Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Briscoe Library: Health Information Outreach
Librarians for the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio Briscoe library have been providing health information outreach to the Mexico-US border region since 2009. This is a great user-centered service because a huge part of the mission of the library is to provide health information to the community. What makes this project even better is that they have collaborated with other libraries to reach a wider community. This is a vital service to these users because many of the citizens do not have access to authoritative health information outside of these libraries. Their next outreach program is Get Hip scheduled for April 14th at the Texas Library Association Conference . The Get Hip program is designed to provide professional development to K-12 librarians, school nurses, public librarians, and others so that they may be aware of health information services available to the public with the goal that then these professionals can pass this information along to the greater community.
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These are some really nice programs, especially the one health info outreach. Many people don't know too much about good health or how to treat it, so it seems that program could help with that. Passing on useful info is always a plus!
ReplyDeleteUsing school librarian and school nurses and the like to spread of information seems like an efficient use of funds. Also, the intended public might be more familiar with these people than with 'intimidating' university librarians.
ReplyDelete@Jackie: although the public may not know much about biomedical science, pretty much everyone knows the basics: healthy food and moderate exercise to maintain a healthy weight, and no smoking/drinking/drugs. People (including me) just really suck at implementing those basics, which (iirc) are more of a health hazard than anything else you could teach them combined.
I agree with you completely, Ian. Knowing is only half the battle. I too am implementation impaired when it comes to some of those health basics.
ReplyDeleteI think we have the beginnings of a support group - For the Implementation Impaired. I think I used to call it procrastination, but in the Web 2.0 age the new phrase sounds much jazzier!
ReplyDeleteThe programs are very useful. Even if the information is quite basic, the easier it is to access and the more people who have access to it, the more likelihood that some will take actions to improve their health or at least be aware of the availability of helpful information and resources. The librarians must have been really impressed by the success of their program. Good for them.
Yes, Kimberly, I think a support group is definitely needed! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great initiative, the younger we start the better and targeting school nurses, and librarians is a great way to get the message out. I do agree with the procastination part, it seems we all like the easy way out. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of involving the K-12 schools. It is so important to build the community.
ReplyDeleteLiz Nebeker
I see the value of this program that librarians are working on. The entire population of this nation has to rethink about how they eat and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. I notice a big push to educate people on hand washing and how to use the elbow to cover sneezing. How I don't hear very much about H1N1 flu outbreaks anymore.
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