The Taubman Health Sciences Library works with the University, Health System and community in providing education and access to quality health information. If you have questions, comments or are interested in working with the Taubman Health Sciences Library, please contact us through thl-outreach@umich.edu.
2009
Ann Arbor Art Fair
Ann Arbor, MI July 15th-18th
For the second year in a row, HSL staffed a vendor booth at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. We covered 42 hours total and made 891 contacts. We handed out library promotional materials along with the standard set of MedlinePlus pens and handouts. A few librarians from Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library and two volunteers from MICHR's Engage program helped staff the table. (Photos)
Tecumseh PowWow: 8th Annual "Mending the Sacred Hoop"
Tecumseh, MI June 28th-29th
Several members of HSL staff attended the Tecumseh PowWow to discuss quality health information resources such as MedlinePlus, inexpensive insurance information, and several of the resources tailored for the Native American Community. We set up our tent thus joining the other tents and teepees on the beautiful grounds of the Cal Zorn Recreation Center right outside of Tecumseh, MI. Over the course of the weekend we talked with 164 people. We also made contacts with the State of Michigan Van Buren County Dept. of Human Services and the American Indian Health & Family Services organization based in Detroit, MI. This was our second Pow Wow in fewer than three months. (Photos)
Book Discussion of "The Tipping Point"
Ann Arbor, MI June 26th
HSL held a round table discussion, the 4th meeting of our book club, on Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point." A total of 11 people attended In addition to our own staff, there were 4 individuals who were from other units. The conversation was quite lively and almost everyone seemed to have something to say.
Cholesterol, Glucose, Melanoma Checks and MedlinePlus
Ann Arbor, MI May 15th
Several librarians from the HSL took part in the first employee health fair organized by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA). Bus drivers, bus mechanics, office workers, and their family members were encouraged to attend this event for health assessment and disease prevention: blood sticks for cholesterol and glucose readings, an ultraviolet screening for melanoma, prostate specific antigen (PSA) analysis, and other types of health testing. “Vendors” were represented by the local Visiting Nurses Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and similar organizations. (Photos)
Kidney Cancer Educational Support Group, Genesys Hurley Cancer Institute
Flint, MI May 13th
HSL gave a two hour talk to the Kidney Cancer Educational Support Group at the Genesys Hurley Cancer Institute (GHCI) on the topic of "Finding quality health information on the Internet". The talk included how to evaluate health websites, and an overview of resources from MedlinePlus and Clinicaltrials.gov to PubMed. There were about 15 people in attendance, including cancer survivors and their caregivers, social workers and staff psychologists from GHCI, and the program director for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.
Partners for Healthy Communities: MICHR Symposium
Ann Arbor, MI May 11th
HSL was represented by two posters at the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) "Partners for Healthy Communities Symposium," which was held in Palmer Commons in the evening of May 11th. The keynote speaker at the event was Vanessa Northington Gamble, MD, PhD, University Professor of Medical Humanities at the George Washington University, who spoke about gaining and maintaining trust among community partners. After the keynote, HSL exchanged information and materials with other exhibitors and with visitors. The posters on "Reaching Out to the Community" and "Improving Communications with Patients Having Poor English Literacy" were well received and various new connections were made and old ones were solidified. (Photos)
Moving Towards Solutions: Addressing Teen Pregnancy Prevention in Michigan
Kalamazoo, MI May 6th
HSL taught two workshops at the second annual "Moving Toward Solutions: Addressing Teen Pregnancy Prevention in Michigan" Conference in Kalamazoo on using social networking tools to address teen pregnancy prevention and healthy sexuality. The conference was sponsored by the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Michigan Department of Education, and the Michigan Public Health Institute. 25 people attend both sessions and participants included public health nurses, school counselors, school health teachers, planned parenthood staff, MDCH staff, and staff from the MI Department of Education.
St. Francis of Assisi Health Fair
Ann Arbor, MI April 26th
HSL librarians and staff set up a n information table at the St. Francis of Assisi Health Fair in Ann Abor. We brought the laptop to present a series of slides on MedlinePlus because we were without internet access. We spoke with 61 people, from 9:00am - 2:00pm, about MedlinePlus, GoLocal, Healthfinder and the freely available resources at HSL. (Photos)
Rackham Health and Wellness Fair
Ann Arbor, MI April 21st
HSL staffed an information table at the Health and Wellness Fair at Rackham. The intimate affair was well attended by Rackham and UM staff. We spoke with 26 people about MedlinePlus and HSL’s available resources for the community. The laptop was quite helpful in demonstrating the many features of Medlineplus and GoLocal.
Throat Cancer Screening Clinic
Ann Arbor, MI April 18th
HSL attended an annual Throat Cancer Screening Clinic hosted by the Otolaryngology Department at the Taubman Center. 41 patients pre-registered for screening appointments, and 45 patients participated. Ages ranged from low 20's to low 70's, and approximately a dozen patients were asked to schedule follow-up appointments based on their screenings.
We passed out MedlinePlus brochures and pens, and inviting patients to testdrive MedlinePlus on a laptop, or to stop by a consultation area after their appointments. Fifteen patients did stop in for consults, most with very specific questions regarding conditions, medications or other health information needs. HSL also met with two physicians, a nurse and an office administrator who wanted information for themselves, or to provide patients in the exam rooms.
Pow Wow
Saline, MI April 4th-5th
A number of librarians from HSL and several other UM libraries, took turns staffing a table at the annual Pow Wow. The table was laden with brochures about consumer health as well as about academic social work. Our banner stood tall next to our table. We were sandwiched between a UM Career Development table and a Native American sales table. We logged a total of over 125 hashmarks denoting people we personally spoke to and gave information to. Of particular interest to passers-by was a flyer we distributed containing a screenshot of the State of Michigan Healthcare Help web site and a path to a listing of free health clinics in the state.
Survival Flight Conference
Ypsilanti, MI March 19th
Two HSL staff members attended the Survival Flight Conference held at the Marriott Ypsilanti Eagle Rock Hotel. They distributed handouts, pens, and information on MedlinePlus, PubMed, and NIH Senior Health, as well as telling the participants about the Taubman Health Sciences Library.
Chelsea Senior Center - Computer group
Chealsea, MI March 5th
HSL visited the Chelsea Senior Center for the second of two scheduled classes. This session, 'Finding reliable health information on the internet', ran 90 minutes, including questions, and was attended by about 35 people. Content included: things to look for when evaluating websites, examples of "bad" websites, MedlinePlus and Michigan Go Local, NIH Senior Health, healthfinder.gov, the CDC website, and other resources. We passed out presentation handouts, NLM cards and MedlinePlus pens.
Chelsea Senior Center - Computer group
Chealsea, MI February 26th
HSL visited the Chelsea Senior Center for the first of two scheduled classes. The first session, 'Powersearching with Google', ran 90 minutes, including questions, and was attended by 30 people. The audience was quite varied in terms of computer skills and interest.
Ann Arbor District Library
Ann Arbor, MI February 17th
Members of HSL staff taught "Searching for Online Health Information" classes at Pittsfield Branch and Traverwood Branch of Ann Arbor District Library.
Appreciation Breakfast at UMHS
Ann Arbor, MI February 11th
Several HSL staff members were present to provide attendees with Medline pens and flyers and to remind them that we at the HSL are their neighbors and that we welcome them to our libraries.
Give Kids a Smile
Ann Arbor, MI February 7th
The "Give Kids a Smile" free dental care event, held at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, was extremely well attended. There was a lengthy line of parents and children already waiting at the door of the building by 8:30 am. The pre-dental, dental students, and volunteering dentists and assistants were very numerous, very welcoming, and both kind and friendly. Several dental students were demonstrating how to brush one's teeth using a huge toothbrush in a stuffed animal's mouth. There was a children's table with coloring books and toys, a tv set with cartoons, and several young women dressed as fairies mingling with the children. HSL staff also circulated among the registering participants distributing pens, MedlinePlus reliable health information, and a State of Michigan flyer about inexpensive health and dental resources. We also distributed brochures about the Taubman Health Sciences Library and the fact that we are available to answer questions and that the public is welcome to visit our library.
Asian American Health Fair
The HSL maintained a booth at the Fair again this year (third year in a row), giving out MedlinePlus and Asian American Health information as well as pens. We were stationed next to a booth staffed by members of the School of Nursing who were collecting data for colonoscopy and Hepatitis B incidence in the Asian American Community. Another nearby booth was that of ENGAGE. Various health checkups were available: glucose, cholesterol, prostate, breast, glaucoma.
Peptide Retreat
Ann Arbor, MI January 17th
Members of the Taubman Health Sciences Library presented a poster at the Michigan Gastrointestinal Peptide Research Center Retreat held in Palmer Commons. The poster entitled "Providing Vital Support to Facilitate the NIH Public Access Policy" was well received with many of those attending stopping by to engage in lively conversation and ask for clarification on many issues relating to the policy. We took the opportunity to promote the MLibrary Pilot, National Institutes of Health Manuscript Submission (NIHMS). This was the third year that HSL has been invited to present at the retreat.
Women's Health and Fitness Event
Ann Arbor, MI January 24th
Sponsored by various UMHS units and a few grocery stores, the Third Annual WHF Event, organized by the UM Women Medical Students, took place at Ypsilanti High School. There were about 200 participants lining up to help themselves to a cafeteria-style luncheon, and right at the beginning of the line, HSL had a table set up with various handouts, signs, brochures, MedlinePlus pens, all in the interest of providing reliable health information. At the next table, three UM Dental School students were distributing floss, toothbrushes, and toothbrushing information.
2008
Dental Day
Ann Arbor, MI November 9th
HSL set up an information table in the lobby of the School of Dentistry to participate in Dental Day, which offered free x-rays and check-ups to participants. We handed out pens and bookmarks about MedlinePlus along with a little verbal information both about the database and about our libraries being free and welcoming to all. We served about 20 people between 8:30 am and 11 am, when patients had all been helped.
Opening Doors Event
After a Sunday brunch with Dr. Alexa Canady-Davis, there was a panel consisting of Drs. Cheryl Lee, Sonya Miller, and Mas Jimbo and moderated by Inel Lewis of the UMMS Diversity and Career Development Unit, followed by a wonderful keynote address by our invited guest Dr. Alexa Canady-Davis. The audience consisted of about 60 people of all ethnicities, various ages, and both genders. We are grateful to the hosts and helpers for their good work. We are hoping that planting these little seeds of hope and encouragement will eventually result in new opportunities for and broader diversity for candidates applying to the UMMS as well as other medical schools.
Tribal Health Summit
Ann Arbor, MI October 15th
HSL staff attended a Tribal Health Summit held at the Michigan League's Henderson Room. After a ceremony complete with a tom-tom, there was a prayer and several welcoming remarks followed by a panel composed of the Native American Health Directors, all of whom spoke of their personal stories and also of their professional pursuits as well as the difficulties they encounter in providing health care with terribly limited funds. In the afternoon, a University panel moderated by Molly White, presented possibilities of community engagement, after which there were round tables (Talking Circles) to pool ideas to facilitate partnerships. The presentation concluded with singing, posting of colors, and a variety of other native songs.
HSL Book Club Meeting
Ann Arbor, MI
We discussed Temple Grandin's "Animals in Translation" and the discussion was very lively. For the third session, we again had 12 people, more than 1/2 from outside HSL, and we discussed Temple Grandin's "Animals Make Us Human. Again, we had an interactive conversation, and the participants seemed pleased and willing to return for more book clubs.
ANATOMY THROUGH THE AGES: PRE-VESALIAN TO 1800
Ann Arbor, MI August 3rd-August 10th
The Taubman Medical Library was pleased to host this exhibit in conjunction with the North American Congress on Biomechanics. Print treasures in the Taubman Medical Library Rare Book Room trace the history of anatomy from the 15th through the 18th centuries. The exhibit was very well received, and visitors came from as far away as the University of Calgary.
UMHS Staff Recognition Event
Ann Arbor, MI September 9th
The UMHS Ice Cream/Staff Recognition Event took place at two locations: the first shift was in the Hospital Cafeteria and the two subsequent shifts held in the Hospital Courtyard. The reason for our attending these events to to inform UMHS of our resources and our willingness to help them seek reliable health information. We gave away magnets, pens, handouts about PubMed and about our libraries as the employees ate their ice cream, played the games being offered, and won their prizes.
University of Michigan Dearborn Mardigian Library
Dearborn, MI October 19th
An HSL librarian went to the University of Michigan Dearborn campus to present a session on MedlinePlus. She was assisted by Linda Draper from Wayne State University, who has been the lead for "Go Local." There were roughly 12 participants present.
