HSLS is home to both the Regional Medical Library for the Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) and the NNLM Web Services Office (NWSO). Both nationwide programs are funded through competitive, cooperative agreements, coordinated by the National Library of Medicine. The NNLM mission is to ensure that health professionals, researchers, the public health workforce, patients, families, and the general public have access to quality health information.
As the Regional Medical Library, HSLS supports the NNLM mission through outreach services such as project funding, training, presentations, exhibits, and other types of public programs. NWSO is responsible for developing and maintaining reliable web services for NNLM in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services information policies. To that end, NWSO recently led NNLM efforts to update its web presence with a new look and mobile responsive design.
The redesigned website offers the NNLM member base a more functional space to work with Network coordinators in their outreach efforts. In addition to the stylistic changes, the new website allows users to create accounts, which facilitate one-click class registration, and the ability to update their membership information quickly and conveniently; a new Members Directory provides an easy way to find member organizations by name, location, or organization type; and the website now offers a national listing of funding opportunities, to view NNLM awards that are available across the country, as well as a collection of previously funded projects, to provide insight and inspiration to members in their funding applications.
In addition to these enhanced views, the redesign afforded NNLM staff with the opportunity to revitalize and reorganize the information they share on their regional web pages. For example, coordinators now have the ability to develop online Resource Guides, which serve as comprehensive collections of products and materials geared toward a particular topic or audience. K-12 educators, public librarians, health professionals, and more can find information gathered specifically for their needs, which will increase their ability to incorporate NLM resources in their outreach and programming efforts.
~Renae Barger and Hannah Sinemus