{"id":10463,"date":"2014-09-10T11:32:48","date_gmt":"2014-09-10T18:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nnlm.gov\/pnr\/dragonfly\/?p=10463"},"modified":"2026-02-03T16:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T16:53:18","slug":"gails-gadding","status":"archive","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_5\/gails-gadding\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections From An Outreach Coordinator: Gail’s Grand Adventures"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GailWater\"<\/a>I think I’m still in a bit of shock that I’ve left the NN\/LM PNR after 11.5 years that I can only describe as amazing! \u00a0I have moved on to become the Assistant Director for HEALWA – http:\/\/healwa.org<\/a>. \u00a0HEALWA is another contract supported program here at the University of Washington Health Sciences Library that provides access for eligible health professionals in Washington State to a suite of evidence-based information resources. \u00a0 I was asked to write up a little something reflecting on my years as an Outreach Coordinator and perhaps insert a few lessons learned along the way. \u00a0So, here we go… <\/p>\n

To begin, I should state why I was attracted to doing outreach librarianship with NN\/LM in the first place. \u00a0My background, prior to becoming a librarian, was as a social worker in long-term care. \u00a0I suppose one could say I am a natural caretaker and enjoy helping to connect people with resources they need to make informed decisions.\u00a0 So, when I learned of the opportunity to reach out to under-served, underrepresented audiences in the Pacific Northwest to promote improved health literacy and access to quality health information resources, I jumped at the chance.\u00a0 I had the pleasure of being part of a great team of co-workers with whom I shared many adventures over the years.\u00a0 My very first outreach trip was with Linda Milgrom to northeast Washington state.\u00a0 We covered a few hundred miles and several counties on that trip!\u00a0 Most memorable was visiting the Onion Creek Station of the Stevens County Library<\/a> which is located in the General Store on Wednesday afternoons.\u00a0 We also crossed the Columbia River on the now defunct tiny Keller Ferry.\u00a0 I couldn’t have asked for a better first experience in visiting some of the poorest, most rural counties in the state and interacting with health professionals, a hospital administrator, and of course librarians.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I had many similar memorable experiences. \u00a0Each outreach visit served as a reminder that there is always an opportunity to reach people with information about how to access quality health information resources like MedlinePlus, PubMed, Toxnet, and more<\/a>. \u00a0I learned that your presence is especially appreciated in small, rural communities where library staff members can’t often get out to conferences for training. I also discovered that there is great power in partnership and collaboration. \u00a0By connecting with fellow librarians and other colleagues throughout the region, we were able to extend the reach of the goals of the NN\/LM: “…to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving the public’s access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health.” \u00a0The local librarians and members of other organizations can carry the torch forward to continue to spread the word about the importance of access to quality health information.<\/span> So, what are some of my lessons learned and tips?<\/p>\n