A testimonial showing how CHIRS/Go Local Nebraska make a difference

[I wanted to share this testimonial with you, our CHIRS/Go Local Nebraska supporters. Please let us know if you hear of any other stories from the many people that we have served over the years. -th]

My father has a rare disease. I needed to find the singular specialist in Omaha for a second opinion and treatment consultation. But who? And how would I find this doctor? Could there even be someone in our area?
I emailed my request to Teresa Hartman at Go Local Nebraska, and within hours I had the name of a doctor with the subspecialty in neurology. Within a few days, we were sitting in his office. We are most grateful to the medical librarians at the McGoogan Library who know everything! You just have to ask.
Sandra Wendel

Highlighting members of our Advisory Committee

The gentleman in the middle of the photo above with his insides out is Ira Combs, a Community Liaison Nurse and Project Coordinator for the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The photo shows Mr. Combs and the clowns at the Black Family Health & Wellness Association Health Fair, March 29th in Omaha. In addition to serving on the Go Local Nebraska Advisory Committee, Mr. Combs serves on other National Library of Medicine committees, and is featured in this year's Aetna African American Calendar (July) that can be downloaded from this site: http://www.aetna.com/diversity/aahcalendar/2008/index.html

Another of our Advisory Committee members has had some great career news this year. Jim Bothmer, Director of the Creighton University Health Sciences Library/Learning Resources Center and Assistant Professor in the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy and Health Professions, has been appointed Assistant Vice President for Health Science and Director of the Health Sciences Library/Learning Resources Center at Creighton University. In this new role, he will be enhancing the academic mission of the Health Sciences Division.

More information about all of our talented Advisory Committee members can be found through this site: http://www.unmc.edu/library/golocal/

Teri Hartman exhibits for Go Local Nebraska

Teri Hartman has been busy this past month attending several meetings and sharing information about CHIRS and Go Local. She attended the following:

• March 24 - Washington County Health Fair - Blair, NE
• March 29 - Black Family Wellness Association Health Fair - Omaha, NE
• March 31 - Governor's Conference on Community Service - Omaha, NE

A new display was designed for the meetings and is ready to be mailed out to any Public Library or Service Group interested in sharing information about the CHIRS program or Go Local. Click on http://app1.unmc.edu/forms/library/displayform.cfm to request the display. All shipping costs are absorbed by the McGoogan Library.

Members of the Go Local team are also available to attend the meeting to share information about the consumer services we provide. Contact thartman@unmc.edu for more information.

Public Library Association

The presentation titled MedlinePlus Goes Local: Linking Quality Health Information to Local Health Services through Partnerships had 73 attendees on Friday, March 28. Five presentors including representation from the National Library of Medicine discussed the development of MedlinePlus and the Go Local initiatives. Currently there are 23 states who have launched a Go Local project and 10 more planning to go live in the coming year. A copy of the full slide presentation will be posted on the blog.