The National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region (NN/LM SCR) and the entire South Central Region are deeply concerned about our friends and colleagues in the areas affected by the recent tornado in Oklahoma. We will be using this blog post to serve as a method of communication for the Region.
We have contacted academic centers, hospitals, public libraries and other groups in the Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. Thus far, we have received the following updates on the NN/LM SCR listerv and/or via direct contact:
University of Oklahoma Bird Health Sciences Library: All Bird Library staff are safe
Amy Picard, Norman RegionalHospital: Library staff is safe. The Moore Medical Center, which was damaged by the tornado, is a sister hospital to Norman Regional Health System. The Norman Regional Hospital campus was used briefly overnight as a discharge station until the number of patients outgrew the space and they relocated to the education center. They initially chose the library because they felt it was a good, quiet location where privacy could be afforded. But as the numbers grew, they needed more space.
Oklahoma Department of Libraries: Susan McVey, state librarian, reported that she is unaware of any loss of life among public library staff, a couple of staff members’ homes are damaged. None of the public library buildings in the immediate vicinity of the tornado were affected even though one of them was only a block away from the path. Several Pioneer Library System branches may have damages.
Dan Chandler,Integris Baptist: Library staff is safe.
Danell Ingle, VA Medical Center: Library staff is safe.
We will continue to revise this blog post as we hear from more Network members. The comments field on this post is open so feel free to post an update on your status.
Public libraries play an important role in the community year round, but during or after an emergency or disaster the public library is also an important resource for first responders. Public libraries provide important information centers in a community and are often equipped with computers, meetings spaces, and possibly access to the internet. After an emergency or disaster first responders working with their community public libraries can provide safe shelter spaces for survivors. In addition, public library technologies including computers, phones, printers, and internet access may serve as vital communication tools for survivors and first responders.
The video below was created by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Center Region (NN/LM SCR) to demonstrate how public libraries and first responders can work together to ensure community well-being and safety before and after a disaster or emergency.
Name of Institution: School of Information, University of Texas at Austin Title of Project: Improving Low SES Older Adults’ Ability to Evaluate the Quality of Online Health Information Project Director: Yan Zhang
The NN/LM SCR is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013-2014 Express Outreach Award:
Institution: Arkansas Cancer Coalition, Little Rock AR Project Title:Ensuring informed decision making among medically underserved rural cancer patients via collaboration, education, and technology Project Director: Gail Lowery
Institution: Easter Seals Arkansas, Little Rock AR Project Title:Health-Able: Integrated Health Information Literacy for Families of Individuals with Disabilities Project Director: Linda Rogers
Institution: Mercy Hospital, Fort Smith AR Project Title:Mercy Home Health: Healthcare Information for Home Health Patients and Outreach Services for the Fort Smith Asian Community Project Director: Pat Morris
Institution: Southeast Louisiana Area Health Education Center, Slidell LA Project Title:2013-14 SEL-AHEC Community Outreach Project Director: Helen Caruso
Institution: University of Oklahoma – Tulsa, Schusterman Library Project Title:Operation School Nurse: Health Information Outreach to School Nurses in Tulsa County Project Director: April Schweikhard
Institution: Face to Face Enrichment Center, Gonzales LA Project Title: Project Connections Baton Rouge: Your Link to Health Resource Information Project Director: Gabrielle Johnson
Institution: Texas Woman’s University, Dallas TX Project Title:Educational Service Learning Model for Developing a Consumer-Centered Health Literacy Toolkit Project Director: Shelly Burns
Institution: University of New Mexico Health Science Library and Informatics Center, Albuquerque NM Project Title:I Heard it on the Radio Project Director: Gale Hannigan
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is pleased to announce for the third year the solicitation of proposals from organizations and libraries to design and conduct projects that will improve disaster medicine and public health information access for health professionals, first responders, and others (paid or volunteer) that play a role in health-related disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Projects must involve two or more of the following information access categories:
Information needs assessment;
Roles in providing disaster health information;
Practices and methods in information sharing;
Skills development;
Information retrieval;
Resource development; and/or
Document access.
Emphasis is on providing information or access to health and medical information in a way useful to all-hazards preparedness, response and recovery workers, and increasing the awareness and utilization of high-quality, all-hazards, and emergency topics. The purpose is also to promote new and creative collaborations on disaster health information needs among and to the mutual benefit of librarians, information specialists, or informationists and the disaster workforce.
Eligible projects will be based on a partnership or collaboration that includes at least one library or information center and at least one non-library organization that has disaster-related responsibilities.
Awards are offered for a minium of $15,000 to a maximum of $30,000 for a one-year project.
Check out the May Issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research. In this edition:
Features:
A Bang to the Brain: What We Know About Concussions – Concussions are a type of mild brain injury, but they need to be taken seriously. Learn to recognize the causes and symptoms of concussion, and take steps to prevent head injuries.
On Sound Footing: The Health of Your Feet – Your feet are pretty small, considering they have to support the entire height and weight of your body. But they can cause big problems. So take steps to keep your feet healthy!
Congratulations to the 2013 /2014 NN/LM SCR Professional Development Awardees:
Awardee: Carolyn Bridgewater Institution: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans Conference: American Public Health Association 141st Annual Meeting and Exposition
Awardee: Stephanie Cheramie Institution: Lafourche Public Library, Thibodaux LA Conference: American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition
Awardee: Lisa Huang Institution: Collin College, Denton TX Conference: First Science Boot Camp for Libraries in the West
Awardee: Joanne Romano Institution: The TMC Library, Houston TX Conference: First Science Boot Camp for Libraries in the West
The Spring 2013 issue of NIH MedlinePlus, the magazine, is now available online. Feature articles include:
Researching and Reducing the Health Burden of Stroke
Stroke Rehabilitation
Managing Allergies
Spotlight on NIH Research: What Do Fats Do in the Body?
Featuring reliable up-to-date health information and the latest news from NIH-supported research, NIH MedlinePlus magazine is available free of charge. Get an email alert or free print subscription.
Greetings all! My name is Naomi Gonzales and I am so delighted to be the newest member of the fabulous NN/LM South Central Region team as the Public Health Coordinator. I graduated in spring of 2012 with my MLS from the University of North Texas (UNT) but I’ve always had a passion for outreach and literacy. I’ve been working with the public (in all kinds of settings) since 2006 and quickly learned to love the rollercoaster ride that is creating lasting connections with community members.
For the past year, I worked as an Instructional Technologies Librarian at the Texas Medical Center Library and before that I worked with engineering and library science students at UNT, providing a variety of reference and instructional services in the library. I’m a member of the ALA Rainbow Book List committee and (true to my librarian nature) in my spare time will enthusiastically devour books in any form—including the audiobooks that often accompany me to the gym. Although reading will always be my first love, I also have more active pastimes such as yoga and the occasional attempt at being crafty. I look forward to working with and learning from such a great community of people!
In March Google announced that it would discontinue Google Reader on July 1st, 2013. Launched in 2005 Google Reader quickly became one of the top platforms for aggregated RSS feeds.
Google states declining usage statistics and a desire to focus on other applications as reasons for ending support for Google Reader.
Google also recommends services such as Google Takeout for retaining Google Reader data.
Other feed-reading tools such as Feedly have seen in influx in users since the announcement from Google.
Google Reader was one of the services frequently explored as part of the popular Geeks Bearing Gifts class taught by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine offices. If you signed up for or have been using Google Reader please make efforts to switch to another provider before Google Reader shuts down on July 1st.
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