, Nancy Griffin
Improving Access to Electronic Health Information for Consumers in Northern Idaho, Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d'Alene, ID, Marcia Horner
School Health Nurses: A Link to the Consumer, OHSU, Portland, OR, Dolores Judkins
Access to electronic health information for lesbians; gay men; and providers, researchers, and program developers serving lesbians and gay men, Public Health - Seattle & King County, Seattle, WA, Mark Alstead
Yakima Health Network, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation, Yakima, WA, Rhonda Stone
Outreach to Alaska's Public Health Professionals, University of Alaska Anchorage Health Sciences Information Service, Anchorage, AK, Kathy Murray
EthnoMed Community Outreach Project, University of Washington Health Sciences Library, K.K. Sherwood Branch, Seattle, WA, Ellen Howard

**Projects completed in 1998:

Outreach to McKenzie River Clinic, McKenzie-Willamette Hospital, Community Health Resource Center, Springfield, Lynn Barton (Tamara Gryte)
Outreach to Barrett Memorial Hospital, St, James Hospital Library, Laurel Egan
Information Access Training for Practicing Veterinarians, WSU Veterinary Medical/Pharmacy Library (now Health Sciences Library), Pullman, Vicki Croft
Outreach to the Fort Hall Reservation, Idaho Health Sciences Library, Pocatello, Terry Wiggins (Nancy Griffin)

Dragonfly, Winter 2003- Volume 34 Number 1
(posted on PNRNews on March 31, 2003)

Focus on Funding Series.
Part I: Access To Wellness Project

by Gail Kouame
Consumer Health Coodrinator, NN/LM PNR

Five projects in the Pacific Northwest emphasizing "Access to Electronic Health Information" were recently funded by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). We will highlight each of them individually in this series of Dragonfly articles. The maximum award for each project was $40,000. For further information about funding opportunities, visit our web site at: http://nnlm.gov/pnr/funding.

Access to Wellness Project

The sponsoring agency for this project is the African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry (AARTH) in Seattle, Washington. AARTH is a faith-based, capacity-building, nonprofit health ministry organization established in 2001 to respond to HIV/AIDS and other major health issues affecting people of African descent. AARTH's mission is to build the capacity of churches and faith-based institutions that serve people of African descent through education, access to resources and self-advocacy for better health care services.

The purpose of the Access to Wellness Project is to equip AARTH with the tools and resources that will provide access to health information which is culturally relevant and user friendly, and to help educate African American congregations and faith-based organizations throughout Western Washington. The goals of the project are to:

Establish and equip a faith-based health ministry network with the capacity and infrastructure to increase awareness and knowledge about prevention and health care, and promote responsible health choices and practices.
Provide churches and faith-based organizations with appropriate access to online health information. Emphasis will be on those diseases that predominately and disproportionately affect and impact African Americans.
Establish a Web site for African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry with linkages to culturally relevant health information.

Project partners include AARTH, Mars Hill Graduate School, and seven Western Washington churches and faith-based organizations. The project will also rely upon resources provided by the Pacific Northwest Regional Medical Library. To find out more about AARTH and their project partners, you can visit their web site at: http://aarth.org.

Testing a Web Site for Accessibility: Part II

by Drexel Malone
Student, University of Washington Information School

Part I of this study was presented in a literature review of the topic, in a Dragonfly Newsletter article, Winter 2002, Volume 33, Number 1. Part II presents the usability study of participants with visual impairment using the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region (NNLM/PNR) Web Site. ¹ The parent organization, the National Library of Medicine, coordinates and funds by contract the National Network of Libraries of Medicine through its network of health science libraries.² Their mission is to "ensure that quality health information is accessible to health care providers and consumers" throughout the Northwest region.

Introduction

The NN/LM PNR Web team of three medical librarians and one technology coordinator realized the need for Web site navigation improvements to the organization's Web page by the fall of 2000. People were having difficulty finding things from the Web site. The Web team decided the front page should become more user-friendly.

Pilot tests of new front page designs were conducted with six librarian participants in the summer of 2001. One front page design was chosen and implemented in December 2001. The NN/LM PNR Web site, as a federally funded program, must be accessible for users with disabilities.³ The team decided to do usability testing specifically for users with vision disabilities. Usability testing was designed and conducted by a graduate student from the University of Washington's Information School in June, 2002.

Purpose of the study

This study proposed to determine if blind people could navigate the NNLM/PNR Web site:

Would they understand the wording of the information on the front page?
Would they identify links listed on the front page?
Could they complete tasks that required navigating the front page?
Could they complete tasks that required navigating further through the subsequent pages?
Would the screen reader interpret the front page to allow completion of tasks?
Would the screen reader interpret the headings, text, links, search box, and drop-down and drop-down list boxes, known as combo boxes, used in the organization of the pages?

Methodology

Participants
The study had six participants. They were chosen for their characteristics of having vision impairment (they were completely blind), having computer skills, and having experience with the World Wide Web. All participants worked with computers in some capacity in their jobs at support organizations and institutions for the blind in Seattle, Washington. Four participants taught computer classes to blind people. Ages ranged from 24 to 52. Participants included five men and one woman.

Assistive Technology
Participants all used much the same hardware and software. They used personal computers and monitors at their workstations. In addition, they used Jaws screen reader, version 3.5 or 4.0 to access Web pages. The Jaws application worked in conjunction with a speech synthesizer to create a vocalization of the screen text. All participants used a refreshable Braille display "keyboard" of 80 characters (some were smaller with fewer characters) at their work stations. One participant did not use the Braille display during testing. The Web could be searched without this last piece of equipment; it was most frequently used to check spelling of outgoing emails and to augment the information presented by the speech synthesizer.

Procedure
The researcher studied participants in their own surroundings instead of having the users come to a centrally located laboratory. This technique allowed the participants to use their own computer and adaptive technology equipment in their own work station. This ethnographic technique allows the researcher to note behavioral influences and motivational factors but still allows objectivity to report data free of bias. ⁴ Usability testing is a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques. The researcher is interested in the responses and reactions of the participants as well as collecting objective data. ⁵

The researcher recorded the progress of the participant as the tasks were completed through filming, documentation forms, and participant comments. Using the same person to conduct all test sessions provided consistency. ⁶ Data was collected by data forms as well as field notes. The post-test questionnaire provided documentation of reactions after the session was completed (Appendix 1).

Participants were told they would be asked to complete tasks on the NN/LM PNR Web site, and that the researcher would be recording their progress. They were asked to "think out loud," giving the observer clues to their decision-making process. Participants were assured the session was testing the Web site and not the person. They were also told the camera would be filming the monitor screen for the most part, and not the participant.

Tasks
Five tasks were compiled to represent both difficult and simple jobs. Simple, or superficial, tasks could be completed from the front page, that is, the information or link would be found on the front page. Examples of simple tasks were: finding the links to "Dragonfly Newsletter" and "PubMed" (Appendix 2). More difficult, or deeper, tasks would lead the participant further into the Web site. Examples of deep tasks were: finding links to "About Us," Tribal Connections," and a "health sciences library in Spokane." Participants tended to complete the superficial tasks quickly and had varying degrees of difficulty with the deeper tasks.

Results

Review of the time for each task revealed that where tasks took longer than four minutes there was some difficulty completing the task. Participants were not required to finish within a certain timeframe. This allowed the researcher to track their progress and follow their strategy. The shortest duration for a task was one minute or less; the longest duration for a task was 15 minutes (Appendix 3).

Of the five tasks, the two superficial tasks were completed in the shortest period, with the least difficulty. All participants had similar experience with these tasks, completing them within four minutes (Appendix 4).

Participants had varying degrees of ease or difficulty with the deeper tasks. There was no one consistent pattern and no one clear method that worked better than another. Nor did one feature consistently defeat participants. The approach taken by each participant in fulfilling tasks varied from task to task and from person to person. The deeper tasks were completed in 5 to 15 minutes.

Specific difficulties included finding no direct links to the Tribal Connections project on the Pacific Northwest Region site and no direct link to "staff." One participant noticed that, while there is a direct link from the National Network Libraries of Medicine Web page, there is no direct link from the Regional Network Libraries of Medicine Web page, from where the link originates. The newsletter was listed in the link as "Dragonfly" not "Dragonfly Newsletter," allowing a screen-reader user to miss the newsletter if he were employing the Links List feature (The Links List feature reads only the one word listed as the title of the link, or "Dragonfly" and not "Dragonfly Newsletter.") One last issue arose when participants "searched the site." The search page displays, first, a MEDLINEplus search box, before the "search the whole site" box. One participant found this confusing, since the link he had chosen had said he would arrive at the 'search the site' location, not a MEDLINEplus search location. Others were not bothered by the MEDLINEplus interruption.

Post-test Questionnaire
The post-test results showed all participants were positive in their overall analysis of the Web site. Participants described the site as user-friendly, accessible, easy to use, and well laid out. They further felt the site was Jaws-friendly, with few graphics and frames. The amount of information available on the site was impressive. Several participants emphasized the main advantage of the site was that there were several ways to reach information or to complete a task.

Difficulties, in general, were unusual terms that were puzzling or pronounced incorrectly by Jaws. LOCATORPLUS, a journal-finding service on the site, was pronounced "lacaturploos." MEDLINEplus, was pronounced "medlinploos," and UW HSL (University of Washington Health Sciences Library) was pronounced "Uh husel" by the screen reader.

Recommendations

Results were surprising in their inconsistency. No tasks on the NN/LM PNR Web site consistently defeated participants while two tasks were consistently completed quickly. One consistency in the study was that the tasks that took longer were all "deep" tasks, requiring moving off of the front page, although not all participants took a long time with deep tasks. The other consistency was that superficial tasks were completed quickly by all participants.

Jacob Nielson, a guru of Web page design, suggests that a small number of subjects in usability tests will clearly indicate flaws in Web page design. ⁷ But this study with blind participants did not corroborate that finding. Difficulties with deeper tasks were not consistently experienced. Perhaps testing more people would eventually provide clear results.

Results can be interpreted to mean that the NN/LM PNR Web site is quite successful for a majority of the participants with vision disabilities as they completed this series of tasks. This study was a valuable tool in determining if a medical information Web site is accessible to people with disabilities. Despite finding few majority results, the study emphasizes the variety of ways blind people approach Web site searching. It also indicates the participants subjectively considered the NN/LM PNR Web site a usable site.

Reference List

1. National Networks of Libraries of Medicine Pacific Northwest Region. NN/LM PNR.[Web document]. Seattle, WA: The University of Washington Health Sciences Library, 1994. [rev. 23 Aug 2002; cited 5 Jan 2003]. <http://www.nnlm.gov/pnr/>.back to article

2. National Library of Medicine. [Web document]. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services, 1996. [rev. 27 Jan 2003; cited 5 Jan 2003]. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/siteindex.html>. back to article

3. Section 508, The road to accessibility [Internet]. Washington D.C. Center for IT Accommodation (CITA); c2000 [cited 2001 Nov 17]. <http://www.section508.gov/>. back to article

4. Chatman EA. The information world of retired women. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1992. back to article

5. Dumas JS, Redish JC. A practical guide to usability testing. Revised ed. Portland, OR: Intellect, 1999.back to article

6. Rubin J. Handbook of usability testing: How to plan, design, and conduct effective tests. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994. back to article

7. Useit.com: Jakob Nielsen's Website [Web document]. Fremont (CA): Nielsen Norman Group [cited 2001 Oct 17]. <http://www.useit.com/>. back to article

Dragonfly, Winter 2003- Volume 34 Number 1
(posted on PNRNews on February 20, 2003)

You Submit Interlibrary Loan Requests Via Computer; Why Not Pay For Them That Way?

By Ralph D. Arcari, Ph.D., Edward Donnald, M.L.S., and Colleen Giblin

Here is an update from the Electronic Fund Transfer System, more commonly referred to as EFTS. If you're not a member, then we invite you to take a closer look and see how EFTS can benefit your library. If you are a member, there are some exciting new changes to be looking for this year.

EFTS, its popularity and its use, is expanding across the country. The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT, is home to one of the largest electronic billing systems used by members of the NN/LM. Established in 1996 by the New England Regional Medical Library, the system now has over 700 participants from 39 states and the District of Columbia. Within the last 6 months, there has been a 14% increase in growth as more libraries are choosing to participate.

The concept is simple; the lending library submits a file to the system administrator detailing which loans it wishes to bill for. The file contains the basic information outlined in a DOCLINE request, in addition to the amount it is billing for that loan. The files are processed--the system credits the lending library account, less a 3% surcharge and debits the borrowing library account. A detailed monthly statement shows each library exactly what it collected, what it paid for and which was other library in each transaction, in addition to request number and citation data. While third party front-end software, such as QuickDOC, Clio and ILLiad, make quick work of creating a data file, they are not needed in order to participate in EFTS.

2002 saw a number of highlights in EFTS:

In May of 2002, the National Library of Medicine announced its support of EFTS as a national initiative, as well as its own anticipated participation in 2003.
A 3-year contract was signed between EFTS and NLM in the fall of 2002.
The NN/LM DOCLINE Coordinators were involved in a review of the new EFTS website and NLM assisted in implementing many of the suggestions. (Take a moment to glance over the website at http://efts.uchc.edu. The revised pages should debut by March of 2003.)
The EFTS-L listserv was created. (Both current and interested parties should subscribe. Announcements of new members are routinely posted, as well as developments in the EFTS office.) The listserv is open to comment by those who are using EFTS and inquires by those who are thinking of using EFTS. Please feel free to make comments/inquiries as needed to assist in your decision-making process. As always, your general comments are also welcome. To sign on, go to http://library.uchc.edu/efts/listserv.html
EFTS was given the ability to make note in the DOCUSER record, as well as the library group EFTS, as new libraries establish participation. Libraries can now use this information to assist with routing table decisions

2003 is also beginning with a bang!!

The RFP to have EFTS upgraded to a web-based product was approved by NLM in January and sent out in early February. We are very excited about the potential for our participants. With this upgrade you will see many improvements:
- Secure online accounts
- The ability to view account information in real time
- Access statements from your PC whenever you choose
- Improved decision-making tools are also anticipated among the changes. A vendor should be selected by the spring with development to commence shortly thereafter.
The EFTS office has been running test files submitted by the NLM. Look for announcements from NLM, as they move forward with preparation for migration to EFTS for their DOCLINE billing.
Invitations to nominate members for the EFTS Advisory Committee were sent out in February 2003. This group will assist with insuring that regional perspectives will be represented.

On a final note, if you are planning on attending MLA in San Diego this year, take an opportunity to look us up. We will be holding an informal meeting, available at the NLM exhibit booth and will have a Chapter Sharing Roundtable. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

If you are a current participant, please review the EFTS Policies and Procedures available on the website, if you haven't done so recently. Also, make it a point to join EFTS-L, in order to stay current with ongoing developments. If your library is considering, or is planning to join EFTS, take a look at the FAQ's on the website. Our office is fully staffed and we look forward working with you and answering your questions. As always, you can give us a call toll free at 1-866-561-5045, drop us an e-mail at efts@uchc.edu or visit the website at http://efts.uchc.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!

The EFTS Staff,
Ralph, Colleen & Ed

Note: In honor of their work on EFTS, Ralph and Ed are the recipients of the 2003 ISI/Frank Bradway Rogers Information Advancement Award, which will be presented to them at the MLA Annual Meeting in San Diego, this coming May.

For a companion article read "New EFTS Members in the Pacific Northwest."

Dragonfly, Winter 2003- Volume 34 Number 1
(posted on PNRNews on February 14, 2003)

and

New EFTS Members in the Pacific Northwest

Six libraries in the Pacific Northwest Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) have joined the Electronic Funds Transfer System this past quarter:

Virginia Mason Medical Center (WAUVMW)
Willamette Falls Hospital (ORUOWH)
Swedish Hospital--First Hill (WAUSWS)
Swedish Hospital--Providence (WAUPMW)
Providence Everett Medical Center (WAUPRH)
Linfield University, Portland Campus (ORUPRT)

An up-to-date list of EFTS libraries, searchable by region, is maintained at http://nnlm.gov/libinfo/docline/efts.html, and any DOCLINE user can also produce a list by conducting a DOCUSER search (Search in: Library Groups equal to EFTS).

For a companion article read "You Submit Interlibrary Loan Requests Via Computer; Why Not Pay for Them That Way?"
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Dragonfly, Winter 2003- Volume 34 Number 1
(posted on PNRNews on February 14, 2003)

Welcome Gail Kouame, New RML Consumer Health Coordinator

Gail Kouame in traditional African dress I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Consumer Health Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Regional Medical Library! So, how did I come to be here? I began my professional life as a social worker in long-term care. I found the job to be very rewarding and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the residents, their families, and other health care workers. After 15 years in that field, however, I was ready for a change. I had always been a big fan of libraries and decided on librarianship as my next career. Since I knew I would be new to the profession, I chose to focus on health librarianship in order to build on knowledge and skills I had obtained as a medical social worker.

My first appointment was at the University of Washington in the Health Sciences Libraries. As liaison to the School of Nursing and the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology my duties involved reference, teaching, and developing instructional materials. I also assisted with developing and implementing a training plan for the library staff to support a single service point, merging circulation and reference functions. Alas, the appointment was temporary, so I next went to Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington, just south of Seattle, as the Director of Circulation Services. My main duties there were managing circulation, but I also served as library liaison to the Nursing and Respiratory Care programs.

When I saw the Consumer Health Coordinator position announcement, I realized how much I desired to return to more traditional medical librarianship. Not only do I have a health care background, but I am married to a nurse. It seems that working in health-related fields is simply in my blood. For a little variety, though, I also substitute in the Reference Department of the Pierce County Public Library System, one of the greater Seattle/Tacoma area's larger library systems, on the occasional Saturday. It certainly helps me keep my skills up as I get such a variety of questions! As if that's not enough, I am also the music librarian for the Federal Way Chorale, a community choir in which I have been singing for about 5 years.

Gail Kouame
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Dragonfly, Winter 2003- Volume 34 Number 1
(posted on PNRNews on February 10, 2003)

LinkOut-SERHOLD Interface Is Now in Production

LinkOut is not just for electronic journals any more! The LinkOut-SERHOLD Interface displays library icons within PubMed's Abstract and Citation formats, alerting PubMed users to the references that they can find in printed volumes on the shelves of their own libraries. This interface, which takes advantage of SERHOLD records, has been in testing for a number of months. Participation has now been opened up to any interested DOCLINE library.

The LinkOut-SERHOLD Interface provides an excellent complement to the information about electronic journals that many libraries maintain in the LinkOut Holdings Submission Utility. On the other hand, a library can choose to activate only the LinkOut-SERHOLD Interface.

If you already provide links to your e-journals via PubMed's LinkOut for Libraries, just log in to the LinkOut Utility, click on "LinkOut-SERHOLD" (under "Print Collection" on the left-hand side of the screen), and register. Here is what the registration screen looks like:

If you do not yet participate in LinkOut for Libraries, send an email to lib-reg@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov providing contact name, library name, phone number, email, and street address. NLM will provide you with user name and password, and then you can log in to the LinkOut Utility and register for the LinkOut-SERHOLD Interface.

You can find more details at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/linkout/doc/liblinkout.html#serhold, and if you have questions you can contact your regional LinkOut representative, Susan Barnes, at sjbarnes@u.washington.edu or 1-800-338-7657 (from within the United States).

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Dragonfly, Winter 2003- Volume 34 Number 1
(posted on PNRNews on January 17, 2003)

Wired Communities: Putting the e in Public Health

Mark your calendar! Don't forget to watch "Wired Communities: Putting the e in Public Health," a national satellite teleconference and webcast. It will be broadcast from 11:00 am to noon PT (2:00 to 3:00 pm ET.) on January 31, 2003. The best part is you don't need to leave your desk to watch it! More about that later.

The ability to communicate easily and efficiently and the exchange of information are vital components of the public health infrastructure and contribute to an improved public health practice. "Wired Communities" will "describe an electronic community network[Blacksburg, Virginia], identify three informatics competencies that are key to success in establishing and maintaining an electronic community network, identify three ways in which an electronic community network promotes the overall health and well being of the community, and describe the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) role in providing electronic resources to the local public health workforce and their community partners." Presenters include Angela Ruffin, Head of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Office at NLM and Patrick O'Carroll, MD, Regional Health Administrator for Public Health Service Region X in Seattle, Washington.

Now, the part about not leaving your desk; you can watch the program as a webcast if you have a few essentials: an Internet connection, speakers and RealPlayer. You can download RealPlayer, if you don't already have it, from http://www.real.com/player/
You will also need to register for the program and get a participant ID. This is so easy to do by going to the Web site for Public Health Grand Rounds at http://www.publichealthgrandrounds.unc.edu/wired/ and clicking on Participant Registration.

This program is presented by Public Health Grand Rounds, a project sponsored by the University of North Carolina School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Dragonfly, Winter 2003- Volume 34 Number 1
(posted on PNRNews on January 16, 2003)

Produced by the NN/LM PNR
Maryanne Blake, Editor
Michael Boer, Publication Manager

This publication is funded in whole with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. N01-LM-1-3516.

NN/LM | UW HSL | NN/LM PNR | Contact us: nnlm@u.washington.edu | Revised: March 28, 2003