NNLM R4 Connections Through the Eyes of George Strawley-Library Engagement Specialist

Posted in: #CC/Academic List, #Health Interest List, #Health Sciences List, #Public/K-12 List, All Members

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Trust, diversity and hospitality came through as themes when attendees of the Region 4 Connections Program gave their opinions on what community members need from library programs. 

The first in an ongoing series of online public programs, the presentation on Sept. 9 featured NNLM staff discussing their plans for engaging libraries, community-based health organizations and public health agencies with the goal of increasing access to health information in the Mountain States and the Dakotas. 

Participants were asked to brainstorm in response to questions from the presenters throughout the session.  

Audience members said they thought the communities they served needed library programs offered in clean, stress-free spaces that featured conversations that meet the audiences where their needs are. Programs needed to be offered by a diverse staff with local presenters and trainers that they already knew and trusted.  

Community members could also benefit from child care at programs, elderly-friendly events, accessibility to public transportation and low-bandwidth resources, participants said. 

Participants emphasized family-friendly activities that respond to audience members’ interests rather than impart information based on what organizers think is important. Multi-lingual programming, especially presentations in Spanish, are a plus, they said. Programs should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

One suggested possible topic for a program was infographics and graphic medicine. 

Feedback from sessions like these is critical to NNLM’s capacity to understand network members’ needs and interests. Positioned as it is between the federal government and libraries serving the health sciences and local communities, NNLM needs the ability to synthesize the priorities of both.  

That can be a tricky task, but establishing a cycle of continuous communication between NNLM and its membership will go a long way toward getting effective results. 

If you would like to offer your opinion on health-related library programming or any other topic that NNLM needs to hear about, please email me at the address below. I will read and respond to your comments. 

The Connections series will take place bi-monthly on the second Thursday of the month. The next presentation is scheduled for Nov. 11. Keep an eye out for an announcement about the topic and speaker. 

George Strawley, Engagement Specialist (ID, MT, UT) 

Focusing on library engagement 

george.strawley@utah.edu 

Library programming comments from session attendees emphasized connecting with communities. 

 

George Strawley, M.L.I.S., works on providing consumer-level health information and programs through libraries as well as on the planning and implementation of funding aimed at addressing health disparities. A former librarian in both the public and community college settings, he is now based at the University of Utah.