Public Libraries as Public Health Partners KATE FLEWELLING, MLIS NATIONAL NETWORK OF LIBRARIES OF MEDICINE, MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC.

Public Libraries as Public Health PartnersKAT E F L E W E L L I N G , M L I S

N AT I O N A L N E T W O R K O F L I B RA R I E S O F M E D I C I N E , M I D D L E AT L A N T I C R E G I O N

P E N N S Y LVA N I A P U B L I C H E A LT H   A S S O C I AT I O N A N D P E N N S Y LVA N I A O F F I C E O F R U RA L   H E A LT H A N N U A L C O N F E R E N C E  

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National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM)

Mission◦ Provide health professionals and the general public with equal access to biomedical

information

Coordinated by the National Library of Medicine

Services

Promote NLM resources

Provide training

Fund health information projects

Consult on proposed outreach efforts

Who we serve◦Health Professionals◦Medical Libraries – hospital and other◦Public Libraries◦Academic Libraries◦Community-Based Organizations◦Faith-Based Organizations◦You!

Emphasis on underserved, underrepresented groups

Public Libraries after Sandy

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Images: Flickr users Adam Melancon, Moore Memorial Public Library,Caldwell Public Library

What libraries haveComputersWiFiElectrical OutletsConference rooms/meeting spacesCustomer-service mentality

Knowledge of the communityCredibilityNormalcyExpertise in finding informationWillingness to partner“Essential community services” (Stafford Act)

And a built-in information-seeking audience!

Photos: Flickr users Clearwater Public Library, Hurstville City Library, Museum & GalleryFacebook page Whitehall Public Library

Ways to partner Health fairs/screenings

Programming-lectures/fitness

Storytimes/Summer Reading

Health Information referrals

Information distribution

Affordable Care Act

Disaster Preparedness/Recovery

Photo: Flickr user Monterey Public Library

Lancaster Health Information Network

Integration of the Free Library of Philadelphia as Public Health

Preparedness and Response Partner (Philadelphia Department of Public

Health)Library staff trainingMedical Reserve Corps trainingPersonal preparedness trainingDispense Assist

Want to Partner? National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region http://nnlm.gov/mar/Funding: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/

National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Research Center http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc.html

PA Forward (PA Library Association): http://www.paforward.org/

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Thank You!

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHS-N-276-2011-00003-C with the University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System.

Kate Flewelling, MLISNational Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region

http://nnlm.gov/mar/[email protected]