NNLM Region 5: Reaching More People in More Ways

Overall, NNLM Region 5 RML/University of Washington The University of Washington will operate a Regional Medical Library (RML) for the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 5 (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA and U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States in the Pacific). Health professionals, librarians and communities are facing complex public health challenges, including COVID-19, rising unemployment, and increasing food and housing insecurity. To address these barriers, in May 2021, the RML will launch Reaching More People in More Ways, an innovative regional medical library program, to advance data driven health, health equity and health literacy by offering NNLM services, funding and training through national and regional partnerships. The major aims of this program are: Aim 1: to collaborate with Network member organizations and regional, state and local partners, who in turn diffuse culturally and linguistically appropriate resources with the communities they serve; Aim 2: to teach health professionals and librarians in national and regional education programs more about their roles in providing equitable access to high quality health information by promoting NLM resources; Aim 3: to support inclusive programming that addresses race and ethnicity; sexual and gender minorities; cognitive and physical abilities; religious background or identification; socio-economic status (past and current); education level, health literacy, and linguistic needs; geographic location including underrepresented populations from medically underserved areas; and other factors or demographics that create unequal access to the highest level of health; Aim 4: to increase NNLM membership with health advocacy organizations that create positive change through direct outreach and services to vulnerable populations; Aim 5: to partner with new and existing organizations to advance data literacy and bioinformatics competencies to the widest audience possible; and Aim 6: to address technology needs, and digital access with a focus on underrepresented communities. The results will maximize use of NLM programs and resources to accelerate discovery and advance public health in Region 5.