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Press Releases

What's New: December 2005

To top of page MLA OFFERS SPANISH-LANGUAGE CONSUMER HEALTH BROCHURE

The U.S. Census Bureau has projected that by the year 2010 the Hispanic population will surpass fifty-six million and the country's largest minority group. Recognizing the need for accessible healthcare information for the growing Hispanic population, the Medical Library Association (MLA) offers Descifrando el Lenguaje Médico, the Spanish version of its popular Deciphering Medspeak brochure.

The "Medspeak" brochures were created to help those not used to reading medical jargon, or "medspeak," understand the specialized language of health care professionals.

As in the English version, Descifrando el Lenguaje Médico features an alphabetized glossary of more than 100 medical terms and a list of prescription shorthand terms along with the meaning of those terms. In addition, the brochure contains tips on identifying the best medical information available on the Internet. The brochure includes MLA's "Top Ten" list of the most useful consumer health Websites, which has been referenced in numerous newspapers and magazines including U.S. News and World Report and AAPR Magazine.

Over 6,000 Descifrando el Lenguaje Médico brochures have been distributed to Spanish-speaking consumers at hospitals, clinics, and libraries across the country.

Print copies of the brochure are available in packages of 50 for $14.00 for MLA members and $20.50 for non-members. Sample print copies are also available.

MLA, a nonprofit, educational organization, comprises health sciences information professionals with more than 4,700 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public

For more information, please contact Tomi Gunn, mlams@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x11.

To top of page MLA TO CONDUCT WEB-BASED INSTRUCTION INSTITUTE

On March 12-17, 2006, the Medical Library Association (MLA) will conduct its first continuing education (CE) learning institute, "MLA CE Institute: Developing Web-based Instruction," cosponsored by National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) Greater Midwest Region.

Based on a competitive application process, sixteen MLA-approved CE instructors and NN/LM coordinators will be selected to spend five-days learning how to develop their traditional, face-to-face courses into MLA-approved Web-based formats. Costs including hotel, meals, airfare and local travel will be provided for the sixteen participants.

Course developers must already have an MLA-approved CE course and be willing to transfer that course to the Web. Participants will be given lab time to transform their courses with assistance from qualified instructors. The end result will be sixteen Web-based courses, specific to health sciences librarianship, to offer MLA members and other health sciences librarians around the world. The deadline to apply for the institute is December 16, 2005. The application and more information about the institute are available on the MLANET CE Institute page.

MLA, a nonprofit, educational organization, comprises health sciences information professionals with more than 4,700 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Combs, mlapd1@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x23.

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