Consumer Health Information Services and Programs: Best Practices(Best Practices in Library Services)

Consumer Health Information Programs and Services: Best Practices presents examples of successful and long-standing library programs and services that provide health information to consumers—the general public, patients, and families or patients – who seek information about health and diseases. This best practices volume brings together library programs and services currently offered in hospital libraries, public libraries, academic health sciences libraries, and standalone consumer health libraries, covering a range of topics and special programs. Advice and best practices provided by these experienced CHI librarians will help readers who are planning a new consumer health information service, or who are looking to upgrade and expand their current program or service. This best practices book will highlight successful library consumer health information programs and services, offering advice and tips about all aspects of providing health information to the general public and patients, from planning and establishing a CHI program, to offering specialized services to special populations. Readers will find both solid, tried-and-true methods for providing these services, as well as guidance on using newer, updated techniques to reach persons needing health information.

Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1. A Most ResourceFULL Consumer Health Information Center Cara Marcus Chapter 2. The University of Tennessee Medical Center’s Preston Medical Library and Health Information Center Story Sandy Oelschlegel, Martha Earl, and Kelsey Leonard Chapter 3. Health InfoNet of Alabama Kay Hogan Smith Chapter 4. Consumer Health Information Service in the Public Library Barbara M. Bibel Chapter 5. Rewards and Challenges of Children’s Health Education: An Ongoing Community Partnership to Reach Local Preschoolers Deidra Woodson and Donna F. Timm Chapter 6. Collaborative Outreach Between a Hospital Library and a Public Library Margot Malachowski, Anne Gancarz, and Ellen Brassil Chapter 7. Consumer Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs Library Network Priscilla L. Stephenson, Teresa R. Coady, Diane K. Kromke, Laurie A. Barnett, and Cornelia E. Camerer Chapter 8. The Learning Center: A Cancer Consumer Health Library at MD Anderson Cancer Center Elizabeth Brackeen Chapter 9. The Big Health Library Umbrella: Our Mandate to Provide Information for All Literacy Abilities Jackie Davis Index About the Editor and Contributors

About the Author :
M. Sandra Wood, MLS, MBA, is Librarian Emerita, Penn State University Libraries, and a Fellow of the Medical Library Association. Ms. Wood is founding and current editor of Medical Reference Services Quarterly (in its 34th volume). She was a librarian for over thirty-five years at the George T. Harrell Library, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, specializing in reference, education, and database services. Ms. Wood has written or edited more than 12 books, the latest two entitled Health Sciences Librarianship and Successful Library Fundraising: Best Practices (both with Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2014).

Review :
Consumer Health programs can be challenging to get started and to maintain, but M. Sandra Wood has come to the rescue. Consumer Health Information Services and Programs is a collection of writings that looks at a variety of successful consumer health programs and allows the reader to benefit from their experience. Each chapter focuses on a different program and offers background information, a description of the program, and information about lessons learned. People directly involved with these programs share their experience and discuss best practices they have learned. What did it take to get started? What worked? What didn’t? How did they fund their program? What kind of partnerships were formed? All of this is covered and much more. Chapters are clearly labeled so that you can easily find specific sections and simply skim the information you need. However, I highly recommend reading all of this book. There is so much to be learned here. Not only does the reader benefit from the information offered, but it’s hard not to be excited and inspired by the wonderful programs that are detailed in this book. Whether you are looking at starting a new consumer health program or reassessing an existing one, this book is great place to start. Consumer Health Information Services and Programs: Best Practices is an excellent guide to current best practices for both new and experienced consumer health librarians. It is a handy resource for how to effectively design, implement, and evaluate a variety of consumer health programs and services in institutions ranging from large academic health centers to small public libraries. This work offers invaluable real life experiences of providing consumer health information in a wide variety of libraries with a wide variety of consumers. This book is an invaluable resource for consumer health librarians, especially for those who are solo…. Whether you are looking for ideas while planning your consumer health information library service or are trying to find successful enhancements for your existing program, you will find many interesting and patron-oriented best practices in this book. It is very well written and contains detailed information that will apply to a wide range of consumer health libraries. Up-to-date resources are also included, as well as information on the backgrounds and experience of each chapter’s author. Any consumer health information librarian would be wise to include this book in his or her collection of essential resources. A welcome addition to the consumer health information literature, Consumer Health Information Services and Programs presents detailed descriptions of successful programs and services in a variety of settings and for diverse audiences. These expert librarians offer a wealth of useful ideas on collaborative practices, promotional activities, and effective ways to include volunteers. The authors discuss the importance of assessment and evaluation and provide up-to-date lists of resources. Of special note is a timely chapter on health literacy, a critical component of any consumer health information program. Highly recommended. Looking for innovative ideas for consumer health programs? Need a “how-to” guide for setting up a patient library or other service? Look no further; this book is a refreshing and inspiring collection of current best practices in consumer health. Based on real-life examples, experienced librarians provide innovative ideas combined with the practical steps taken to implement the project or service. Common themes emerge, and readers learn the best approaches for understanding the user community, creating successful partnerships, procuring funding, providing outreach and marketing – it’s all here! For anyone planning top notch consumer health services, this is the essential compendium of best practices in the field.