Promote Your Consumer Health Library in MedlinePlus
By Tammy Mays, MLIS
Former Consumer Health Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Have you ever wondered how you can list your Consumer Health Library on the Find a Library (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/libraries.html) page in MedlinePlus?
Consumer Health Libraries can easily be included in this listing. The information found on the Find a Library page is generated from information provided via DOCLINE. If you wish to be listed on the Find a Library page just go to DOCLINE and select “Yes” to authorize your listing in MedlinePlus.
There’s a mechanism in place in DOCLINE that will link your library to the MedlinePlus site.Your institutional profile contains a checkbox that will list institutional contact information for your library in MedlinePlus. This feature is particularly useful to MedlinePlus users seeking addresses information for local libraries that house and service consumer health collections.
For those of you who need a little more detail on how to list your library in MedlinePlus, Here are step by step instructions on how to list your library in MedlinePlus through your institutional profile.
DOCLINE libraries can add their institutions to the MedlinePlus list, by following the directions below:
Step 1. Log into DOCLINE.
Step 2. Select the “Institution” tab.
Step 3. Click the “Update” icon.
Step 4. Click the “Services” button from the sidebar.
Step 5. Scroll down to the section labeled “Other Services”.
Step 6. Check Yes under “Authorizes listing in MedlinePlus”.
If you are not a DOCLINE library, we can add your library to this list. Email your GMR State Contact Librarian
Since you are already updating your Services & Fees in DOCLINE. You could also promote other services your library provides to Affiliated Users, Unaffiliated Health Professionals, and for the Public.
Just remember, Find a Library (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/libraries.html) page is in the Other Resources section of MedlinePlus.
