Hello from NNLM Region 5 staff: Carolyn Martin

Posted by Carolyn Martin on August 19th, 2021 Posted in: News from NNLM Region 5

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As Outreach and Education Coordinator, I help to coordinate the training opportunities for those of you in Region 5. This includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States.

Before joining NNLM, I was a hospital librarian in Indianapolis. My primary patrons were physicians, nurses, and a variety of hospital staff. However, my favorite patrons were patients and their families. When the opportunity to become a Consumer Health Coordinator at NNLM I was excited to join. Though scientific research is exciting it is easy to forget how that may affect patients and the general public. My past employment included working with people with developmental disabilities and older adults where I learned information needs varied from person to person and how important it is to be very observant and thoughtful.

Though my job title has changed, my primary focus hasn’t. It remains consumer health which covers a wide range of topics including health literacy, quality health news, health reference, and environmental health information. I teach classes as well as contribute content, organize and host webinars, and am a part of the NNLM cultural humility team. One thing I have learned over the years and in my work as a librarian, is that I have much to learn, including from you, members of our NNLM community.

Genomic health literacy was an area I focused on for several years. A colleague and I co-created a class for health science librarians on genomic health literacy and information presented at state, regional, and a national conference. I also did a major update to the ABCs of DNA, an NNLM consumer health class, and presented it as a conference session at several state library associations and the Public Library Association. With the public’s fascination with direct-to-consumer genetic testing and the Precision Medicine Initiative, helping consumers know where to locate quality information resources was a priority.

Overseeing our training includes being your contact if your organization is seeking an in-service or training opportunity regarding health literacy, consumer health, NLM resources such as PubMed, or data management. I’ll be happy to connect you with our staff to provide what meets your organization’s needs. Just email me at martinc4@uw.edu

When I’m not working I enjoy spending time outside, watching good videos, and catching up with friends along with several interest such as reading and quilting.

To the right is a photo of my family out on the Olympic Peninsula. Our oldest son lives in Chicago and our daughter has been living in South Korea for several years. Our two youngest live with us in Seattle. It’s not often we can get together so I was grateful we had some time last year.