Go Local Reaches Across the State (GRAS)

The Go Local Nebraska project has received funding to further promote the initiative and train selectors across the state. The $11,000 is provided by the Nebraska Library Commission in support of a Nebraska Health Information Partnership grant proposal.

Project Description:

Providing quality, up-to-date information in GoLocal Nebraska is a continuing need. Limited staffing is available from the McGoogan Library of Medicine to research all health related resources within each community. Therefore, it is important to partner with people who are knowledgeable about the health resources in their communities. Public librarians are aware of the resources in their cities and often times have the most contacts to support this project.

The purpose of this project is to expand the content of GoLocal Nebraska and ensure important information about services and health care providers is not omitted. To achieve this goal, public librarians will be trained as GoLocal Nebraska selectors across the state. They will identify missing information as well as ensure the information listed is up-to-date. In addition, health related services including hospitals and clinics will be actively targeted to receive promotional materials about the Go Local Nebraska project.

Grant funds will be used to create the necessary promotional and training materials as well as to cover travel expenses. The Eastern Library System will be the initial system to identify a selector who is willing to partner on this project. That selector will play a major role in testing the training materials and refining methods for launching this type of partnership to the other systems. To successfully gather and train selectors across the state, funding will be spread across a 24 month period. Primary objectives include:

1. To improve access to quality health information and services for Nebraska residents using the World Wide Web.
2. To improve access to state, local, and community resources.
3. To aggregate dispersed health services information in a single source and make it readily available.

Project Implementation:

• Select a Public Librarian to become a Go Local selector from each library system.
• Provide the needed training for each selector.
• Travel to Public Libraries promoting MEDLINEPlus and Go Local Nebraska.
• Provide training to consumers about quality consumer health information on the web by attending Health Fairs across the state.
• Write up a job description for the selectors including what they would be expected to do and what they can anticipate receiving for their efforts.
• Selectors will receive training materials in print or on a CD, toll free number to call if they have problems or questions, and a framed certificate that they have partnered with the McGoogan Library. CE for attending the training sessions will be investigated as a possible reward as well.
• Promotional materials will be developed and distributed to health care providers, clinics, and hospitals.

Project Communication Plan
Provide a newsletter, up to date website, create training CD’s and be a part of the Nebraska Library Commission’s “Database Roadshow”.

Press releases and contact each system administrator to identify public librarians who might be interested in becoming a selector.

Project Budget
The requested dollars will be used for travel expenses and the development of training and promotional materials. The project will be completed in 24 months. A progress report will be written at the end of the first 12 months with a final report submitted to the Nebraska Library Commission at the conclusion of the project.