Region 4, Regional Medical Library and Network of the National Library of Medicine Training Office - Region 4 Overall - Project Summary The Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (EHSL) at the University of Utah, as the Regional Medical Library (RML) for Region 4, will implement regional and national programs in support of the mission of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) to provide U.S. researchers, health professionals, public health workforce, educators, and the public with access to biomedical and health information resources and data. This will include training, funding, and engagement opportunities for member libraries and other organizations to carry out regional and national programs. Region 4 will assess and interpret the needs of current and potential audiences to expand the reach and impact of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Region 4 will work with the other RMLs, Offices, Centers and the NNLM Evaluation Center to cooperatively design, implement, and evaluate innovative approaches to serving the biomedical and health information needs of researchers, health professionals, public health workforce, educators, and the public in communities across the U.S. so they may have access to the highest level of health information. The nine states of Region 4 have several commonalities including large rural areas with few cities. Three of the northern states share borders with Canada and two of the southern states share a border with Mexico. There are extensive areas throughout the region with poor access services, such as health clinics, hospitals, and other medical services. Access to high-speed internet services is also a challenge for many communities in Region 4. Our focus on engaging with libraries and other organizations, such as public health and community-based organizations, will enable increased outreach, education, and funding designed to improve access to reliable health information and data. Centrally located within Region 4, the EHSL, as part of the University of Utah (UU), is uniquely positioned to engage successfully in the work described. As part of the UU community, we will leverage the affiliations with our hospitals, clinics, schools, colleges, and teaching and learning specialists to enhance the success of our programs nationwide. We believe that trust in NLM, NNLM, and RML programs and services can only be achieved by establishing two-way communications throughout Region 4. Our proposal demonstrates a sustainable plan to listen to and partner with current and future audiences throughout Region 4 and the nation to increase access to reliable health information and improve health test.
