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Health Information Outreach (HIO) in Academic Libraries: Welloween 2011

Welloween History

  • In 2006, The University of Toledo Libraries participated for the first time in Welloween, an annual Halloween-themed consumer health fair held on the main UToledo campus.  This participation was an outgrowth of UToledo's institutional merger with the former Medical University of Ohio.

  • As many as 1,000 people have attended the popular event in any given year. 

  • At the 2011 event, The UToledo Libraries expanded its collaborative efforts by hosting a joint informational and educational table with the UToledo Student Medical Center (located on Main Campus).  Approximately 65-70 people (faculty, staff, students) visited the table over the 11:30-1:30 lunch period.

~ Collaboration ~

L to R: Jyothi Pappula, MD, Physician at Student Medical Center; Lucy Duhon, Scholarly Communications Librarian

2011 Table

Handouts

  • MedlinePlus brochures, bookmarks and pens
  • Bookmarks promoting UToledo Libraries Consumer Health LibGuide with tips for evaluating health information found on the web
  • National Library of Medicine handout
  • CDC handouts on STDs, including HIV
  • Patient education handout on contraceptive use, from MD Consult
  • Condoms
  • Candy
  • UToledo Libraries folders and bookmarks

Poster Content

  • Information on how to access EBSCOhost's AltHealthWatch and Health Source: Consumer Edition
  • QR code linking to Consumer Health LibGuide
  • Social media
  • Contact information

 Door Prize

  • Tote bag with Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary and library souvenirs

Welloween 2011

L to R: Bridget Faricy-Beredo, Information Literacy Lecturer; Jodi Jameson, Nursing Librarian; Jyothi Pappula, MD, Physician with Student Medical Center

This year librarians were accompanied by a physician from the Student Medical Center - to help staff the informational table.

This year's table featured not only colorful candy, but colorful condoms.  STDs are a big concern on college campuses this year.                 Our poster highlights the fact that October is "Health Literacy Month."

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Don't be afraid to be creative!