Skip all navigation and go to page content
NN/LM Home About MCR | Contact MCR | Feedback |Site Map | Help

Archive for the ‘Public Libraries’ Category

eXtension Resources for Disasters and Emergencies

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

During this difficult time of flooding, tornados, and lots of rain don’t forget eXtension is a source of research-based information. Here are some topics covered on the sites:

Family caregiving disasters - <http://www.extension.org/category/family+caregiving+disaster+preparedness> Information on stress and decision making, safe sheltering of your home, things caregivers should know in a disaster.

Floods- <http://www.extension.org/category/floods%3A+clean-up+and+recovery>. Information on what to do when you enter the home for the first time,

Agro security- <http://www.extension.org/pages/Extension_Disaster_Education_Network_Agrosecurity> This includes information about animals, food safety, worker safety, assessing risks and much more. (bbj)

UNNATURAL CAUSES: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

PBS Broadcast in Two Weeks!

Thursdays at 10PM (9PM Central, 8PM Mountain)
March 27, April 3, 10, and 17

Check local listings
MARCH 27: In Sickness and In Wealth (56 min)
APRIL 3: When the Bough Breaks (28 min) and Becoming American (28
min)
APRIL 10: Bad Sugar (28 min) and Place Matters (28 min)
APRIL 17: Collateral Damage (28 min) and Not Just a Paycheck (28 min)
Please distribute at will and help spread the word to colleagues,
constituents, members, community, friends and family. (bbj)

Librarian to the Stars idea offers opportunity

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

A New York Times article “Librarian to the Stars” is a delightful article on a New York Public Library librarian that highlights the benefits and fun of what we do. You can read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/arts/31rese.html?pagewanted=print

This article is a great example of the power of personal stories and how what we do impacts other people and the goals and vision of our institutions. It also is a strong testament to being proactive, outgoing and getting the library out into the lives of our users. Are you collecting these stories from your institution? Are you sharing them with your users and your administration? Are you willing to share them with others? Please send any stories from your experiences that you are willing to share to Barb Jones at jonesbarb@health.missouri.edu. (bbj, bk)

Information Searches That Solve Problems

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

How people use the internet, libraries, and government agencies when they need help
Leigh Estabrook, Professor Emerita, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Evans Witt, CEO, PSRAI
Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project
“This report emerges from a national survey that looks at how people use a variety of
information sources to help them address some common problems that could be related in some way to government agencies and programs. The problems about which we queried included: dealing with a serious illness or health concern; making a decision about school enrollment, financing school, or upgrading work skills; dealing with a tax matter; changing a job or starting a business; and getting information about major programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/Pew_UI_LibrariesReport.pdf [scb]

Heritage Emergency Task Force

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force http://www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/TASKFER.htm is a partnership of 41 national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies. With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Heritage Preservation has developed the Field Guide to Emergency Response. The compact handbook is designed for immediate use when disaster strikes. Simple, clear instructions help staff organize essential disaster response functions and tackle common threats to collections. The Guide provides handy checklists and features an instructional DVD on salvage techniques that can be viewed on-site with a laptop computer.You can see the guide and other resources for cultural institutions at http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFHurricaneRes.HTM There are also resources for the general public to learn how to save their family treasures. http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFHurricanePub.htm [scb]

California Wildfires and Libraries

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

From American Libraries Direct and ALA, see a piece on the response of public libraries in California to the wildfires. http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/after-fire scb

Public Library Focus Group Recruitment Scheduled Around Nancy Pearl

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

The Regional Medical Library is asking Missouri public librarians to participate in a focus group to provide a snapshot of the public library’s available health-related resources, staff comfort level in assisting health information customers, and library health outreach programs. This focus group session is scheduled so that you will be able to attend the Nancy Pearl session!

An important mission of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine is to improve the public’s access to information, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health. In many communities, the only resource for health information is the public library. For certain ethnic groups, lower-income and less-educated citizens the public library is the sole source for accessing the Internet. With your skills and knowledge, you can help customers use health information resources effectively and bolster the health information literacy of the community. In turn, this information can empower consumers and facilitate their health care decision-making.

Your participation in this focus group will greatly assist the MidContinental region’s staff in understanding how we can assist you, develop useful health information training programs that will enhance your skills and knowledge, and facilitate partnerships in your community to support consumer health information.

The focus group will be held immediately before the Missouri Library Association Annual Conference at the Library Station (more details below) on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 from

9:30 - 10:30 AM. The Library Station is 4.2 miles (approximately a 10 minute drive) from the University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Barb Jones at jonesbarb@health.missouri.edu or 573-884-5042 by September 21, 2007.

Date: Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Library Station
2535 N Kansas Expressway
Springfield, MO 65803-1184
Phone: (417) 874-8140 (bbj)

RML Liaisons Attend Marketing As If Your Library Depended On It

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

The first session of Marketing As If Your Library Depended On It took place on Friday, August 24 in Denver. Claire Hamasu and Dana Abbey attended and report they have many new ideas for marketing projects.

Barb Jones, Marty Magee and Rebecca Brown are scheduled to attend the session scheduled for September 7 in Kansas City, and they will also be brainstorming for new marketing projects. There is still time for you to register for the Kansas City sessions, and to join the RML liaisons in learning about new ways to approach advocating for your library. You can register on the RML website at http://nnlm.gov/mcr/ (bbj)

Hispanic Heritage Month

Thursday, August 16th, 2007

Did you know that The United States is the third ranking country in the world in terms of Hispanic population? It is led only by Mexico as first and Columbia as second! September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. For more facts from the Census Bureau, see http://tinyurl.com/344faz. Provide your patrons with a handout filled with Latino/Hispanic Health Information Resources http://nnlm.gov/mcr/resources/community/docs/latino_american_resources.rtf scb

August Breezing Along with the RML

Monday, August 13th, 2007

Save this date: Wednesday, August 15, 2007.
Save the hour starting at: 10 am MT, 11am CT
This month’s Breezing Along with the RML will feature Dana Abbey, Colorado/Consumer Health Liaison, and Rebecca Brown, Kansas/Technology Liaison. All of you who work with consumers whether as part of your job or because you assist family and friends — you’ll be interested in what Dana has to present on complementary and alternative medicine resources.

If aren’t using RSS feeds to help keep current, Rebecca will review how to use RSS (Really Simple Syndication). She will show you several different ways to access the RSS feeds to which you subscribe. Before the Breezing session, please watch this 3 minute and 43 second YouTube video about RSS Feeds. It’s short and clever! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU

For instructions on participating (its as easy as clicking on a link) see our web site: http://nnlm.gov/mcr/services/updates/updates.html /ch