National commission recognizes MU libraryA national library commission has recognized the MUSC Library for its Hands on Health-South Carolina project , a public Web site with the goal of promoting healthier citizens and healthier communities. The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science selected the MUSC Library to receive the 2004 NCLIS Blue Ribbon Consumer Health Information Recognition Award for Libraries at a reception 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the S.C. State Library, 1430 Senate St., Columbia.The Web site, http://www.handsonhealth-sc.org, will be demonstrated at the reception. The NCLIS recognized outstanding libraries in 37 states for their contributions to health awareness and health education. A special task force of NCLIS commissioners judged the programs and selected the winners on the basis of potential impact, innovativeness, and replicability. Designed to serve the consumer and community health information needs of South Carolinians, Hands on Health-S.C. pays special attention to health issues of particular importance to South Carolina’s citizens. It features diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, disabilities, nutrition, family violence, and cancer. “The project supports the health and wellness of all four million citizens of the state of South Carolina, but targets South Carolina’s underserved and vulnerable citizens, especially minority and rural populations,” said Jim Johnson, South Carolina state librarian. “The information is designed to inform people of all age groups, reading abilities, and education levels. It is organized for the layman’s inquiry, not the way the science of medicine is organized.” “The purpose of the awards is to help increase awareness of healthy lifestyles,” said Beth Fitzsimmons, NCLIS chair. “Millions of Americans are diagnosed each year with chronic diseases, which in many cases could have been avoided, had the individuals followed healthier lifestyles … Libraries are a natural location for disseminating health information, and the efforts of the Medical University of South Carolina Library, especially its Hands On Health-S.C. project, have been outstanding in carrying out this function.” “I continue to be impressed with this project and the continuing efforts of the staff at the Medical University of South Carolina Library to promote it and improve it,” Johnson added. “Their willingness to listen to others enabled them to make changes that made this project a wonderful statewide resource, and this kind of collaboration is very unusual in the consumer health information field. It just goes to demonstrate how good the librarians in our state are. This level of professional leadership clearly establishes the Medical University of South Carolina as a leader in the field of consumer health information, and the library richly deserves this prestigious award. All of us in South Carolina are proud of this work, and we are honored to be recognized at the national level for what is done here.” The Duke Endowment supported the development of Hands On Health-S.C. in recognition of earlier MUSC Library community outreach projects. Additional funding was received from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and the Sustainable Universities Initiative. Project partners include the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library, the South Carolina Hospital Association, and the South Carolina State Library’s DISCUS program. Hands on Health Core Group
Friday, Aug. 20, 2004
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