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MedlinePlus Go Local Award: Call for Submissions, Fall 2008

The MedlinePlus Go Local project links MedlinePlus users to health services in their local community related to the health topic they are researching. Conversely, the project also directs users of the Go Local site to MedlinePlus health topics. For example, users get medical information on diabetes from MedlinePlus and then visit a Go Local site for nearby health programs, services, and providers. NN/LM PNR is pleased to announce funding to support implementation of Go Local in the Pacific Northwest. Maximum award is $25,000.

Background

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) developed the first Go Local site, NC Health Info. The NC Health Info team built a database of local web sties, an input and maintenance system, local and MedlinePlus vocabulary mappings, and a web interface. The University of Missouri's Community Connection was the second locally-hosted go Local site. If you have an existing web site with a database of local health services, you may want to take part in Go Local using your site as a "locally supported system."

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has also developed a centrally supported Go Local system to help states and regions make their services available to residents, their families friends. Using this system, Go Local teams create and update content on a system where NLM maintains the hardware, software, vocabulary mapping, user interface, and statistics for the site. The first sites created with this system, Indiana's INHealthConnect and Go Local Massachusetts, launched in May 2005.

The end user experience for Go Local is that each MedlinePlus health topic links to relevant local services on the Go Local site. Go Local sites receive this user traffic from each MedlinePlus health topic and route it to a page listing matching Go Local records or to a page explaining that the site contains no matching local services. To see how these links work, choose a Go Local area from the pull-down list or map link on any MedlinePlus health topic page.

Funding:

1. Go Local projects currently approved by NLM may apply to the Regional Medical Library (RML) for one-time funding of up to $25,000 per project.
2. Proposals must meet the MedlinePlus Go Local Project Proposal Guidelines - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/golocalresources.html. Proposals will be reviewed by the RML, sent to NLM for approval, and returned to the RML for funding, if approved. A budget need be submitted only by applicants with NLM-approved proposals.
3. Award amounts will be determined by the RML based on the number of approved projects and the availability of funds. Revised budgets may be requested.
4. Period of performance is up to 12 months.

Pre-requisites for funding:

1. NN/LM Full Member
2. NN/LM Affiliate Members must do one of the following:
   1. Partner with a Full Member, or
   2. Have a health sciences librarian working on the project.
3. Applicants must meet Go Local Project Proposal Guidelines.

Allowable costs may include:

1. Funds may now be used to support the project coordinator. This is a change from the original guidelines. Projects with current funding may request a reallocation of their funds by submitting a revised budget and justification.
2. Programming and computer support for mapping of an already existing system/database to MedlinePlus (Missouri model).
3. Selection and entering of materials into NLM or locally hosted database, including personnel costs, to perform these activities such as consultants, administrative support staff, selectors, etc.
4. Outreach and promotion including personnel and travel costs to perform these activities.
5. Supplies and communication costs.

Non-allowable costs for developing and maintaining the system such as:

1. Purchase of equipment (unless for use in outreach and promotion).
2. Creation of a locally hosted database, except programming for mapping an already existing database to MedlinePlus (Missouri model).
3. Technical expertise for system hardware and software maintenance.
4. Purchase of software to create and maintain locally hosted database.
5. Payment for domain names.

Training:

There is a web-based training module available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/golocalresources.html

Here are some key questions to ask when considering a Go Local project. Do you have:

• An institutional commitment to create and maintain the site?
• At least a half-time salaried person to coordinate the project?
• Staff to do outreach and publicity?
• Staff to index and maintain the local records with the vocabulary and geographic mapping?
• An existing web site or database to serve as a starting point?

Contact Gail Kouame via email or by phone at 1-800-338-7657 (from within AK, ID, MT, OR, WA) if you have questions or would like to discuss your project ideas.

Submit proposals to Gail Kouame, Consumer Health Coordinator, NN/LM Pacific Northwest Region, University of Washington Box 357155, Seattle, WA, by December 1, 2008 .