Funding Awarded to Charlevoix Public Library

Posted by Bobbi Newman on July 27th, 2018 Posted in: Funding, Public Libraries
Tags: Success Stories

I am happy to announce that the GMR has awarded funding to the Charlevoix Public Library! Congratulations to Susan Kroll and the staff at Charlevoix Public Library.

Project Summary:
This request seeks to fund the purchase and support of 20 iPads loaded with NLM consumer health information for adults and children. This proposed project is a partnership between the Charlevoix Public Library and the Munson Charlevoix Hospital Education Department. The iPads will be placed in the Library, the Hospital Wellness Workshop facility, in selected physicians’ and school nurse offices and used in health clinics for American Indians and community senior events. The Health Librarian will train the health professionals to use the iPads and review specific NLM databases. The information will be reviewed semi-annually to ensure that the resources are up to date. The rural counties of Antrim and Charlevoix counties which constitutes the Library and Hospital’s patron base have many health challenges associated with obesity, diabetes, and alcoholism. Access to mental health professionals and specialists is scarce. These chronic health issues combined with a general population that has limited computer skills make this an ideal environment to provide NLM health information for adults and children on user-friendly iPads. The mission of the Charlevoix Public Library is to connect the community to resources that educate, enrich and empower. The Library has been a partner with the Munson Charlevoix Hospital Wellness Workshop since inception, providing community health information based on NLM resources. The Wellness Workshop supports the Hospitals’ mission to improve the health and wellness of the community through health education, nutrition classes, and health screenings.

Project Objective:
Goal: Educate health professionals on how to identify high-quality consumer health information.
Objective: By November 2018, 9 school nurses and 4 physician’s office staff will have completed this training.

Goal: Establish a health corner in the Charlevoix Public Library to complement the iPad project.
Objective In July 2018, the Health Librarian will select NLM brochures and quality health association materials to provide as handouts to supplement health-related reference questions.

Goal: Provide specialized iPads with resources relatable to school-aged children.
Objective: Work with the Charlevoix Youth Librarian and a school nurse representative to select specific resources based on local pediatric health concerns.

Goal: Improve awareness of Wellness Workshop professional staff to specialized NLM resources.
Objective: In Winter 2019, conduct a professional training workshop focused on databases that reflect local health concerns identified while working with patients on the iPads.

ABOUT Bobbi Newman
Bobbi Newman (MLIS, MA) is the Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist for NNLM R6 at the University of Iowa. She is the author of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Guide for Libraries. She developed the popular NNLM course “Wellness in the Library Workplace.” Bobbi is a mindfulness student and a member of Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). She currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board for Let’s Move in Libraries. She divides her time between her dog, reading fantasy and nonfiction, playing video games, crafting, kayaking, biking, and gardening.

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