The following resources were developed by and for Region 6 but may be useful throughout NNLM. In addition, some may be used as a template for creating your own resource. Follow each link for more information.
Community Guide to Advance Health Information Equity
- The Community Guide to Advance Health Information Equity is an interactive resource to facilitate awareness of evidence-based health needs throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin to engage in health information outreach.
Health Information Translations
- This project provides plain language health education resources for health care professionals and others working in communities with limited English proficient populations. There are over 3,500 resources in 15+ languages.
Iowa Mental Health Information Community Partnerships Toolkit
- This toolkit is a comprehensive collection of resources designed to help community organizations, healthcare providers, educators, and other partners effectively address mental health information needs within their communities. It offers practical guides, templates, and strategies to establish and maintain partnerships, develop mental health programs, and promote community-wide mental health awareness and support. By leveraging these resources, you can create impactful mental health information initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, and tailored to the unique needs of your community.
Know Your Flow Menstrual Health Resources
- Ohio partnered with Aunt Flow, a Columbus-based non-profit to develop culturally- and age-appropriate health information to educate about period poverty and menstrual health. The goal is to promote the toolkit to public and school libraries and community centers throughout the state.
Michigan Mental Health Training Kit
- This resource is designed to support librarians, library workers, and front-line library staff across Michigan by enhancing their understanding of both crisis and non-crisis mental health situations. Its goal is to increase their confidence in responding to the mental health needs of library visitors.
Minwanjige Mino-bimaadizi (Eat Well, Live Well)
- Minwanjige Mino-bimaadize (Eat Well, Live Well) is a series of four activity books that help fill a critical gap in early childhood learning resources for Native American children. The project focuses on raising awareness of food-associated factors that contribute to physical and emotional health. The books incorporate Ojibwe culture and language; however, the books can be adapted for other Native American cultures and languages.
Minnesota Crisis and Mental Health Resource Handout
- These resources are specifically tailored for Minnesota residents and is available in five languages (English, Hmong, Ojibwe, Somali, and Spanish). Resources will download as a digital pdf.
Multilingual Health Broadcast & Social Media Graphics
- This resource provides over 260 culturally relevant infographics and videos in four languages to improve access to reliable, actionable health information that helps historically marginalized communities make informed decisions about their health. The graphics and videos are publicly available for you to use in your own community!
NLM Traveling Exhibits - Region 6 Host Site Guide
- Libraries and cultural institutions present inspiring stories about history, society, and medicine to their communities through National Library of Medicine (NLM) Traveling Exhibitions. Curated from NLM collections and available free of charge, these exhibitions explore current themes in public health and connect visitors to trusted NLM health information resources such as MedlinePlus and PubMed. This guide is a list of exhibits that will be hosted by Region 6 organizations through 2025, broken down by state.
This podcast series explores how the Network of the National Library of Medicine - part of the National Library of Medicine - is engaging with communities to provide access to trusted information for the purpose of improving the public's health. Accompanying videos can be found on the NLM YouTube Channel. Below are two NNLM Discovery podcasts from Region 6.
- Canary in the Coal Mine - A Story from Region 6: Presented in podcast format. On this episode of the NNLM Discovery podcast, Region 6’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Darlene Kaskie, shares how NNLM is sponsoring a series of talks at public libraries with Dr. William Cooke, a physician and author in rural Austin Indiana. Dr. Cooke wrote a book called Canary in the Coal Mine about being the only doctor in a small town that was hit by twin epidemics of substance abuse and HIV. His story examines the social determinants of health that contribute to poor healthcare and offers hope that communities can come together to make sure that every child born has access and resources and choices that they need to be healthy and prosperous.
- Addressing Period Poverty in Richland County, Ohio: Presented in podcast and videocast formats. Why do we expect to find toilet paper and paper towels in a public restroom, but feminine hygiene products are considered optional? This episode of the NNLM Discovery Podcast shares the story of Richland County Public Health director Dr. Julie Chaya’s initiative to combat period poverty in her community of Mansfield, Ohio. Find out more about project Free Flow.
Smile! A Guide to Healthy & Happy Teeth
This oral and dental health book is a trustworthy, easy-to-read and comprehend resource. The books have been distributed to the local Amish schools including train-the-trainer instruction for the school teachers, but anyone can use the online version. Resources will download as a digital pdf