Medical Library Association | Publications : Making A Difference

Making A Difference

Samples

Sample Newspaper Query/Pitch Letter

Sample Broadcast Query/Pitch Letter

Sample News Release

Sample Photo Alert

Sample Fact Sheet

Sample Photo Caption

Sample Information Rx

Sample Newspaper Query/Pitch Letter

Dear (Name):

Millions of Americans regularly visit "virtual doctors" seeking health care information on the Internet. There are already more than 11,000 health care Web sites and that number is growing rapidly. But, the Medical Library Association warns that the virtual doctor may be a quack.

To help consumers distinguish between credible medical information and "junk science," the Medical Library Association (MLA) is encouraging Americans to take advantage of the resources available at their local medical libraries.

Samaritan Health Systems, located at 1111 East McDowell Road, is holding an open house on Saturday, October 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Medical librarians will give workshops throughout the day on how to use the Internet and library resources to find credible medical information.

"It is important for the public to know that medical librarians are a valuable and free resource. We try our best to educate consumers about their health care choices, thus empowering them to make more informed decisions," said Jacqueline D. Doyle, Samaritan Health Systems' medical librarian and president of the Medical Library Association.

Five medical librarians will be available for advance or on-site interviews. There also will be photo opportunities of librarians teaching workshops, demonstrating Internet searches or giving tours. Your reporter is welcome to research a specific health care topic or visit MLA's recommended health care Web sites.

In addition to the workshops, MLA is offering a free brochure, "Deciphering Medspeak," that provides lay definitions of many common medical terms.

I'll call shortly to discuss your interest in the October 2 event. In the meantime, you can reach me at 602/239-4353 if you have any questions.

Sincerely

(Name)
(Title)

Sample Broadcast Query/Pitch Letter

Dear (Name):

More and more Americans are playing doctors these days, we're treating ourselves with over-the-counter medications, turning back to "folk" medicines, reading and watching stories on health care topics and visiting virtual doctors on the Web.

While the Medical Library Association (MLA) stresses that nothing should replace a visit to the doctor, the organization encourages the trend toward people educating themselves about health care. MLA President Jacqueline D. Doyle notes that a "well-informed patient is a better patient."

MLA is helping the general public and media become better-informed consumers during National Medical Librarians Month in October. (Name) Library, located at (Address), is holding an open house on Saturday, October 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Medical librarians will give workshops throughout the day on how to use the Internet and library resources to find credible medical information.

Five librarians will be available for advance and on-site interviews. There will also be on-air opportunities of librarians teaching workshops, demonstrating Internet searches or giving tours of the library's resources. Advance and on-site radio interviews are also possible. Your reporter is welcome to meet individually with a librarian to research a specific topic or visit MLA's recommended health care Web sites.

It's important for the public to know that medical librarians are a valuable and free resource. We try our best to educate consumers about their health care choices, thus empowering them to make more informed decisions," said (Name), a medical librarian at (Library).

In addition to the workshops, MLA is offering a free brochure, "Deciphering Medspeak," that provides lay definitions of many common medical terms, tips on how to find credible health care information on the Internet and common abbreviations used with prescriptions.

I have enclosed a press kit with more information on the October 2 event and the Medical Library Association. I'll call shortly to discuss the possibilities. In the meantime, you can reach me at (Phone Number) if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

(Name)
(Title)

Sample news release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:

(Name)
(Title)
(Phone Number)

MEDICAL LIBRARIANS AT SAMARITAN HEALTH SYSTEMS
OFFER EXPERT ADVICE FOR CONSUMERS
SEEKING HEALTHCARE INFORMATION

(CITY), (Date)—Consumers today are taking it upon themselves to supplement their own health care with up-to-date, quality medical information. Often surfing the World Wide Web for health care information, people suffering from chronic illnesses or looking for information to stay healthy find it challenging to decipher "good" health care information from "bad."

Medical librarians can help people better understand their health care options.

"It is important for the public to know that medical librarians are a valuable and free resource," said Jacqueline D. Doyle, medical librarian at Samaritan Health Systems in Phoenix and president of the Medical Library Association (MLA). "We try our best to educate consumers about their health care choices, thus empowering them to make more informed decisions."

The general public is welcome to visit the medical library in person at Samaritan Health Systems at 1111 East McDowell Road or pay a virtual visit to its Web site at www.jacque@samaritan.edu.

Doyle offers the following advice to anyone seeking health care information on the Internet:

Who sponsors the Web site? Check to see who sponsors the Web site. Credible sources include medical associations, hospitals, medical centers and schools. Manufacturers of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and other health-care products often have good information but most exclude information about competing products. The Web site host should be clearly identified.

How often is the site updated? Reliable Web sites are regularly updated and you should be able to easily determine when the information was posted.

Is the information factual or does it represent opinions? If opinions are being presented, is the source readily identifiable?

Is the Web site intended for medical professionals? If medical terminology or unfamiliar terms are prevalent on the Web site, it is probably not intended for the general public.

To further assist consumers with understanding health care information, MLA developed "Deciphering Medspeak," a brochure that defines the specialized language of health care professionals. Copies of this brochure are available by writing the Medical Library Association, 65 East Wacker Place, Suite 1900, Dept. BR, Chicago, Ill., 60601-7246 or calling MLA at 312/419-9094. The brochure is also available by sending an e-mail request to info@mlahq.org.

MLA is a professional organization of more than 1,200 institutions and 3,800 individual members in the health sciences information field. MLA members serve society by developing new health information delivery systems, fostering educational and research programs for health sciences information professionals and encouraging an enhanced public awareness of health care issues.

Sample Photo Alert

Media Contact:
(Name)
(Phone Number)

ATTENTION: Photo Editors

MEDICAL LIBRARIANS MAKE FINDING
CREDIBLE HEALTH CARE INFORMATION SIMPLE AT OPEN HOUSE

WHAT:
Learn how to find accurate information to answer your health care questions at (Name) Library. Throughout the day medical librarians will teach workshops, demonstrate Internet searches and give tours of the library's resources. No computer experience is necessary and the library is open to people of all ages.

WHO: The 8-hour open house is being sponsored by the Medical Library Association, a professional organization of more than 1,200 institutions and 3,800 individual members in the health sciences information field.

WHEN: Saturday, October 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: (Name of Library), (Street Address), (City)

VISUALS: Hospital patients and members of the general public attending workshops taught by medical librarians. Medical librarians demonstrating Internet searches and giving tours of the library's resources.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC:

Contact (Name) at (Daytime Phone Number). On (Date of Event) contact (Name) at (Phone on Site).

Sample Fact Sheet

Medical Library Association Fact Sheet

What is the Medical Library Association?
The Medical Library Association (MLA) is an organization dedicated to health information professionals. MLA helps health sciences library and information professionals to enhance the quality of health care, leadership, education and research. The association continues to assist librarians with the exchange of health sciences books and periodicals and to develop a variety of programs that serve the needs of health information specialists.

When was the Medical Library Association founded?
MLA was founded on May 2, 1898 by four librarians and four physicians. MLA was incorporated in 1934.

How many members does the Medical Library Association represent?
MLA represents more than 1,200 institutions and 3,800 professionals in the health information field.

Why is the Medical Library Association an important organization?
MLA links librarians, affiliated institutions and federal agencies, such as the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The association disseminates crucial information about health services libraries and librarians to other information-related professions, employers, government officials and the public.

How do Medical Library Association members benefit society?
MLA members serve society by developing new health information delivery systems, fostering educational and research programs for health sciences information professionals and encouraging an enhanced public awareness of health care issues.

What is Medspeak?
Medspeak is the specialized language of health care professionals. MLA has developed a brochure, "Deciphering Medspeak" to help consumers understand medical jargon. The brochure is available by contacting MLA headquarters in Chicago.

Contact Information:
Medical Library Association
65 East Wacker Place, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601-7246
Phone: 312.419.9094
Fax: 312.419.8950
E-mail: info@mlahq.org
Internet address: www.mlanet.org

Sample Photo Caption

Jane Doe of Chicago investigates the Mayo Clinic's Web site with Sue Smith, a medical librarian, at the (Name) Library's open house on Saturday, October 2. The event, sponsored by the Medical Library Association, educated consumers on how to use the Internet and library resources to find credible health care information.

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