Handout prepared Holyoke Consumer Health Library, Inc. Annual Meeting 10-20-06

Accomplishments in past 12 months

• Distribution of health reference books to 6 partner locations:
  • Holyoke Council on Aging
  • Holyoke Health Center
  • Holyoke Public Library
  • Holyoke Teen Center
  • Nuestras Raíces
  • Providence Prenatal Center
• MedlinePlus trainings at three locations
• Creation of rack card for Holyoke Public Library
• Open House at Council on Aging's Caregiver Resource Library
• Health Information Week at Holyoke Public Library with news coverage on Channel 40, HolyokePlus (Feb)
• Site visits to Mary Lane, Franklin, and Planetree libraries
• New handout: Criteria & Tips for Evaluating Websites
• Powerpoint presentation about 2004-2006 NLM-funded project
• Celebration of NLM $40,000 grant completion (April party)
• Tales from the Field presentation at EqualAccess Libraries Institute for public librarians interested in health outreach (May 31)
• $10,000 Express Outreach Award for May-Aug outreach at Farmers' Market, Seniors FarmShare, and Teen Center 17 weeks, 145 people (MedlinePlus demos for 50) at Farmers' Market
• Newspaper coverage in Republican (July 28) and HolyokePlus (Aug 2)
• Participation in Health Fair at Senior Picnic (Aug 30)
• Distribution of brochures and books via Wanda Otero, NuevaEsperanza
• Profile in CHIChat column of NER’estah (NN/LM online newsletter)

Organizational transitions

Treasurer Doris McKethan resigned in June 2006; she moved to NJ. Judy Atkin agreed to become Treasurer (again) effective July 1, 2006. Sandy Ward hosted a party June 14 to celebrate the arrival of the check for the NLM Express Outreach Award ($10.000) and thank Doris for her service.

Jen Hartley and Sandy Ward co-managed the Express Outreach project throughout the summer. Kathleen Packard aided Jen when Sandy was out of town. Jen, Kathleen, and Sandy were paid by HCHL, Inc. for hours worked on this project. (In January 2007 HCHL, Inc., will be responsible for issuing required IRS Form1099s for compensation paid to these “librarian/consultants”) The project ended August 31, 2006. Kathleen and Jen are now employed elsewhere.

In January 2006 Sandy Ward expressed her wish to step down after 6 years as President. She has tried --without success yet-- to recruit new leadership for HCHL, Inc. Her revised business card highlights “MedlinePlus.gov” rather than the title “President.”