1. Outreach to Health Professionals

A major emphasis for the SCR during the 2006-2011 RML Contract is to identify allied health professionals and allied health training programs for targeted outreach. Information on community colleges and allied health programs in the SCR will be made available to Network members for potential outreach opportunities.

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 State Liaisons will identify nursing and allied health training programs in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other primarily minority organizations in their respective states. These organizations will be targeted for outreach and classes, and introduced to the NN/LM SCR and NLM funding opportunities.

Focus groups targeting Pharmacists will be conducted in Year 03. The NN/LM SCR office plans to apply for American Continuing Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accreditation. These focus groups will assist the NN/LM SCR staff to better develop classes for pharmacists based upon need.

Focus groups will be held with Health Educators to address the expansion of outreach efforts in Year 03 to health educators working in hospital and public health environments. There is a limited amount of research that specifically addresses the health information needs of this population.

The NN/LM SCR will make available two (2) Partners in Public Health Information Outreach Awards in Year 03. The goal of the Partners in Public Health Information Outreach Award is to provide the public health workforce with timely, convenient access to information resources that can help them perform their jobs more effectively. Proposed projects should target public health department employees serving state and local communities and should establish a partnership between public health agencies and health sciences libraries.

Interested Network members will be encouraged to submit applications for one of the eleven (11) Express Outreach awards with a focus on outreach to special populations, HIV/AIDS health providers and organizations, refugee health organizations, or the public health workforce.

The Health Professionals Outreach Coordinator, who maintains Medical Library Association (MLA) Continuing Education (CE), Continuing Medical Education (CME), and Continuing Nursing Education (CNE), will obtain CE for PubMed and consumer health classes through the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) for pharmacists. NN/LM Coordinators and designated Network members will be able to offer CE to pharmacists as an added incentive for taking these courses.

 

2. Consumer Health Information Services

The NN/LM SCR will continue to promote PubMed, MedlinePlus, and MedlinePlus Go Local 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.

The Consumer Health Outreach Coordinator will continue to train Resource Library (RL) outreach contacts on classes geared toward public librarians so the outreach contacts are able to provide the instruction for CE credit. Classes for public librarians will be concentrated in medically 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, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), school librarians, teachers, and nurses, and to the general public.

The Consumer Health Outreach Coordinator will work with the State Liaisons to coordinate meetings between State Library staff, RL outreach contacts and staff, and NN/LM SCR staff and Network members in each state to help foster relationships and health information outreach efforts between health sciences libraries and non-health sciences libraries. The Consumer Health Outreach Coordinator will also work with the State Liaisons and Network members in each state to develop outreach programs that focus on reaching minorities, senior citizens, and low income populations throughout the SCR.

Focus groups will be held with physicians to learn about the doctor/patient relationship in relation to health information that patients find on the Internet and bring to their doctor’s appointments. Results will be shared and utilized for developing future programming for health professionals.

Funding will be made available to Network members to continue to develop MedlinePlus Go Local projects in areas where there is no Go Local coverage.

The NN/LM SCR will make available three (3) Access to Electronic Consumer Health Information Awards in Year 03. The purpose of this outreach initiative is to ensure that health professionals, their patients and the general public are connected to the health information resources they need to make informed health care decisions. This solicitation will focus on projects designed to improve access to electronic health information for such groups and organizations as consumers, the underserved and minority health care professionals, public health workers, public libraries, and community-based and faith-based organizations.

Interested Network members will be encouraged to submit applications for one of the eleven (11) Express Outreach awards with a focus on health information outreach to consumers, reaching minorities, senior citizens, and low income populations.

 

3. Collaborating with Network Members and Other Organizations

The Consumer Health Outreach Coordinator will work with a regional Community Based Organization (CBO) Task Force created in Year 02. The CBO Task Force will assist the NN/LM SCR with: identifying CBOs for health information outreach; developing approaches for working with CBOs to provide health information outreach; establishing relationships between Network members and CBOs; and identifying methods of engaging CBOs in the Network.

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.

A web-based promotional presentation about the NLM and NN/LM SCR will be developed, which will be available on the NN/LM SCR website. It will be used to assist in recruiting both health sciences and non-health sciences libraries, CBOs, and other organizations into the Network.

 

4. Training to Support Electronic Access to Health Information

The Health Professionals Outreach Coordinator will conduct a follow-up educational needs assessment of Network members to assist the NN/LM SCR with developing the education program. A regional educational needs assessment was last conducted in 2004. The results of Year 03 needs assessment will be made available to Network members, who may be interested in applying for the Course Development Award to enhance the NN/LM SCR education program.

The NN/LM Outreach and Evaluation Resource Center (OERC) will teach two (2) needs assessment and evaluation classes in Houston. Building on the classes that were taught in Year 02 by the OERC in Houston for Network members, Outreach Evaluation Workshop Series: Community Assessment and Planning Outcomes-Based Outreach Projects, the OERC staff will return in Year 03 to teach the last two classes in the series:  Data Collection for Health Information Outreach and Data Analysis for Health Information Outreach at the NN/LM SCR.

Two (2) NN/LM SCR Course Development Awards will be offered in Year 03. The Coordinators will use the results of the educational needs assessment to create classes in the 2006-2011 RML Contract. In general, classes will be created by the Coordinators, but those that require content beyond the Coordinators' experience may be awarded to a Network member with more expertise in the subject. For this purpose, the NN/LM SCR will make available one Course Development Award per year to a Network member. The awards will cover costs for obtaining appropriate CE for the courses and travel for the course developers to teach them twice. The courses will not be copyrighted so the NN/LM SCR Coordinators can add them to their educational offerings and teach the class. The NN/LM SCR will work with the South Central Chapter of the Medical Library Association Continuing Education Committee to promote this award.

Year 03 NN/LM SCR class offerings will include the following:

Getting the Best from DOCLINE 3

The Health Professionals Outreach Coordinator will teach a total of three (3) Getting the Best from DOCLINE 3 classes.

Two (2) will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML. The class covers the DOCLINE system for new and seasoned users. Routing tables, SERHOLD, and reports will be covered in these classes. Instruction on the Electronic Funds Transfer System (EFTS) and Loansome Doc are also included. (This class was DOCLINE Explained).

Managing Electronic Resources

Three (3) Managing Electronic Resources classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The class is designed for health sciences library staff who are interested in an overview of technologies required for providing electronic resources. Attendees will discuss strategies for communicating with their institutional information systems departments and implementing technology projects. Class topics include providing remote access to electronic resources, user authentication, electronic journal licensing issues, firewall issues, LinkOut, and electronic document delivery.

Electronic Licensing of Journals and Databases

Two (2) Electronic Licensing of Journals and Databases classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

This course will be developed by the Health Professionals Outreach Coordinator and the Associate Director in Year 03. Electronic Licensing of Journals and Databases will cover pricing, accessibility and Interlibrary Loan issues related to signing contracts with journal vendors and publishers. Individual and package subscriptions will be addressed.

Evidence-Based Medicine

Two (2) Evidence-Based Medicine classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

Evidence-Based Medicine will be a new course developed in Year 03 based on the popularity of this subject according to the 2004 Educational Needs Questionnaire Results located at http://nnlm.gov/scr/training/class_question_results.html. It will serve as an introduction to finding evidence-based medicine information through National Institutes of Health (NIH) databases. Clinical trials, guidelines, protocols and systematic reviews, will be covered in the class.

Measuring Your Impact: Using Evaluation for Library Advocacy

Two (2) Measuring Your Impact classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The goal of class is for 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. (This class was Hospital Library Success.)

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

Four (4) Easy-to-Read classes will be taught in the Region, 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 using readability tests such as the Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) and Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). (This class was Health Information Literacy.)

Introduction to PubMed (CME)
Keeping Up with NLM's PubMed
Making PubMed Work for You
PubMed Basics (CNE)
PubMed for Experts

Sixteen (16) PubMed classes will be taught in Year 03. Document delivery for unaffiliated users and MedlinePlus are taught in each of these classes.

One (1) Introduction to PubMed class will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML. Introduction to PubMed is a Continuing Medical Education (CME) class developed by the NNO. It is intended for health professionals.

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

This class is designed to instruct attendees 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, Citation Matcher, and Clinical Queries. The instructor will demonstrate online searches and students, at computers connected to the Internet, will be invited to follow along.

Three (3) Making PubMed Work for You classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

Attendees will learn basic searching techniques and the development of search strategies that will take advantage of the PubMed interface to MEDLINE. An overview of the system and demonstrations utilizing the features of PubMed to search effectively will be provided. Automatic Term Mapping, Search Results, Features Bar, Related Articles, My NCBI, Searching with MESH, Journal Database, and Single Citation Matcher are covered in this course.

One (1) PubMed Basics class will be taught in the Region, 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. (This class was Introduction to PubMed.)

Three (3) PubMed for Experts classes will be taught in the Region, 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.

Grants and Proposal Writing
Advanced Proposal Writing

Five (5) proposal writing classes will be taught in Year 03.

Two (2) Grants and Proposal Writing classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The Grants 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.

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

The Public Health Outreach Coordinator will develop this class as an advanced version of the class Grants and Proposal Writing. The Advanced Proposal Writing class will provide more and in-depth information and instruction on proposal writing. Attendees will be encouraged to bring project ideas for in-class proposal writing.

Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping New Technology Trends
Medical Websites for Nurses (CNE)
Super Searcher
Technology Applications (tentative title)

Thirteen (13) technology classes designed mainly for librarians and health professionals, and possibly for consumers will be taught in Year 03.

Three (3) Geeks Bearing Gifts classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

Geeks Bearing Gifts is intended to provide a fun, fast-paced, and informative introduction to and 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.

Two (2) Medical Websites for Nurses classes will be taught in the Region.

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 learn to search the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE database using the PubMed interface and MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's website for consumer health information. (This class was Internet Basics for Nurses.)

Two (2) Super Searcher classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

Super Searcher focuses on the advanced search features of web search engines and the cutting edge of searching. Participants will use various search engines, compare the features and utility of each and develop search strategies that will increase the precision and scope of their searching in this hands-on course. The class includes: discussions of web search engines, indexes and hybrids of the two, commercialism and how it influences searching, finding current events information with search engines, specialized databases for special needs and topics suggested by the participants.

Three (3) Technology Applications classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

Technology Applications, tentatively titled, is a new course that will be developed by the Technology Coordinator. It will serve as an introduction to specific technologies utilized in health science libraries for information resource management and access. Individual modules will be developed around specific technologies, and may include management and utilization of wireless applications in library settings, use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), management of library websites and web servers, and an introduction to servers and networking technologies.

TOXNET: Toxicology & Environmental Information

One (1) TOXNET class will be taught in the Region, 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.

Advanced Public Health Resources
Locating Health Statistics
Public Health Information on the Web
Step-by-Step Program Planning Using CDCynergy

Twelve (12) public health information classes will be taught in Year 03.

Two (2) Advanced Public Health Resources classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The Public Health Outreach Coordinator will develop this course, which will highlight advanced Internet resources relevant to the public health workforce. In Year 03, public health workers will be contacted to identify their advanced information needs to better tailor the class. Topics will include: environmental resources, health policy, evidence based practice and health disparities.

Two (2) Locating Health Statistics classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The Public Health Outreach Coordinator will develop this course which will demonstrate online sources of health statistics. The class curriculum will build on the Data and Statistics module that is currently taught in the Public Health Information on the Web class. Class 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.

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

Digital literacy and the effective utilization of online information are among the core public health information competencies in the 21st century. Public Health Information on the Web will present 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 and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology.

Three (3) Step-by-Step Program Planning Using CDCynergy classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

This course was designed by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) based on the CDCynergy software. CDCynergy is a planning tool for public health professionals working in both government (local, state, national) and non-government organizations. (This class was CDCynergy.)

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

Two (2) Caring for the Mind classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

Caring for the Mind 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.

First Look: Molecular Biology Resources from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)

One (1) First Look: Molecular Biology Resources from NCBI class will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

First Look is designed specifically for librarians who have little or no experience using the molecular biology resources from NCBI. This course presents a brief introduction to some basic but fundamental concepts of molecular biology. Four databases from NCBI are introduced: Entrez Gene, Entrez Nucleotide, Entrez Protein, and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). Participants will have a chance for some hands-on practice in each of these databases. This course is an excellent starting point for learning about some of the NCBI resources.

Beyond an Apple a Day: Providing Consumer Health Information in a Public Library
From Snake Oil to Penicillin: Evaluating Consumer Health Information on the Internet
Health Information for Secondary School Educators
Health Information for Seniors
Introduction to Consumer Health
Looking in All the Wrong Places: PubMed for the Public Librarian
NLM’s Consumer Health Databases
¡No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarians
Patient Education Resources from the National Library of Medicine (CNE)
Prescription for Success: Consumer Health on the Web
Will Duct Tape Cure My Warts?

Twenty-six (26) consumer health information related classes will be taught in Year 03.

Two (2) Beyond an Apple a Day classes will be taught in the Region, 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. This course is on the list of approved courses for the MLA Consumer Health Specialization Program.

One (1) From Snake Oil to Penicillin class will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

This course is designed for public librarians and will teach 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. This course is on the list of approved courses for the MLA Consumer Health Specialization Program.

Three (3) Health Information for Secondary School Educators classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The need for this type of course was suggested in a focus group with intermediaries who provide health information to teens during the 2001-2006 RML Contract. The course will focus on teen health information. NLM products such as MedlinePlus will be highlighted as resources for secondary school educators, librarians, and school nurses who work with teenagers.

Two (2) Health Information for Seniors classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The Consumer Health Outreach Coordinator will develop this class with the NN/LM New England Region Consumer Health Coordinator. This class is a train-the-trainer class for individuals who plan to teach older adults how to find quality health information on the Internet. Participants will learn about different learning styles of older adults, resources for improving basic Internet skills, and online health resources for seniors.

One (1) Introduction to Consumer Health class will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

Introduction to Consumer Health is a CME course designed for health professionals. The primary objective is to increase the physician's awareness of MedlinePlus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and NLM Gateway; and to increase the physician's ability to use these resources with patients.

One (1) Looking in All the Wrong Places class will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

This class will describe PubMed, how to do basic and field searching, and how to limit searches to obtain the best results. Participants will be able to know when PubMed is the most appropriate resource, perform basic searches using PubMed, and know how to obtain full-text articles. This course is on the list of approved courses for the MLA Consumer Health Specialization Program.

One (1) NLM's Consumer Health Databases class will be taught in the Region, and one (1) in the RML.

This class will cover the databases produced by the National Library of Medicine for the general public, ranging from health information to environmental conditions that impact health. The databases include AIDSinfo, ClinicalTrials.gov, Genetics Home Reference, MedlinePlus, NIHSeniorHealth, and Tox Town.

Two (2) ¿No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarians classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

The class will cover resources for learning basic, library, medical, and Internet Spanish vocabulary. It will also discuss evaluation of health websites in Spanish, and identify specific health websites in Spanish to which librarians can direct patrons. This course is on the list of approved courses for the MLA Consumer Health Specialization Program.

One (1) Patient Education Resources from the National Library of Medicine class will be taught in the Region, and one (1) in the RML.

This CNE class 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, AIDSinfo, and Genetics Home Reference.

Two (2) Prescription for Success classes will be taught in the Region, 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. This course is on the list of approved courses for the MLA Consumer Health Specialization Program.

Two (2) Will Duct Tape Cure My Warts? classes will be taught in the Region, and one (1) at the RML.

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.

 

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 (6 national and 6 others) for an exhibit, technology related presentation, program presentation or course offering. The NN/LM SCR will exhibit at national conferences to which it is assigned by the NLM, and the majority of regional conferences will be subcontracted to Network members.

The NN/LM SCR will exhibit and make presentations at one state library association meeting and one state public health association meeting each year to promote NLM and NN/LM programs and services. In most cases, this will be done in conjunction with an RL to promote NLM, NN/LM SCR, and local health sciences library programs and services.

In Year 03, the NN/LM SCR plans to attend the Arkansas Library Association and the Louisiana Public Health Association meetings.

 

6. Information Technology and Policy Awareness Program

Technology needs assessment studies will be conducted to determine technology areas where Network members need further information or training.

The NN/LM SCR Technology Coordinator will work with NN/LM SCR Technology Advisory Committee to identify new technologies, particularly in health sciences libraries and for health professionals, and disseminate the information to Network members in the SCR via Blogadillo 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 develop and promote information resources on hospital library advocacy on NN/LM SCR website, the NNLMSCR-L and the NN/LM SCR blog, Blogadillo.

Nine (9) Professional Development Awards will be made available in Year 03. 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. PALs who are interested in attending continuing education opportunities, including travel funds to attend SCR courses offered in the Region or the annual state symposium will be encouraged to apply for these awards. Applicants will submit information on the desired continuing education opportunity, how library services will be improved upon completion of the course, and a budget for expenses. Applicants will be encouraged to utilize funds for travel to attend NTCC and NN/LM SCR course offerings made available in the Region.

Four (4) DOCLINE Library Improvement Projects (DLIP) will be funded to address library improvement needs. The DLIP will be made available to libraries that are interested in becoming full DOCLINE users, or that already are DOCLINE users, but would like to expand and improve existing library services. Interested applicants will provide information and equipment specifications on the technologies necessary for them to implement or improve library services in their institution. This could include funding to purchase a computer for use by library staff for accessing PubMed, MedlinePlus, DOCLINE and web services. 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. Emphasis will be given to applicants interested in implementing electronic document delivery technologies. All equipment specifications will be reviewed by the Technology Coordinator for appropriateness. Applicants will also provide a description of the anticipated library services that could be provided upon receipt of this award.

 

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 Primary Access Library (PAL) Network member institutions and assist "underconnected" Network members with upgrading their Internet connections.

Eight (8) Information Access Improvement Project (IAIP) Awards will be offered in the Region to hospitals, community based organizations, libraries and other Network members that are interested in improving access to Internet-based health information. A call for applications will be issued on a biannual basis. Interested applicants will provide information and equipment specifications on the technology necessary for them to improve connectivity to the Internet. Funding may be used to purchase a computer for use by health care staff for research and education, upgrade a slow dial-up Internet connection to a higher-speed broadband connection, etc. All equipment specifications will be reviewed by the Technology Coordinator for appropriateness. Applicants will also provide a description of the anticipated health information services that will be provided upon receipt of this award. Awardees will receive training on utilizing the Internet to access health information, including NLM products such as PubMed and MedlinePlus.

Two (2) Mobile Health Information Projects (MHEP) will be offered to Network members interested in providing access to health information utilizing mobile technologies. Interested applicants will provide information and equipment specifications on the technology necessary for them to provide mobile health education. This could include funding to purchase a wireless-enabled tablet computer for use by librarians involved in PubMed training, funding for wireless Internet access or funding for peripheral equipment such as a portable LCD projector. All equipment specifications will be reviewed by the Technology Coordinator for appropriateness. Applicants will also provide a description of the anticipated health information services that will be provided upon receipt of this award. Recipients will be encouraged to include NLM products such as PubMed and MedlinePlus in their mobile presentations.

There are still some rural regions in the SCR with poor or no Internet connectivity. The Technology Coordinator will conduct a needs assessment studies to determine Internet connectivity needs in the Region. Identification of connectivity needs will also be obtained from other NN/LM SCR Coordinators and RL outreach contacts.