“AskColorado to Discuss Providing VR Services to California Library Users”

AskColorado, Colorado’s popular state-wide virtual reference (VR) service, is pleased to announce it has entered into discussions to provide VR services for California library users. Potential names for the new service include AskCACO, ASKCalico, and AskColofornia, with the front-runner being AskCACO. “We’re concerned that AskCalico might be associated exclusively as an online sewing Q&A while AskColofornia sounds too much like “cauliflower” and nobody likes that nasty vegetable,” commented Kris Johnson, Operations Manager for AskColorado.

California’s AskNOW 24/7 reference service was discontinued several years ago. That coupled with Governor Jerry Brown’s cuts to statewide library services two years running prompted recent discussions on how best to provide innovative library services to Californian’s. Johnson was approached by a delegation of California librarians after learning from New Jersey librarians that they too consulted with AskColorado after the closure of their long-running VR service Q&ANJ earlier this year. “Colorado is known nationwide for it’s cooperative ventures between libraries, and other states have been interested in ‘how we do it’ added Johnson. “While I wasn’t able to answer New Jersey’s and California’s specific questions about how Colorado librarians ‘do it,’ I was able to provide them with extensive information about how Colorado libraries have been working collaboratively for the past 8 ½ years to provide high-quality, 24/7 virtual library reference services.” In addition to their general interest in AskColorado, librarians nationwide have watched as AskColorado has expanded its services to include AskAcademic, a separate queue for academic libraries, ASK After-Hours, a late night and weekend staffing service staffed exclusively by Colorado librarians, and most recently, ASK Client Services, a service in which AskColorado is contracted to provide total VR services for paying client libraries.

If an agreement can be reached plans would include for the provision of both a public and an academic queue, tentatively to be branded as AskACACOCA (dependent upon a trademark search for pending applications submitted by the pharmaceutical industry.)

Colorado librarians need not be concerned about AskColorado rushing into any ill-advised agreements with the cash-strapped California libraries. “All appropriate measures are being taken to ensure AskColorado receives proper remuneration for our services should an agreement be reached,” said Johnson. In addition to cash payments delivered in hard-sided metal briefcases, Johnson indicates she would negotiate for “extras” including discounts to Disney theme parks and product placement opportunities for Colorado libraries in popular Hollywood TV sitcoms and talk shows.

Additional Information: Kris Johnson has recently returned from vacation and cannot be reached for comment pending unpacking of suitcases. Eighty percent of this press release is true.

Colorado Voice Preserve is a collaborative effort that addresses part of this challenge by developing a shared infrastructure and repository. Planning is already underway, and we would like to hear from you regarding oral-history interest, activity, and needs.

Please visit the survey link below. All we ask is 3-5 minutes of your time. Please respond by March 30.

https://www.research.net/s/ColoradoVoicePreserve

Warmest regards,
- Colorado Humanities
- History Colorado
- Colorado State Library

About Colorado Voice Preserve:
http://voicepreserve.org/

About us:
- Colorado Humanities is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, with a mission to encourage Coloradans to explore and appreciate our diverse culture and heritage, because democracy requires wisdom and vision.
- As the designated steward of state history, History Colorado engages the public in statewide cultural and heritage resources, helping individuals and families to uncover the past and discover perspectives for the future.
- The State Library provides leadership and expertise in developing services for hundreds of school, public, academic, and special libraries—with a primary goal to improve the ability of those same libraries to serve all Coloradans.

Ten percent of all hospital admissions are the result of patients not taking medications correctly. Twenty-eight percent of all hospital admissions for those over 65 are caused by medical non-compliance.  According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2010, among older Americans (aged 60 and over), more than 76% used two or more prescription drugs and 37% used five or more in a single month. The health consequences of misunderstanding how to take a medication can be significant – even deadly. There are many free authoritative and reliable medication safety resources available for working in your faith communities. The majority of resources provided are from institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health, such as the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Others are highly-respected non-profit or governmental organizations.

DailyMed (http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), from the NLM, provides high quality information on nearly 35,000 marketed drugs. Search by drug name or drug class and receive an abundance of information on adverse reactions, patient counseling information, consumer health information, material for breastfeeding mothers, clinical trial information, and biomedical literature resources.

Drug Digest (www.drugdigest.org/) is a noncommercial, evidence-based consumer health and drug information site. You can find information on drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, check potential drug interactions, identify over 6,000 pills by name, and learn how to safely use medications. The site also has easy-to-read information on a variety of health topics and treatments. You can also identify a pill by its color, imprint, shape, size or scoring.

Drug Information Portal (http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/) provides quick access to quality drug information. The site contains information on over 30,500 drugs and is searchable by drug name or category. In addition to links to MedlinePlus for consumer information, the database pulls additional information for breastfeeding mothers, clinical trials and US Food and Drug Administration information (FDA).

MedlinePlus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html) is the premier consumer health resource from the NLM. In addition to information on over 850 health topics in English and Spanish, there is a wealth of information on drugs, supplements and herbal topics. This is a great site to learn about prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications – including side effects and dosing. You can also research dietary supplements and herbal remedies to learn about effectiveness, dosage, and potential interactions with prescription medications. MedlinePlus also has health information in 48 additional languages (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/languages.html).

LactMed (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT) from the NLM is a peer-reviewed database for breastfeeding mothers and their healthcare team to understand potential effects of drugs on breastfeeding infants. Developed by a pharmacist, the site has over 800 frequently used complementary and alternative medicine products. There is also a free LactMed App for iPhone/iPod Touch and Android @ http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/help/lactmedapp.htm.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov/), or NCCAM, provides research-based information on all aspects of complementary and alternative medicine. Of particular interest is the use and side effects of herbs and botanicals, and information on clinical trials for these substances. This site is available in English and Spanish.

Avoiding Medication Errors

Keeping a Personal Health Record (PHR) can help reduce medication errors, and assist healthcare providers and family members if you are unable to communicate your medication history. It is also an invaluable resource for all of your personal health history. A PHR is different from the medical records a healthcare team keeps. A PHR can be information that you maintain and keep current, or provided by another source such as your healthcare provider, insurer, employer, or a commercial product. There are many tools available to help you collect, track, and share prescription drug and over the counter medication information. The American health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has developed a web site just for the personal health record. At http://www.myphr.com/ you will find information on how to choose a PHR – from web-based to paper-based, and from free to fee-based.  You can also find information on what to include in your PHR and ways you can use the information – when traveling, when making decisions about treatments, and communicating with your healthcare team and caregivers.

The NLM has developed a free web application named MyMedicationList that allows individuals to manage medication lists and make drug information readily available. The information can be printed out to share with caregivers and members of the healthcare team, as well as for just having in a purse or wallet. The resource is stored locally on the individual’s computer, protecting personal information. Visit http://mml.nlm.nih.gov/ to launch the beta version.

Drugs.com has Mednotes, a free personal medication eRecord. You can receive instant access to detailed warnings and drug interactions, email notifications of drug warnings, access easy-to-read health information, and generate printer-friendly reports to share with caregivers or your doctor.  Visit https://www.drugs.com/mednotes.html to learn more and get started.

Disposing of Expired and Unused Medications

Drinking water can be contaminated by improper medication disposal. Traces of steroids, antibiotics, anti-depressants and hormones have been found in municipal water sources. There are safe methods for disposing of unused, unneeded or expired prescription drugs. The FDA has great information on how to properly dispose of medications at http://tinyurl.com/fdaflush. Here are a few guidelines:

• Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers.
• Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags.
• Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs doing so. Visit http://tinyurl.com/fdaflush for a list of drugs that the FDA recommends flushing.

Encourage community members to participate in “Got Drugs?” National Take Back Initiative, occurring April 28, 2012. This program, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, provides local venues for disposing of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. With support from local law enforcement and community partners, the April 2011 National Take Back Initiative event brought in 376,593 pounds of unwanted or expired medications! Visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ to find collection sites in your town.

Dana Abbey, MLS, is the Health Information Literacy Coordinator for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region.  She can be reached at dana.abbey@ucdenver.edu.

In 2011, a total of 240,110 Colorado residents participated in summer reading programs in public libraries. Of these readers, there were 152,720 children, 43,695 teens, and 16,824 adults.

Visit the State Library’s mini-grants page to see a list and map of the 72 library sites receiving a grant. 

This grant program is made possible through the State Library using federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS provides funds to the Colorado State Library through the Library Service and Technology Act. The public libraries provide a local match of 25% of the grant.

For more information on summer reading programs, contact Beth Crist, Youth and Family Services Consultant at the Colorado State Library, 303-866-6908.

Nearly all of the PCC are up and running with some HUGE numbers:

* 1072 new desktops, laptops and tablet computers, and other equipment
* 77 of the total 88 locations
* $2.3 million spent of the total $3.3 million
* 1,322,836 computer uses in the Public Computer Centers
* 150,089 one-to-one computer help sessions
* 865  public classes with 8,625 participants trained

Over 1300 PCC students responded to a satisfaction survey, and 94% reported they learned a valuable skill, and 95% would recommend the class to others.

Throughout Colorado 2,883 library staff attended 470 hours of classes, workshops, and webinars so they are prepared to help people both formally (classes) and informally with computer use.  Libraries in 54 communities held festive launch events to highlight how libraries are helping citizens with technology, job skills, and other vital life activities (such as connecting with family).

Stellar Libraries: Going Above & Beyond
A handful of BTOP libraries stand out as re-inventing the way they serve their communities due to this grant.
Delta County Libraries
Delta County Libraries exemplifies the BTOP spirit through its innovation and commitment to training. All five branches of the Delta County Libraries have enthusiastically embraced staff training and computer classes for their communities. Led by Literacy Program Manager Jessica McGrath, iPads are also available at the libraries loaded with educational apps that deliver both literacy and computer skills to k-12 students. In addition, their computer labs are full with classes and activities that are improving skills for high need populations.

High Plains Library District
The High Plains Library District developed an innovative model to bring technology training to remote rural Weld County, covering an area of 4,000 square miles. Before the grant, they were already providing computer classes in libraries so they used the funds to reach out to communities without libraries. By creating satellite library locations as Public Computer Centers, offering one-on-one tutoring sessions by appointment, and nurturing strong relationships with partners, they are meeting high need populations. Director Janine Reid saw the potential for this grant and chose to hire additional staff to train and manage their ambitious and innovative PCC service model. Kelli Johnson helped design the statewide marketing campaign and customized it for their communities. Erin Kirchoefer arranged to host a national video shoot to highlight the impact of the BTOP grant, provides training throughout the area, and excels at reporting and compliance.  They have infused a culture of learning throughout their considerable service area.

Lamar Public Library
The Lamar Public Library has been a good neighbor and a true regional leader by taking the initiative to hire a dedicated trainer and reaching out to smaller towns. Under the leadership of Debbie Reynolds, the Lamar Public Library is a vibrant, committed, passionate, engaging force. They have performed well beyond the grant expectations by expanding past their town and create digitally literacy throughout remote southeast Colorado.

Naturita & Nucla
Naturita Community Library and Nucla Public Library have long been good neighbors. Their collaboration on the BTOP grant is but another example of the benefit to all when libraries work together. Naturita and Nucla library staff have joined together for staff training and to share training resources. By sharing volunteers and training resources, they put their remote  communities’ interests first. They show an eagerness to learn, a generosity to collaborate, and a courageous spirit in leading remote Coloradans into broadband adoption.

A number of small libraries have had the courage to do big things in new ways within their communities.  These libraries have blown us away with their ability to get things done and create learning.

Small But Mighty – Dove Creek
Laurie Ernst is a one-woman show at the Dolores County School/Public Library. Her enthusiasm for bringing additional computers and training to her community is an inspiration. She went to every business in the community to promote the computer center and invited them to the launch event. While helping students find library resources during the day, in the evening Laurie turns her attention to her public patrons and delivers computer classes to eager adult students.

Small But Mighty – Fleming
The Fleming Community Library (school/public) has shown dedication and enthusiasm for their PCC. Despite limited staff time, they were quick to purchase and install new technology and to begin offering instruction. They have recruited volunteers to teach classes, including high school students and community members with a passion for technology. They offer classes in basic Internet, social networking, and digital media so they can teach digital literacy while maintaining a focus on community interests.

They’ve got our backs
We want to acknowledge and thank the Denver Public Library.  Beyond rolling out with their own PCCs, the Denver Public Library staff including Michelle Jeske and Zeth Leitzau have supported the overall statewide effort by assisting the Colorado State Library.  They have allowed us to branch out farther and faster throughout the state. DPL has hosted regional trainings, provided translations of documents,  pre-tested surveys, and even allowed us to shoot a video in their impressive Computer Technology Center. The Denver Public Library has been a shining star behind the scenes.

McBride certainly finds that balance. He starts his journey at Snowmass Mountain and ends it in Mexico where the Colorado is mostly non-existent. Although the future of the Colorado River seems dire, McBride is optimistic that the delta can be saved. Justice Greg Hobbs interviewed McBride and offered his legal perspective on some of the issues. (Photo attached.)

The second Water 2012 event took place at the Colorado Stock Show. In the children’s educational area on the 2nd floor, a booth was set up by Water 2012 staff to educate school children about the importance of water in our communities. Kids spun a wheel that landed them information on how much water you find in a vegetable or fruit or allowed them to win a free prize. On some days over 700 kids visited the booth! (I have a photo I can send you on this.)

See the first issue here (PDF)

Would you like to see a topic covered in the newsletter? Want to share info about your programs? Or perhaps contribute an article? Contact the State Library’s Youth & Family Services Consultant, Beth Crist, 303-866-6908.

The Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC), in partnership with the The Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) is pleased to announce that it has awarded seven Registration Assistance Awards (scholarships). These awards covered the entire enrollment fee to the LSSC Program for the recipients in Colorado.

The recipients are:

Vickie Freemyer – Haxtun Public Library (Haxtun)

Julia Hall-Payne – Poudre River Public Library District (Fort Collins)

April Hurt – Grand Valley High School (Parachute)

Wendy Conley – McKinley Elementary (Canon City)

Beth Harper – Spanish Peaks Library District (Walsenburg)

Karen Melgares – Adams State College Nielsen Library (Alamosa)

Lynn Martin – Woodruff Memorial Library (La Junta)

The Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC) offers library support staff an alternative career path in the library profession.  It is an opportunity to commit to professional development and continuing education through the achievement of the ALA-LSSC Competency Sets.    As of January 1, 2012, the LSSC Program has 202 enrolled candidates, from 36 states and with a diverse range of library backgrounds.

Lorelle Swader, Director of LSSC, says, “We are very pleased at the response of the library profession to LSSC.  We believe the ALA competencies for library support staff are setting a standard for support staff performance around the country.”

“It’s rewarding to see people seize this opportunity to advance their career in librarianship, and CLiC is pleased to assist them in this endeavor.” ~ Judy Van Acker, Regional CLiC Consultant.

For more information on the Library Support Staff Certification Program, please visit the LSSC website at http://ala-apa.org/lssc or email  lssc@ala.org.