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Press Releases

March 2007

To top of page Medical Library Association Hires Health Information Literacy Research Project Coordinator

The Medical Library Association (MLA) is happy to announce that Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi has been hired to coordinate MLA's Health Information Literacy (HIL) Research Project. Kurtz-Rossi has worked for over ten years developing and implementing national professional development programs for both the health and education fields, including work on the Health Education and Adult Literacy: Breast and Cervical Cancer Project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has also worked with national advisory groups to establish selection criteria and identify health literacy curricula and lesson plans, easy-to-read health information Websites, and other resources to support teachers and health educators interested in integrating health and literacy education in their work with adults with limited literacy skills.

Kurtz-Rossi teaches a seminar in health literacy as an adjunct clinical professor for the Tufts University School of Medicine and is using content from the course to develop an introduction to health literacy online tutorial. She is also working with JSI Research and Training, a public health consulting group, to develop tobacco and literacy education lessons for use in adult literacy programs. Kurtz-Rossi holds a master of education degree from Boston University, Boston, MA.

"I am delighted to have Sabrina join the MLA Health Information Literacy Research Project team. She brings a wealth of relevant experience, connections, and knowledge enabling her to dynamically lead MLA members' efforts in this very important and visible public health issue," says Jean Shipman, AHIP, president of MLA.

The HIL Research Project, funded through a $250,000, two-year contract from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), will research hospital-based health care providers' and administrators' awareness and understanding of health information literacy and its value in support of patient care. The overall goal of the project is to increase health care providers' knowledge of health information literacy issues, identify roles medical librarians can play in addressing such issues, and inform providers of related NLM tools and resources that are available to them and their patients. The development and testing of a multi-format, health information literacy curriculum to be given by hospital librarians to their local health care providers is another component of the project. "I have always been impressed with MLA and NLM for taking leadership roles in addressing consumer health information literacy needs. I am pleased and excited to be working with MLA, NLM, and the other project partners," says Kurtz-Rossi.

MLA is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,500 health sciences information professional members worldwide. Founded in 1898, 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 Carla Funk , funk@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x14.

To top of page Library Promotions Shine During 2006 National Medical Librarians Month

Creative Promotions Award Winners Announced

This past October, the Medical Library Association held its annual National Medical Librarians Month (NMLM) observance, which celebrates the contributions and importance of health sciences information professionals and provides them with the opportunity to market their libraries. Several libraries used the 2006 NMLM theme, "Need Health Care Information? We've Got Everything Under The Sun." Those who celebrated submitted entries about their event for MLA's Creative Promotions Award, held in honor of NMLM. Entries for the contest are judged for creativity and innovation in library marketing by MLA's public relations consultant Public Communications Inc. Winners receive $200, $150, and $100 for first, second, and third place, respectively. Contest winners are as follows:

Bell-Pittman Library Resource Center, Wilson Medical Center, Wilson, NC, received first prize for their "Everything Under the Sun" promotion. The library used the sunny theme throughout their open house celebration with giveaways including pocket-sized sunshine favors, sun visors, and sunglasses. Staff also created an electronic presentation of several different sun designs that rotated on the main office window and used their NMLM celebration to highlight their new on-demand television system, which enables patrons to request educational programming by phone.

Second prize went to the School of Medicine Library, University of South Carolina-Columbia, for taking their patrons back to the '50s and '60s with their "Back to the Beach" celebration. A laid-back beach party served as the library's open house with Beach Boys music, refreshments, and beach-themed giveaways. Library staff also created retro-style, "spoofed" beach posters featuring staff members.

Three libraries at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis: BioMedical Library, Veterinary Medical Library, and Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine, received third prize for their joint effort in promoting their libraries. With a skeleton-themed celebration, "No Bones About It-You Can Find Health Information from Head to Toe at the Health Sciences Libraries," the library invited university staff and students to an open house that offered bone-shaped pens with the library's logo, body-part shaped candy, and prizes such as free membership to the Science Museum of Minnesota. Staff created a display featuring photos of the libraries' new skeleton browsing through reference books and making photocopies. A looped slide show spotlighting the libraries' services and staff was also presented.

Honorable mention went to John P. Isché Library, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans. The library introduced their institution to its very own "zombrarian" during their "Don't Let Our Resources Scare You," open house celebration. One staff member dressed up as a zombie took photos with visitors. The library staff also introduced their latest resources by conducting a wireless, live demonstration in the campus atrium.

MLA congratulates this year's contest winners and all libraries who promoted the health sciences information profession during NMLM.

MLA is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,500 health sciences information professional members worldwide. Founded in 1898, 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.

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