Adapting - Transforming - Leading: A Year in the Life of a NNLM Sponsored Outreach Librarian

Abstract

Objectives The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) establishes partnerships with health sciences libraries that share the NNLM's mission of outreach. Outreach librarians sponsored by NNLM regional offices conduct a wide range of activities on the behalf of the NNLM to public libraries, health professionals and to the general public with emphasis on instruction on National Library of Medicine resources.

Methods As a designated Partner Outreach Library for the Greater Midwest Region (GMR) NNLM, the Health Sciences Libraries Outreach Program supports the outreach mission of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and aids the GMR in its mission to improve awareness of and access to reliable, freely available, online health information resources by delivering programming within the local communities on such topics as health literacy, healthy aging, information resources for immigrants, NLM science resources or outreach librarianship. This is done through exhibiting at strategically chosen health or community events or conferences throughout the year, presenting informational sessions at these conferences, conducting training or workshops at public libraries for library staff or patrons, providing PubMed instructions for local high schools, and participation in GMR grant funded outreach projects.