Collaborating with Public Librarians to Promote Emergency Preparedness and Safety Awareness

Abstract

The Louis Calder Memorial Library received an Express Community Day Award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) to partner with the Miami-Dade County Public Library librarians to promote emergency preparedness and safety awareness. Named Safety Fair: Keep Your Family Safe – Emergency Preparedness at Home and Away, the events improved the public librarians' knowledge of NN/LM resources, such as TOXNET, MedlinePlus®, ToxTown®, ToxMystery®, and WISER®, as well as university-created resources. A train-the-trainer program was also implemented for the public librarians.

KEYWORDS:

• Emergency preparedness
• health sciences libraries
• medical libraries
• MedlinePlus
• outreach
• public libraries
• safety awareness

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gediminas (Geddy) Paulaitis

Gediminas (Geddy) Paulaitis, BSN, MBA, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]), is Director for Access Services and Biomedical Communications, Calder Memorial Library, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, P.O. Box 016950 (R-950), Miami, FL 33101.

Emily Vardell

Emily Vardell, MLS ([email protected]), is Director for Reference, Education, and Community Engagement, Calder Memorial Library, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, P.O. Box 016950 (R-950), Miami, FL 33101.

Jennifer Shipley

Jennifer Shipley, MLS ([email protected]), is Manager, Business & Science Department, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Business and Science/Urban Affairs Department, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130.