Abstract

Objective

Inspired by the nationwide initiative of the Public Library Association, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, and the Medical Library Association to increase public library workers' knowledge and skills relating to consumer health services, the Florida Health Sciences Library Association (FHSLA) sought to replicate this collaborative learning opportunity with local library groups. This poster describes FHSLA's experience working with the Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC) to offer free monthly consumer health webinars to their members (public, school, & special library employees).

Methods

In the autumn of 2019, FHSLA & TBLC established a Collaborative Agreement to provide monthly consumer health webinars for the purpose of increasing awareness of reliable free consumer health information resources. Through this agreement, each organization's responsibilities are clearly defined. FHSLA members, hospital and academic health sciences librarians, volunteer to share their expertise through monthly 1-hour presentations. TBLC provides the video conferencing platform, manages registration, shares participants' feedback, ratings, and suggestions for future topics. Additionally, the involved FHSLA members established a standing committee to manage the series.

Results

Multiple setbacks after the initial agreement, including the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed the first FHSLA-TBLC webinar to May 2020. However, since then 15 webinars have been hosted with 205 attendees. Topics such as "Sun Safety", "Health Literacy", "Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia", "Back to School with COVID-19" and "American Heart Month Awareness", "Graphic Medicine" have been presented, and new topics such as "Health & Technology" and "HIV/AIDS Resources" are planned. For specific topics, FHSLA incorporates guest speakers including NNLM SEA representatives.

Conclusions

As a result of the success of the August 2021 webinar, FHSLA is in the process of establishing a team to develop and maintain a graphic medicine resource page on its website. This initiative has also inspired potential new joint community outreach opportunities.