FOR RELEASE IMMEDIATELY

July 26, 2006

Contact: Sandy Ward

Phone: 413-250-8079 (cell) or 413-532-4306 (home)
Email: sward@mtholyoke.edu
In person: Thursdays 12 to 4 PM; front, Holyoke City Hall

GRANT FUNDS HOLYOKE HEALTH LIBRARY'S INFORMATION OUTREACH

The Holyoke Consumer Health Library is using an Express Outreach Award from the New England Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM-NER) to introduce the general public to a virtual library of online health information during summer 2006.

The objective of the Health Information Outreach in Holyoke program is to promote use of reliable health information sources (e.g., MedlinePlus.gov) and to deliver HCHL's successful “roving health librarian” model to a wider audience in the city of Holyoke.

The $10,000 grant funds four outreach activities. The most visible is a canopy set up in front of Holyoke City Hall every Thursday from 12 to 4 PM. Taking advantage of the foot traffic at the Holyoke Farmers' Market, HCHL health librarians encourage passers-by to take a rest in the shade and see a demonstration of online access to health information. Participating librarians Jennifer Hartley, Sandy Ward, and Kathleen Packard have staffed this outreach booth since mid-May and will continue every Thursday through August 31.

A health librarian from HCHL is also available to answer questions about accessing the virtual health library at the Council on Aging's FarmShare distribution sessions Tuesday afternoons at the War Memorial in Holyoke, and also weekly in the Health Room in the Teen Center at Girls' Inc. The fourth part of the outreach is working with the Holyoke Public Library.

The NN/LM's goal is to enhance access to health information for health professionals and the public, and support collaboration among member libraries and information centers.

The Holyoke Consumer Health Library, Inc. , is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that aims to provide Holyoke residents with access to health information to empower them to advocate for their health needs. HCHL has recently helped six partner agencies in Holyoke enhance their consumer health offerings to include access to the HCHL website www.holyokehealth.info and MedlinePlus.