STEALTH REFERENCE: REACHING NON-LIBRARY USERSMASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCEPANEL PRESENTATION MAY 4, 2015

MARGOT MALACHOWSKICOMMUNITY OUTREACH LIBRARIANBAYSTATE HEALTH, SPRINGFIELD, MA

ANNE GANCARZCOMMUNITY SERVICES LIBRARIANCHICOPEE PUBLIC LIBRARY

JOHN WALSHASSISTANT REFERENCE SUPERVISORNEWTON FREE LIBRARY

Stealth /stelTH/ noun 3. Being amazingly slick or smooth (Urban Dictionary, accessed 10/08/2014).

Our panel members take programming and reference skills out to folks who don’t come to the library. We gather ideas and questions. We provide actual services! These are our successes and failures.

BAYSTATE HEALTH SCIENCES

LIBRARY

MARGOT MALACHOWSKICOMMUNITY OUTREACH LIBRARIANBAYSTATE HEALTH, SPRINGFIELD, MA

CONSUMER HEALTH LIBRARY

3300 Main Street satellite M-F afternoons, staffed by librarian Free pamphlets on general health Subscription databases Reference texts, health newsletters Free printouts on health information Phone, email, postal mail services Walk-in traffic is low!!! Needed to get out into the community to

provide services to the folks who need health information!!!

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CONTRIBUTING TO HOSPITAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Conduct a community health needs assessment (CHNA) every three years, in collaboration with the community

Excise tax of $50,000 per hospital and tax exemption may be at risk for failure to meet this requirement

Pressure on hospitals to ensure “community benefit” investments are transparent, measurable, and responsive and accountable to identified community need

Walking School Bus ProgramBrightwood Elementary School, North End of Springfield

Led by Karen Pohlman, FNPCommunity Program Manager, Baystate Health

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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Identify the most significant health needs or problems

Who (vulnerable people, e.g., those with health disparities)?

What (poor health status, early mortality, chronic disease)?

Where (medically underserved areas, counties/zip codes)?

Why (access barriers, unhealthy behaviors)?

The “How” = Implementation Strategy: identify potential program and collaboration opportunities that have a measurable impact

PRIORITY SETTING

Needs Programs

Needs without available programs

Programs misaligned with identified needs

ProgramsAligned WithNeeds

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Hampden County has the dubious distinction of being the least healthy county in Massachusetts. Providers of health care are looking for innovative ways to tackle the causes of poor maternal/infant health, high rates of diet- and exercise-related disease, and barriers to adequate mental health services.

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OUTREACH TO FRANKLIN COUNTY IN FY2015

Greenfield (pop. 17,511) is the county seat of Franklin County, and ranks as among the poorest 10% of all towns in Massachusetts. (U.S. Census 2009)

14.9% families in poverty8.2% unemployment8.5% no high school diploma9% high school drop-out rate43.8% public school children qualify free/reduced lunch

North Quabbin region (pop. 28,000) encompasses nine towns in Franklin County, with persistent poverty. (U.S. Census 2009)

14.4% families in poverty6.4% unemployment10.7% no high school diploma11.2% high school drop-out rate47% public school children qualify free/reduced lunch

Community Engagement: Baystate Health Sciences Library and The Literacy Project Collaborate to Teach Health Literacy

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. #HHS-N-276-2011-0001C with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Instruction

Chicopee Public Library

Forbes Public Library

Literacy Project

Springfield City Libraries

Springfield Technical Community College

Storrs Public Library (Longmeadow)

Exhibits

Al Baqi Center for Human Excellence

Anti-Bullying Fair

Massachusetts EMS Conference

National Health Center Week (3 clinics)

New North Citizens Council HIV/AIDS

Vietnamese Civic Association

Weldon Outpatient Rehabilitation Fair

Springfield Parents Academy Back-to-School

Stone Soul Festival

Coalitions

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Massachusetts Library System

Medical Home Work Group for Families with Special Needs Children

Springfield Food Policy Council

Springfield Department of Elder Affairs

UMass School of Public Health Western MA Health Equity Network

Western MA Health Information Consortium

COMMUNITY OUTREACH, FY2014

MY OWN MEASURESACTIVITIES OUTPUTS: BASELINE OUTPUTS: GOALS OUTCOMES

Answer Q’s (walk-in, ph/em)

FY_11 = 347FY_12 = 280FY_13 = 237FY_14 = 272

FY_15 = 284March = on target

FY_15 =

Perform searches(to be mailed/emailed)

FY_11 = 48FY_12 = 54FY_13 = 93+FY_14 = 79

FY_15 = 68March = on target

FY_15 =

Prepare instruction(classes & lectures)*all audiences: publ ic, l ibrarians, partners, BH

FY_11 = 21FY_12 = 21FY_13 = 23FY_14 = 22

FY_15 = 22March = on target

FY_15 =

Prepare exhibits (health fairs)

FY_11 = 2FY_12 = 6FY_13 = 6+FY_14 = 12

FY_15 = 6March = 1 (need 5)

FY_15 =

Write for publication(art icles, book reviews, blog posts*)

FY_11 = 6FY_12 = 4FY_13 = 3FY_14 = 6

FY_15 = 5March = increase (17*)(Chapter, Bk Review, Jnl Article, Newsl Article, Blog Posts*)

FY_15 =

Prepare for conferences(panels, posters & l ightning rounds)

FY_11 = 0FY_12 = 2FY_13 = 1FY_14 = 1

FY_15 = 1(Mass Lib Assoc in May)

FY_15 =

+ started taking reference questions at health fairs* started counting blog posts as writing for publication

CHICOPEE PUBLIC LI

BRARY

ANNE GANCARZCOMMUNITY SERVICES LIBRARIANCHICOPEE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Our reference department is the “go to” department for information, outreach,

and in-depth information gathering.

Including:

Use of the libraryResearchJob Search/ResumeSchoolDatabasesComputers

Outreach to potential users – where to start:

Who am I seeking? (anecdotal information, request for services, collaboration withagencies)

What am I offering?(library services, information for reference, education, personalenrichment)

Where should I go? (community assessment)

Why? (if a user population isn’t using the library, the library may not be serving them effectively)

Successful outreach initiatives that often include groups that would not or cannot come to the library for library services:•Schools•Teens•Visually impaired Community•Ex-Offenders / Sheriff’s Department•Homebound patrons•Farmer’s Market•Adult learners•Council on Aging/Senior Center

A note:

Any opportunity you have to discuss your library

(and I do mean ANY)

gives you the opportunity to engage your community of

potential library users

(as well as their friends, families and colleagues)

Collaborators in the community include:

• City Departments including:• Parks & Recreation• Commission on Disabilities• Council on Aging

• Local agencies that already serve potential patrons including:• Sunshine Village• Valley Opportunity Council• Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee

Participation on Planning Boards such as:• Adult Basic Education Community Planning Partnership• Alumni Boards• National Night Out Against Crime

Participation in local events such as:• Relay for Life• Social Service Fairs• Big Truck Day• Light it Up Blue for Autism Awareness

Additional Ideas for Getting to Know Potential Library Users:

A tip:

Never underestimate the power of “Showing Up”.

Not-so-successful outreach initiatives:

Career information programs with an outside vendor

Formal computer instruction

Book talks and Author visits

A note:

We have better luck with programming based on patron requests (for example – an E-reader petting zoo).

Another note:

Programming popularity is cyclical – one year holistic health will be the rage – the next it might be financial planning…..

The future of outreach at the CPL:

BOOKMOBILE!!

Final Thoughts from Anne:•Collaborate!

•Don’t reinvent the wheel!

•Meet people in your community that have the same goals as you do!

•Don’t get discouraged!

You are doing important work that is helping many people!

NEWTON FREE LI

BRARY

JOHN WALSHASSISTANT REFERENCE SUPERVISORNEWTON FREE LIBRARY

ENGAGE Go where the people you want to be users are People that come into the library already know

what we offer Show others what they are missing Don’t take yourself too seriously

AT THE FARMER’S MARKET Battle of the Books (Twilight vs Harry Potter) Fictious Fights! Batman (Bale) vs Iron Man (Downey) Less on the table is more (Clutter is the enemy!) Give out calendars of events Stand up (Don’t make it too comfortable for visitors)

THEY DON’T KNOW THEY WANT THINGS

Always offer a follow-up if they are busy but make sure it fits their schedule, not just yours.

Make sure any handouts are things that can be immediately done.

YOU HAVE BRAINS IN

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YOU CAN STE

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ANY DIRECTION YO

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