North Country Reference and Research Resources Council 7 Commerce Lane Canton, NY 13617 (315) 386-4569

March 2000

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Educational Grant Is Awarded The Samaritan Medical Center Library has been awarded a grant for $9,900 by the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, the world's largest medical library and a component of the National Institutes of Health. The grant will be utilized to fund training classes for consumers and library staff to help them develop the skills necessary to find health information on the Internet. The 12-month educational project will also provide health consumers and medical providers with assistance in finding and evaluating the on-line health information resources. Internet services will be available in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Oswego counties. The support of local papers and school libraries and health organizations will be enlisted to identify locations and help sponsor training sessions. "One of the most significant changes in medicine has been the increasingly important role the patient plays in the healthcare decision making process," said Jeff Garvey, Director of Library Services at Samaritan. "With over 25,000 health related web sites easily available on the Internet, the need for consumer skills in finding, evaluating, and utilizing health information has become a critical aspect of healthcare," he added. To access the services through the Hospital Library Program or for more information on this grant, contact Samaritan Medical Center's Library at (315) 785-4191.