Outreach impact study: the case of the Greater Midwest Region

Jeffrey T Huber; Emily B Kean; Philip D Fitzgerald; Trina A Altman; Zach G Young; Katherine M Dupin; Jacqueline Leskovec; Ruth Holst

doi:10.3163/1536-5050.99.4.007

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Outreach impact study: the case of the Greater Midwest Region

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Outreach impact study: the case of the Greater Midwest Region

Jeffrey T Huber, Emily B Kean, Philip D Fitzgerald, Trina A Altman, Zach G Young, Katherine M Dupin, Jacqueline Leskovec and Ruth Holst

Journal of the Medical Library Association, Vol.99(4), pp.297-303

10/2011

DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.99.4.007

PMCID: PMC3193359

PMID: 22022223

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https://doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.99.4.007View

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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact that funding from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), Greater Midwest Region (GMR), has on member institutions' ability to conduct outreach on behalf of NN/LM. The study employed both content analysis and survey methodologies. The final reports from select GMR-funded outreach projects (n = 20) were analyzed based on a set of evaluation criteria. Project principal investigators (n = 13) were then surveyed using the same evaluation criteria. Results indicated that outreach projects supported by GMR funding improved access to biomedical information for professionals and the general public. Barriers to conducting outreach projects included time constraints or commitments, staffing, scheduling and absenteeism, inadequate space, and issues associated with technology (e.g., hardware and software, Internet connectivity and firewall issues, and creation and use of new technologies). The majority of project principal investigators indicated that their attempts to conduct outreach were successful. Moreover, most noted that outreach had a positive impact on professionals as well as the general public. In general, it seems that negative outcomes, as with most barriers to conducting outreach, can be mitigated by more thorough planning.

Geography

Community-Institutional Relations

United States

Humans

Information Dissemination - methods

Kentucky

Data Collection

Educational Status

Library Schools - organization & administration

Libraries, Medical - organization & administration

Program Evaluation

Details

Title: Subtitle: Outreach impact study: the case of the Greater Midwest Region
Creators: Jeffrey T Huber - School of Library and Information Studies, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. jeffrey.huber@uky.edu
Emily B Kean
Philip D Fitzgerald
Trina A Altman
Zach G Young
Katherine M Dupin
Jacqueline Leskovec
Ruth Holst
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of the Medical Library Association, Vol.99(4), pp.297-303
DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.99.4.007
PMID: 22022223
PMCID: PMC3193359
NLM abbreviation: J Med Libr Assoc
ISSN: 1536-5050
eISSN: 1558-9439
Publisher: United States
Grant note: N01-LM-6-3503 / NLM NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 10/2011
Academic Unit: Hardin Library
Record Identifier: 9983993008902771

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