American Library Association News Release
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/may2009/orsbandwith.cfm
May 5, 2009
(CHICAGO) With growing demand for public Internet services and Wi-fi access, nearly 60 percent of U.S. public libraries report Internet connection speeds are insufficient to meet patron demand at some point in the day, according to the 2008-2009 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (PLFTAS).

“As more and more people turn to their public libraries for critical access to online information and services, the bandwidth needed to provide these services increases rapidly,” said American Library Association (ALA) President Jim Rettig. “Just over 70 percent of libraries report they are the only source of free access to computers and the Internet in their communities. As the nation begins to invest in high-speed broadband build-out, it is crucial that that investment include public libraries.”

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaevents/cplacourses/diversepopulations.cfm
To help public librarians learn how to effectively serve diverse populations, the Public Library Association is offering an intensive two-day workshop designed to teach these practical skills in Houston, Texas, August 6–7. Participants will learn how to identify the challenges of these groups and assess the library’s readiness to work with them, develop a culturally responsive library-services plan that addresses specific community needs, and develop marketing messages that connect with these populations. [posted on AL Direct, Aprill 22, 2009 http://link.ixs1.net/s/ve?eli=6350210&si=398419967&cfc=3html ]

Public Libraries have always been flexible in filling gaps within their commuities. As the economy has spiraled downward, they have become job placemet centers and are helping people to update their computer skills. Another service that public libraries are taking on is informing the community of local emergency resources. See this article from California discussing the possibility of the library dedicated a place within to emergency readiness. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090416/NEWS01/904160301/1026/news12 [posted on DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB]

The Internet: Today’s Health Information Resource
http://nnlm.gov/mcr/ctc/
Sixty-two percent of Americans with Internet access use the web to get health or medical information, yet information on the Internet is often old, incomplete, or misleading. Class One will help you to learn to search the Internet, and how to evaluate what you find. Class Two teaches how to use the National Library of Medicine resource MedlinePlus. Medical librarians have found reliable online health information and gathered them together in MedlinePlus to make it easier for you to find health information you can use.

Healthfinder.gov tutorial
http://www.healthfinder.gov/tutorial/
Librarians and others looking for a credible and easy-to-use health promotion and wellness online resource for their customers should visit Healthfinder.gov. This is a National Health Information Center website full of personalized health information and tools presented in an easy-to-read format with simple navigation. The site has been recognized as a key consumer resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health information on the internet. [American Libraries Direct 3/25/2009]

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/news/mplus_mag_spanish09.html
(A Spanish press release follows the English press release at the URL above)
There’s a new magazine for people who want health information in Spanish. The National Institutes of Health, the National Library of Medicine, and the Friends of the National Library of Medicine recently launched NIH MedlinePlus Salud http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/magazine/ . The magazine is produced in partnership with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.

The new publication, written in both English and Spanish, complements NIH MedlinePlus magazine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/ which premiered in 2006. Salud (the Spanish word for health) was created to bring quality health information to even more people, and to address the specific health needs of the growing Hispanic population.

Press Relase from the American Library Association (ALA)
http://tinyurl.com/cfpmhp
February 10, 2009
Woman’s Day magazine shares stories of improving health and wellness at the library
Continuing an eight-year partnership with ALA’s Campaign for America’s Libraries that has generated millions of dollars worth of editorial coverage for libraries, Woman’s Day magazine profiles four women who used the library to improve their health and wellbeing.

The article ( http://tinyurl.com/alre75 PDF file) appears in the magazine’s March issue, now on stands.  Featured are a wife who turned to the library for solace during her husband’s illness, a new mom who sought answers about postpartum depression at the library, a retiree who learned how to find trusted medical resources at a free library class and a reader who rediscovered books through the Library of Congress’ Talking Books program after she lost her sight.

Public Librarians Response to Hurricanes: Lessons, Issues and Strategies
Lecture and Webcast
February 20, 2009 12:30 - 2:30
http://ci.fsu.edu/news/?p=1363

The five panel experts have had “hands on” experience in assisting libraries plan for and respond to hurricanes.  As such they are assisting the Information Institute in completing a study that will identify public library best practices in hurricane preparedness and response, create a web portal to organize and access a broad range of information that can be of assistance to public librarians and local communities regarding hurricanes, and provide training to public libraries for how best to use this website and the various materials generated by the study.  Detailed background information about the study, its goals, funding, activities, can be found at: http://www.ii.fsu.edu/news_detail.cfm?newsID=62 The program will also be webcast with access instructions to be announced on the College of Information webpage at http://www.ci.fsu.edu/.

Health Information Outreach and Community Engagement:  Lessons Learned from the Experts
Thursday, February 12, 2009 / 2 – 3:30 PM
Engaging your community with health information outreach projects is rewarding, meaningful work. Come learn from the experiences of experts in health information outreach and community engagement. Each speaker has led a successful health information outreach subcontract from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine/ New England Region. The program is intended for anyone interested in pursuing funding or learning more about how to engage the local community in effective health information outreach.
Registration is free and on a first come, first serve basis.  Session will be limited to fifty participants.
To register, please contact Martha Pearson at martha.pearson@umassmed.edu.
In your email please include:
•    Name
•    Institution / address with zip code / phone / e-mail
•    Name of the program (Health Information Outreach and Community Engagement:  Lessons Learned from the Experts).

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Information Office announced the release of “Increasing Relevance, Relationships and Results: Principles & Practices for Effective Multicultural Communication—Library Edition,” http://tinyurl.com/7xdtvo written by the Metropolitan Group, a leading strategic communication and resource development agency specializing in work with libraries.

The article defines eight principles and practices for effective multicultural communication, and highlights the important, integrated role multicultural communication plays in creating social change. Read more at http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/january2009/piomulticulturalcomm.cfm

WebJunction is pleased to host the third cookbook from TechSoup’s MaintainIT Project, Planning for Success. This free online resource brings together the most current ideas and best practices for planning, building, and managing your library’s computer technology. Librarians from around the country have contributed their experience and knowledge on over 50 topics ranging from security solutions and strategic maintenance practices to community building experiences. http://www.webjunction.org/maintainit-cookbooks/articles/content/34716950 [posted on WebJunction Newsletter - January 2009 Crossroads]

The American Library Association and the National Library of Medicine want to help you show your patrons how to find the information that will help them achieve good health. The Good Health Information website http://olos.ala.org/goodhealth/ introduces the resources of the National Library of Medicine and provides information that helps communities of color in rural settings make good health decisions. Specifically, the site addresses the diseases and illnesses that disproportionately affect people of color. [From American Libraries Direct 12/23/2008 toolbar  http://link.ixs1.net/s/ve?eli=m292611&si=398419967&cfc=3html]