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| NN/LM PNR National Network of Libraries of Medicine Pacific Northwest Region |
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Dragonfly
Summer 2004 -- Volume 35, Number 3 |
by Linda Milgrom, Outreach Coordinator
NN/LM Pacific Northwest Region
Members of the public health workforce rarely work in settings with libraries or established paths to information services. Yet, needs assessments always conclude that information skills are a key competency necessary for effective public health practice. The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) compiled a report of assets and common training needs of public health workers in the Northwest; it can be found at http://healthlinks.washington.edu/nwcphp/documents/MetaNeeds.doc. Computer training and use of technology (including internet research skills) was one of the "top four" needs identified. The stars are aligned! It's time for us to get involved.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM), the American Public Health Association (APHA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Medical Library Association (MLA), NN/LM, and a number of other interested organizations created a partnership to help the public health workforce find and use information to improve and protect the public's health. The "partners" website at http://phpartners.org links to useful resources in areas such as health promotion, health data tools and statistics, legislation, and literature and guidelines.
A workgroup of NN/LM members and advisors recently completed "Public Health Information and Data: A Training Manual ," available on the web at http://phpartners.org/phid_manual.html . It is a workbook that will facilitate network members' improving their skills to work with public health professionals. The manual is full of ideas and provides sample scenarios that can be adapted for specific audiences. It is not a scripted class manual but great background information, examples, and websites in four program areas: Staying Informed About News in Public Health; Finding Information for Others: Health Education Resources; Finding Public Health Statistics and Data Sources; and Supporting Decisions with Best Evidence.
Coincidently, proposals for the RML Outreach Project Awards are due September 24, 2004. The RFP is at http://nnlm.gov/pnr/funding/RFP2004.html. To encourage your outreach to this audience, reviewers will give "extra credit" (five points) to proposals that include work with public health agencies.
Do you already serve your local/county health department, or would you be willing to share your expertise with public health workers? The need is documented, and a manual is available. If you'd like to expand this into an outreach project, the timing couldn't be better.
We would like to get an idea of collaborations or training activities of network members with our colleagues in the public health community. Please contact Linda Milgrom, lmilgrom@u.washington.edu, to share your experiences or to inquire about funding.
Dragonfly, Summer 2004 -- Volume 35 Issue 3
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.
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NN/LM | UW HSL | NN/LM PNR | Contact us: nnlm@u.washington.edu | Revised: August 31, 2004