U of M Health Sciences Libraries Cooperate with Give Kids a Smile
Anna Ercoli Schnitzer
InfoPoint Librarian
Health Sciences Libraries
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
The Give Kids a Smile free annual dental care event, held at the University of Michigan (U of M) School of Dentistry on February 7, 2009, was extremely well attended. Members of the Health Sciences Libraries contacted schools, PTO, and an online paper to help publicize the event.
A lengthy line of parents and children aged 5 through 12 were already waiting at the door of the building by 8:30 am. The many pre-dental and dental students, volunteering dentists, and all their assistants were very welcoming, kind and friendly. Several dental students walked around to demonstrate how to brush one’s teeth using a huge toothbrush and employing a stuffed animal’s mouth.
For entertainment, a children’s table with coloring books and toys was set up as was a television showing cartoons. Several young women dressed up as fairies mingled with the children. Two representatives from the Health Sciences Libraries also circulated among the registering participants distributing over 100 MedlinePlus pens, a personal explanation of reliable health information from MedlinePlus, and a State of Michigan flyer about inexpensive health and dental resources available online at: http://www.michigan.gov/healthcarehelp. A number of people asked questions about the possibility of free eye examinations for children and free dental care for adults. We also gave out information about the Health Sciences Libraries and the fact that we are available to answer questions and that the public is welcome to visit our library.
As an editorial comment, we could easily sense how much the parents appreciated this opportunity to bring their children to have their teeth examined and cleaned. Several of the parents told us stories about how difficult it is for them to meet daily expenses, much less health issues. It was a wonderful event, one that we had attended for three years previously, and we look forward to attending it again the next time it is held.
