Just for the Health of It (or Taking the Fear of out Providing Consumer Health Information)

Posted by nwsoadmin on September 29th, 2008 Posted in: News From NNLM PNR

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Dynamic Duo – PNR and the Idaho Commission for Libraries

For the past several months PNR staff, especially Roy Sahali our Community Resources Coordinator, have been working with the Idaho Commisson for Libraries (ICFL) to strategize about how to raise interest in having libraries in Idaho partner with community-based organizations for health information outreach activities. Based on input received at a planning meeting held in July, we have worked with the ICFL to arrange a pre-conference workshop at the upcoming Idaho Library Association meeting taking place this week in Idaho Falls.

“Just for the Health of It (or Taking the Fear of out Providing Consumer Health Information)” will guide participants to learn how to find resources in their communities that address consumer health needs. They will come away confident that their library has the assets needed to answer the most challenging question and they’ll learn how to develop an action plan that will take their library to the next level in community visibility.

Network member, Jeanne Farnworth from the Portneuf District Library and winner of the 2006 National Commission for Library and Information Services Consumer Health Award, will be spotlighted as having initiated successful and dynamic health information activities at her library, along with her partners. Gail Kouame from NN/LM PNR, and Charlotte Fowles of the Idaho Commission for Libraries will face off in a “dueling databases” match to demonstrate the features of NLM resources as well as those available through Idaho’s State databases. Roy Sahali will lead discussions about finding and partnering with community agencies with a stake in health information.

The day will be capped off with a Health Fair, involving Network member Kathy Fatkin of the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center library. Conference attendees and members of the public are invited to participate in the health fair to learn about local resources and to see how a health fair can be accomplished.

We are excited about our partnership with ICFL and look forward to future endeavors!