Onondaga County Public Library's Consumer Health Information Services and the Consumer Health Information Consortium

摘要

For a number of years, the Onondaga County Public Library (OCPL) has routinely provided the public with health and medical information. As the number and complexity of inquiries related to the symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and progress of diseases and conditions increased, OCPL responded by focusing on consumer health information as a problematic entity. OCPL spearheaded the formation of the Consumer Health Information Consortium (CHIC). A grass roots organization composed of representatives from health agencies and health organizations as well as from public and health science libraries, CHIC provides support when library resources need to be supplemented. CHIC has pursued its goal of increasing public access to health information by tackling projects designed to improve and promote the availability of consumer health information.