1. Outreach to Health Professionals

A major emphasis for the NN/LM SCR during the 2006-2011 RML Contract is to identify underserved health care providers with little or no access to health information resources. The NN/LM SCR will continue to identify special populations, and organizations that provide health information outreach to special populations, HIV/AIDS, refugee health organizations, unaffiliated health professionals including Community Health Center clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, inner city clinics, Area Health Education Centers (AHECs), and hospitals. Contact will be established with the organizations and outreach subcontractors will be apprised of these organizations and contacts, as applicable. The NN/LM SCR will promote funding opportunities within these organizations.

The NN/LM SCR was certified as an American Continuing Pharmacy Education (ACPE) provider in Year 04. Two classes that received CPE accreditation will continue to be provided to pharmacists throughout the region. To assist the NN/LM SCR in adapting and evaluating these classes, focus groups targeting pharmacists will be conducted in Year 05.

A membership drive will be conducted targeting Tribal Colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the region. Most of these institutions have allied health programs and are unfamiliar with the NN/LM SCR and the products and services of the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Interested network members will be encouraged to submit applications for one of the Express Outreach awards. The purpose of this award is to support a wide range of outreach projects aimed at improving access to and use of the National Library of Medicine's databases to improve access to health and biomedical information. Potential projects can target a wide array of health professional groups including healthcare providers, public health workers, social workers, and information professionals.

A public health needs assessment will be conducted in Year 05. Questionnaires will be sent to public health professionals in the SCR. Results of these questionnaires will guide the development of the NN/LM SCR's future public health outreach programming, including an advanced public health informatics class.

2. Consumer Health Information Services

The NN/LM SCR will continue to promote PubMed and MedlinePlus in public libraries. Public libraries that do not link to these NLM resources will be contacted to encourage them to link to these NLM resources on their websites.

Classes for public librarians will focus on librarians in underserved counties/parishes that have not yet had instruction. MedlinePlus classes will be taught to health professionals, allied health care workers, health science librarians, public librarians, hospital librarians, community based organizations (CBOs), school librarians, teachers, and to the general public.

In Year 04, a Consumer Health Subcommittee was formed using members of the State Regional Advisory Committees (RAC) and other interested network members. This subcommittee will meet via webconference to provide specific feedback on current NN/LM SCR programs as well as recommendations on future programs to reach consumers.

The NN/LM SCR funded a needs assessment of public libraries directly or indirectly impacted by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, or Ike. During the project, it immediately became obvious that these public librarians would provide invaluable assistance to the NN/LM SCR in disaster preparedness planning. In Year 04, advisory groups from Louisiana and Texas were formed to provide input on the role of public libraries before and after a disaster. The advisory group met in person in January 2010 and will meet via webconference in Year 05 to discuss the results of needs assessment and future programming.

3. Collaborating with Network Members and Other Organizations

Ten site visits will be conducted throughout the region to Resource Libraries, hospital libraries, community based organizations and other groups providing health information access in their communities.

Feedback received from the Spring 2005 RAC meeting indicated that formal training in outreach would be greatly appreciated by recipients of NN/LM SCR Resource Library outreach subcontractors and other network members. An Outreach Competency workshop will include one or a combination of the following topics: outreach basics, community and needs assessment, evaluation, effective exhibiting, instructional methods, and understanding the varying information needs of various groups, including health professionals, consumers and CBOs. An instructor in one or a combination of the competency areas will be identified, and the workshop will be held in Houston. The workshop will be advertised to all network members, space permitting.

Library School Outreach Awards will be offered to library students currently attending an ALA-accredited Library or Information Sciences program located in the South Central Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). This award provides funding for students to attend and participate in outreach activities at the SCC/MLA Annual Meeting in October 2010.

Professional Development Awards will be made available in Year 05. The goal of this award is to further empower Primary Access Library (PAL) staff. Often, PALs have little or no travel funds available to them; therefore, they are unable to attend continuing education opportunities.

4. Training to Support Electronic Access to Health Information

Year 05 NN/LM SCR class offerings will include the following:

A 10-Step Approach to Service Continuity Planning

One (1) A 10-Step Approach to Service Continuity Planning class will be taught in the Oklahoma City, and one (1) at the RML

The focus of the class is on enabling libraries and other organizations to maintain their information services to their patrons in the event of an emergency or disaster. The class also includes information about developing basic personal safety procedures as well as how to get help to mitigate the damage to collections after a disaster.

ABCs of DNA: Unraveling the Mystery of Genetics Information for Consumers

One (1) ABCs of DNA: Unraveling the Mystery of Genetics Information for Consumers class will be taught in Arkansas and one (1) at the RML.

The ABCs of DNA: Unraveling the Mystery of Genetics Information for Consumers class is intended for consumers, public librarians, and health sciences librarians who work with the public. The class explores basic concepts such as genes and chromosomes and offers an overview of genetic disorders, genetic testing, genetic counseling, and the Human Genome Project. Ethical and legal issues associated with genetic disorders will be covered with regard to privacy, discrimination, and potential legislative impact on medicine and society. A variety of reliable health information resources will be demonstrated.

Advanced Proposal Writing

One (1) Advanced Proposal Writing class will be taught in Albuquerque and one (1) at the RML.

The Advanced Proposal Writing class provides more and in-depth information and instruction on proposal writing. Attendees will be encouraged to bring project ideas for in-class proposal writing.

Beyond an Apple a Day: Providing Consumer Health Information in a Public Library

Two (2) Beyond an Apple a Day classes will be taught in Arkansas and Texas, and one (1) at the RML.

This class is designed for public librarians and will cover the information seeking behaviors of consumers, address a recommended core reference collection, cover the reference interview, disclaimers and privacy, and discuss ways to network with medical librarians. The class will describe possible ways to market this service in a community and introduce the students to the Medical Library Association and its local chapters.

Can You Hear Me Now? How to Make a Podcast

One (1) Can You Hear Me Now? How to Make a Podcast class will be taught in Texas and one (1) at the RML.

Can You Hear Me Now? How to Make a Podcast provides an informative introduction to podcasting and how attendees can utilize this technology in their library’s information services. Basic steps and suggestions are covered, and students create a podcast using popular audio recording and editing software and online hosting service.

Caring for the Mind: Providing Reference Services for Mental Health Information

One (1) Caring for the Mind: Providing Reference Services for Mental Health Information class will be taught in New Mexico and one (1) at the RML.

Caring for the Mind: Providing Reference Services for Mental Health Information is designed for librarians. Attendees learn how to effectively provide reference services on mental health information for the public, including locating best websites, databases, and collection development materials. Handling the reference interview with care and sensitivity is explored.

Community Assessment

One (1) Community Assessment class will be taught in Dallas.

This class will help librarians and others involved in health information outreach to design quality programs and garner support for those programs by taking the right first step: collecting community and needs assessment information about the groups of people who will be involved. Topics include collection of data to create a picture of a target community, including its needs, assets, resources, and potential obstacles that may affect the success of health information outreach efforts.

Easy-to-Read Health and Wellness Information for Consumers: Recognizing it, Finding it, Writing it, Rewriting it

Two (2) Easy-to-Read classes will be taught in Arkansas and Texas, and one (1) at the RML.

This health information literacy class will provide the attendee with resources and skills necessary to locate, critique and create easy-to-read consumer health materials. The class also addresses the problem of health information literacy, how it affects healthcare as a whole, and what steps librarians and healthcare professionals can take to address the problem. An overview will be provided on the disconnect between information providers and information seekers, the success of the "plain language" initiative, and the importance of text, graphics and layout when locating and writing health education materials. Participants will be able to: identify characteristics of easy-to-read materials; locate websites with easy-to-read materials; and learn to assess the reading level of patient brochures.

From A(norexia) to Z(its): Health Information Teens Will Use

Two (2) From A(norexia) to Z(its): Health Information Teens Will Use classes will be taught in Arkansas and Louisiana, and one (1) at the RML.

This class is created for secondary school in-service days. The purpose of the class is to inform school teachers, nurses, counselors, and librarians about health information needs of teenagers, their information seeking behaviors, and authoritative health information resources that they will use and that are safe to recommend. This is designed to be an MLA CE train-the-trainer class as well as a workbook for medical librarians that want to teach it in the schools.

From Snake Oil to Penicillin: Evaluating Consumer Health Information on the Internet

Two (2) From Snake Oil to Penicillin classes will be taught in Arkansas and Texas, and one (1) at the RML.

This course teaches how to evaluate health information found on the Internet. Participants will be able to evaluate health websites based on specific qualifications, explain to library patrons the reasons for evaluating health websites, and teach library patrons how to evaluate health websites found on the Internet. This class also discusses how to evaluate the relevancy of medical research in the news.

Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping New Technology Trends

One (1) Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping New Technology Trends class will be taught in Texas and one (1) at the RML.

Geeks Bearing Gifts is intended to provide a fun, fast-paced, and informative introduction to an update on today's hottest technology trends. Program participants will be able to identify technology trends, and they will understand how these trends will impact or can be integrated into traditional library services. Content will be presented with a "can-do" focus intended to encourage participants to investigate at least one technology for implementation in their institution. Course structure will include brief vignettes and demonstrations of a wide variety of technologies. Some of the topics to be covered include instant messaging, podcasting, open source software, spyware and other malware, developments in mobile computing, blogs and wikis, radio-frequency identification, and more.

Getting the Best Out of DOCLINE

One (1) Getting the Best Out of DOCLINE class will be taught at the RML.

Attendees of Getting the Best Out of DOCLINE will learn how to use the DOCLINE system effectively. Additional topics include DOCLINE upgrades, reports, Loansome Doc and the Electronic Funds Transfer System (EFTS).

Grants and Proposal Writing

Two (2) Grants and Proposal Writing classes will be taught in Albuquerque and Oklahoma, and one (1) via Adobe Connect.

The Grants and Proposal Writing class is intended for beginning grant proposal writers. Attendees will gain a general overview of the grant and funding processes, as well as the level of detail required in preparing a successful proposal. Each component of the writing process will be addressed including: documenting the need, identifying the target population, writing measurable objectives, and developing a work plan, evaluation plan and dissemination plan.

Healthy Aging at Your Library: Connecting Older Adults to Health Information

Two (2) Healthy Aging at Your Library: Connecting Older Adults to Health Information classes will be taught in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and one (1) at the RML.

The Healthy Aging at Your Library: Connecting Older Adults to Health Information class is designed to help librarians assist their senior patrons to find health resources on the Internet. Attendees will discover techniques for teaching seniors, locate good resources for teaching them to use computers and finding health information, learn how you can help seniors with Medicare forms, and learn about other senior health information resources.

It's as Easy as 1...2...3: Locating Health Statistics

Three (3) It's as Easy as 1...2...3: Locating Health Statistics classes will be taught in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and one (1) at the RML.

The It's as Easy as 1...2...3: Locating Health Statistics focuses on online sources of health statistics. Participants will learn to find online statistical information from a wide variety of sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Kaiser State Health Facts, and the National Library of Medicine. Attendees will be encouraged to use the Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce as the starting point for locating relevant data and statistics.

Keeping Up with NLM's PubMed

Three (3) Keeping Up with NLM's PubMed classes will be taught in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, and one (1) at the RML.

This class is designed to instruct participants on how to use PubMed features 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, and Clinical Queries.

Measuring Your Impact: Using Evaluation for Library Advocacy

One (1) Measuring Your Impact: Using Evaluation for Library Advocacy class will be taught in New Mexico and one (1) at the RML.

The class is designed for librarians interested in getting their library users and stakeholders to recognize and value the importance of their library's services and of the librarian to the organization, and ultimately, for librarians to be able to show the value of their library's services. Participants will become familiar with an evaluation process and will use and take away methods and tools for assessment, evaluation planning, creating logic models, data collection, data analysis and reporting. The class will feature group exercises that move participants through the steps of an evaluation process.

¿No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarians

One (1) ¿No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarians class will be taught in Louisiana and one (1) at the RML.

The ¿No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarians class covers resources for learning basic, library, medical, and Internet Spanish vocabulary. It also discusses identifying and evaluating Spanish health websites to which librarians can direct patrons.

Patient Safety Resource Seminar: Librarians on the Front Lines

One (1) Patient Safety Resource Seminar: Librarians on the Front Lines class will be taught in Texas and one (1) at the RML.

The Patient Safety Resource Seminar class focuses on ways both public and medical librarians can become more involved in patient safety processes and activities - both within their institutions and organizations and in providing patient safety resources for health professionals, for administration and staff, and for patients and families. Topics include understanding the definitions and issues of patient safety; locating where patient safety practices and contacts exist within an institution; identifying appropriate resources; and library advocacy in the area of patient safety.

Planning Outcomes-Based Outreach Programs

One (1) Planning Outcomes-Based Outreach Programs class will be taught in Dallas.

This Planning Outcomes-Based Outreach Programs class assists librarians and anyone interested in health information outreach to focus on what they want to accomplish by designing outreach programs around intended results. Participants will learn how to create logic models and then write objectives and evaluation plans based on their logic models.

Prescription for Success: Consumer Health on the Web

Two (2) Prescription for Success classes will be taught in Arkansas and Texas, and one (1) at the RML.

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.

Public Health Information on the Web

One (1) Public Health Information on the Web class will be taught in New Mexico and one (1) at the RML.

Public Health Information on the Web presents an overview of public health resources on the web. A wide array of sites on topics including bioterrorism, health statistics, epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, toxicology, environmental health, safety alerts, and public health metasites will be presented. Sites covered include the NLM, Centers for Disease Control, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology.

PubMed for Experts

Two (2) PubMed for Experts classes will be taught in Arkansas and Louisiana, and one (1) at the RML.

PubMed for Experts is an advanced class for experienced PubMed or Ovid users. It is designed especially for librarians who wish to learn how to use all of the PubMed features more efficiently. Instruction on LinkOut is also included.

PubMed for the Rest of Us: Searching the Medical Literature for the Non-Expert

One (1) PubMed for the Rest of Us: Searching the Medical Literature for the Non-Expert class will be taught at the RML.

Designed for public librarians, this class describes PubMed, how to do basic and field searching, and how to limit searches to obtain the best results. Participants will be able to determine when PubMed is the most appropriate resource, perform basic searches using PubMed, and know how to obtain full-text articles.

Screencasting: Creating Online Tutorials

Three (3) Screencasting: Creating Online Tutorials classes will be taught in Lubbock, New Mexico and Texas, and one (1) at the RML.

The Screencasting: Creating Online Tutorials class provides an informative introduction to screencasting and how this technology can be used to expand a library's traditional information services. Students will practice on how to create a screencast using popular screencasting software.

Super Searcher

One (1) Super Searcher class will be taught in Oklahoma and one (1) at the RML.

This class focuses on the advanced search features of web search engines and the cutting edge of searching. Participants examine various search engines, compare the features and utility of each and develop search strategies that will increase the precision and scope of their searching.

TOXNET: Toxicology & Environmental Information

One (1) TOXNET class will be taught in New Mexico and one (1) at the RML.

TOXNET is an introductory class on the TOXNET databases for new users. Participants will learn about the different databases available on TOXNET and the types of information in each database. In addition, attendees will learn the various ways to search the databases. All TOXNET databases will be covered including the Hazardous Substances Data Bank, TOXLINE, and ChemIDplus.

Will Duct Tape Cure My Warts?

One (1) Will Duct Tape Cure My Warts? class will be taught in Houston and one (1) via Moodle.

The goal of this class is to increase understanding of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Attendees will learn the history of CAM and its impact on medical practices, how CAM is used, avoiding "bad science," and how to look up evidence of the effectiveness of CAM therapies.

Continuing Nursing Educationclasses:

Health Websites for Your Patients

One (1) Health Websites for Your Patients class will be taught in Louisiana and one (1) at the RML. 

Health Websites for Your Patients class is a CNE class that will enhance the nurse’s patient education skills by teaching attendees to utilize free online products from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health to provide quality resources to their patients. Databases discussed include MedlinePlus, NIHSeniorHealth, and Genetics Home Reference.

Medical Websites for Nurses (CNE)

One (1) Medical Websites for Nurses classes will be taught in Louisiana and one (1) at the RML.

Medical Websites for Nurses is a Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) class designed for nurses interested in learning about health information resources available on the Internet. Participants will learn to use and evaluate web-based health information resources, find online news services, continuing online education courses, and consumer health websites. Attendees will also learn about PubMed, MedlinePlus, and other NLM resources.

PubMed Basics

One (1) PubMed Basics class will be taught in Oklahoma and one (1) at the RML.

PubMed Basics is an introductory CNE class designed for nurses on the features of PubMed. Topics include the clipboard, history, limits, results screen and search box. Clinical queries and nursing subsets are also included.

Continuing Pharmacy Education Classes:

Drug Information Portal from the National Library of Medicine

One (1) Drug Information Portal from the National Library of Medicine class will be taught in Arkansas and one (1) at the RML.

Drug Information Portal from the National Library of Medicine is a CPE class focusing on the resources available through the Drug Information Portal, including the MedlinePlus Drugs & Topics, DailyMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Dietary Supplements Label Databases.

Medical Websites for Pharmacists

One (1) Medical Websites for Pharmacists class will be taught in Arkansas and one (1) at the RML.

Medical Websites for Pharmacists is a CPE class focusing on finding resources of the most use to pharmacists, including PubMed. Topics include evaluating Internet health resources, professional resources, and patient education information.

5. Exhibits and Presentations at Meetings

The NN/LM SCR will exhibit, or provide funding for outreach subcontractors to exhibit, at a minimum of 12 meetings (4 national and 8 others). The NN/LM SCR will exhibit at national conferences to which it is assigned by the NLM, while the majority of regional conferences will be subcontracted to network members. An exhibit backdrop is available to network members upon request.

6. Information Technology and Policy Awareness Program

A technology needs assessment will be conducted to evaluate current communication tools and/or specialty discussion lists to better facilitate communication in the region.

The Technology Coordinator will work with the NN/LM SCR Technology Advisory Committee to identify new technologies, particularly in health sciences libraries and for health professionals, and disseminate this information to network members in the region via Blogadillo, Twitter, Facebook and the NNLMSCR-L discussion list.

7. NN/LM SCR Library Improvement Program

Collaborations between SCR hospital library staff and institutional administrators will be encouraged and supported to enhance the library's ability to contribute to hospital programs and priorities.

The NN/LM SCR will increase efforts to actively target hospital libraries and unaffiliated providers. The hospital library toolkits developed by the NN/LM NER, http://nnlm.gov/ner/lrm/promotion.html, will be promoted via NN/LM SCR website, the NNLMSCR-L and Blogadillo. These toolkits will also be featured in the Measuring Your Impact: Using Evaluation for Library Advocacy class.

Two awards will be made available to assist libraries, especially hospital libraries, to address library and document delivery improvement needs. The first award, the DOCLINE Library Improvement Project (DLIP), is designed for libraries interested in becoming full DOCLINE members, or those current DOCLINE libraries interested in expanding and improving existing library services. This could include funding to purchase a computer for use by library staff for accessing PubMed, MedlinePlus or DOCLINE. It could also include funding to upgrade a slow dial-up Internet connection to a high speed broadband connection for receipt of electronic journal articles or funding to implement an electronic document delivery solution such as Ariel or Odyssey. The second award, Electronic Funds Transfer System (EFTS) Assistance, is designed to promote participation in EFTS among libraries that are not currently EFTS members due to institutional barriers.

8. High Quality Internet Connectivity for network Members and Health Professionals

The NN/LM SCR will continue to review and monitor the quality of the Internet connections in PAL network member institutions and assist "underconnected" network members with upgrading their Internet connections.

Information Access Improvement Project (IAIP) Awards will be offered in the region to hospitals, community based organization, libraries and other network members that are interested in improving access to Internet-based health information. Funding may be used to purchase a variety of hardware and software including computers for use by health care staff for research and education and upgrading a slow dial-up Internet connection to a higher-speed broadband connection.