Monday, March 10, 2003 - 1:30 PM
Nuestras Raices
Present: Sandy Ward (President), Judy Atkins (Treasurer), Kathleen McDonough (Clerk), Chris Lapon (HHC), and Jim Craig (UMass)
1. Welcome to the Pilot Library
Sandy took a few minutes to show the results of her Wednesday morning sessions at the Library. She rehung the shelves and weeded the boxes of pamphlets. After a discussion with Teresa Smith (Holyoke Public Library) about various possible classification systems, Sandy decided to group the books based on the Planetree system (used by Planetree consumer health libraries) rather than using Dewey, Cutter, LC, or NLM systems. The collection is now arranged in these four sections:
2. The minutes of the February 10, 2003 meeting were approved.
3. Announcements and updates.
a. Sandy has been working at the Library every Wed. 9-11 since 2/19/03.
b. The Holyoke Council on Aging now has a Caregiver Resource Library which had a grand opening on March 5. Teresa Smith (HPL) cataloged their books for them, using the Dewey system. After the opening, Sandy had an opportunity to "show off" the HCHL web page to the staff at the Caregiver Resource Library. She reported that they were excited by what we had to offer. Their library link has been added to the HCHL web page.
c. The planning group reviewed the latest web site revisions. The text was enlarged, the layout was reformatted and a disclaimer added has been added. The filtering software has been removed which means that all medical sites are now accessible via the computer in our pilot library. Library links have been updated and it was suggested that the NLM Gateway be added to our starting points since it is a simple interface that searches all NLM resources. The Espanol link gets users into Spanish resources and includes a disclaimer in Spanish. As we consider how volunteers and patrons will utilize the Consumer Health Library, logistical issues are arising, such as how will volunteers know whom to turn to for technical assistance and how can printing requests be filled.
d. Judy reported her attempts to gather volunteers at the 3/5/03 CHNA meeting. One person signed up for a Wednesday morning training session at the Library - Ruth Jacobson-Hardy (586-7525 x1128). Marcia Sullivan of Holyoke Community Housing has women who need to provide community service and asked if HCHL might provide opportunities for placement. This has possibility. Training community people to provide library assistance means that they will bring their community connections with them. Fran Becker (Baystate Health Systems) has volunteered to conduct training.
e. Chris explained that the administrative offices of the Holyoke Health Center have moved to 217 High Street, a temporary location, while the Maple Street location continues in its renovations.
f. A Holyoke Teen Center will be opening in the next couple of months at Open Square. Its hours will be 2:30 Ð 7:00 five days a week. Eventually, there will be a teen health center. This is another opportunity for partnering with a local group. 30 teens from four primary agencies (Girls, Inc., Teen Resource Center, Nuestras Raices, and El Arco Iris) will be trained as peer leaders. Heidi Thompson is the program coordinator and is busy now setting up the Teen Center.
4. Volunteer Schedule
a. Virtual Reference services may be an option to consider as we think in terms of librarians being available to patrons. Funding might be problematic in these days, but the wealth of on-line information makes a ÒVirtual ReferenceÓ approach quite doable. The upcoming Mass Virtual Catalog, which links together library systems across the entire state, also lends credibility to this option.
5. Business Card
a. Sandy presented the revised HCHL business card, which prominently features the website address. She will speak to Doris about the printer who ÒowesÓ Doris some work about having cards made up.
b. ItÕs time to start handing them out because we are in business.
6. Meeting adjourned at 2:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen McDonough,
Clerk