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Medical Reference Services Quarterly Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wmrs20
Books, Children, Dogs, Artists: Library Programs for the Entire Family Mary Katherine Haver
a
a
Family Resource Center Library , All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine , St. Petersburg , Florida , USA Published online: 15 Apr 2014.
Click for updates To cite this article: Mary Katherine Haver (2014) Books, Children, Dogs, Artists: Library Programs for the Entire Family, Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 33:2, 211-217, DOI: 10.1080/02763869.2014.897523 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2014.897523
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/termsand-conditions
Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 33(2):211–217, 2014 Published with license by Taylor & Francis ISSN: 0276-3869 print=1540-9597 online DOI: 10.1080/02763869.2014.897523
HOSPITAL INFORMATION SERVICES Cheryl R. Dee, Kate Daniels, Priscilla L. Stephenson, and Peggy Cruse, Column Editors
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
Books, Children, Dogs, Artists: Library Programs for the Entire Family MARY KATHERINE HAVER Family Resource Center Library, All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
The promotion of library resources and services is a continuous process for all libraries, especially hospital family resource center libraries. Like public libraries, a family resource center can utilize programs as a pathway for connecting with and developing awareness of library resources and services available to patient families. This column describes the programs currently offered for All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine patient families, marketing initiatives to promote these programs, and utilization of grant funding to supplement a program. KEYWORDS Artist-led activities, calendar of events, family resource center libraries, family-centered care, hospital libraries, literacy, pet therapy dogs, story time, Target1
# Mary Katherine Haver Comments and suggestions should be sent to the Column Editors: Cheryl R. Dee (crdee@ fsu.edu), Kate Daniels ([email protected]), Priscilla L. Stephenson (priscilla.stephenson@ va.gov), and Peggy Cruse ([email protected]). Address correspondence to Mary Katherine Haver, Family Resource Center Library, All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, 501 Sixth Avenue S., Box 7665, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. E-mail: [email protected] 211
212
Hospital Information Services
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
INTRODUCTION Family Resource Center can mean many things to many people. As a pediatric health information library for patient families, the primary mission of the All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine Family Resource Center (FRC) is to assist individuals in locating accurate and reliable consumer-level health information pertaining to their child’s condition. This directly supports the institution’s mission of promoting ‘‘family-centered care.’’ More than 19,000 individuals have visited the FRC Library since it opened in June 2010. While this is an outstanding statistic, on occasion a visitor will mention he or she never knew that the library existed. In response to comments like these, as well as to increase awareness of library resources and services available to our patient families, the FRC staff initiated three diverse high-interest monthly programs. Current programs include ‘‘Paws to Read,’’ where children read aloud to pet therapy dogs; thematic Story Times; and ‘‘Art for All Kids’’ for children to express themselves through creative artist-led activities.
PROGRAMS Prior to opening in June 2010, the FRC Library Director and Medical Librarian started investigating the requirements for establishing a pet-therapy literacy program for patient families. Through collaboration with the Child Life Director, the Child Life Pet Therapy Coordinator, and the Infection Prevention Coordinator, the FRC Library staff launched the ‘‘Paws to Read’’ program in June 2011. Similar to Reading Education Assistance Dogs1(R.E.A.D.) literacy programs, the premise of ‘‘Paws to Read’’ is to create a comfortable, relaxed setting in which a child reads aloud to a non-judgmental canine companion.1 For children dealing with chronic or life-changing health conditions, this capitalizes upon the positive connection between human and canine2 to enable each child the opportunity to enjoy being a child without thoughts of illness. Amazingly, ‘‘listening dogs’’ Brew, Maya, and Resi each has a tale to tell, too. Brew, a Greater Swiss Mountain dog, found his ‘‘forever home’’ when rescued from an abusive environment. Golden Retriever Maya found her ‘‘forever home’’ when adopted from a golden retriever rescue. Resi, a Bichon Frise´, abandoned during a hurricane, now lives in his ‘‘forever home.’’ Under the loving guidance of their owners, these dogs have overcome the trials of their young lives to grow and mature into warm, gentle, and loving pet therapy dogs. While every day is a good day to host ‘‘Paws to Read,’’ library staff decided the third Monday of every month would work best. Never late for an afternoon of reading, the pet-therapy dog teams warmly greet and listen attentively as children read aloud an age-appropriate book. On occasion, a parent or caregiver will mention that his or her child cannot or will not read
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
Hospital Information Services
213
aloud. Without hesitation, one of the pet-therapy dog owners or library staff members sits with the child and the ‘‘listening’’ dog in order to read a story ‘‘together.’’ This provides the opportunity to engage the child in the story, encourage the child to predict what will happen next in the story, and ask the child to add sound effects, which always draws even the most reluctant reader into the tale3,4 (see Figure 1). Ultimately, as each child becomes more comfortable reading aloud, he or she is more willing to browse and select a book of interest. This enables the child to focus on the story and strengthen fluency and comprehension skills. To supplement the ‘‘Paws to Read’’ program, the library staff, in collaboration with the hospital Grants Proposal Coordinator, applied for and received funding through the Target1 Early Childhood Reading Grants program. The primary use of these grant funds has been applied to the purchase of highinterest varying literacy-level books for the children. Each month, program participants choose a ‘‘pawographed’’ book courtesy of Target to keep. Over the course of the one-year grant cycle (September 2012–September 2013), of the 190 books purchased, 112 were snatched up by readers by the end of the grant period, with the remaining 78 books still available for selection by future participants.
FIGURE 1 Maya the ‘‘ACH FRC Library Listening Dog’’ and child reading a story together (color figure available online).
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
214
Hospital Information Services
Like public libraries, a pro-active Family Resource Center needs to promote the connection between the library and children’s literary development.5 Story Time provides the opportunity to engage all members of the family in a literacy activity. Especially popular are seasonal events like the winter holidays, Valentine’s Day, the beginning of spring, summer vacation kick-off, and Halloween. The library staff creates and presents a variety of monthly story time themes. Incorporating consumer health-related topics can sometimes be challenging but ultimately rewarding. For instance, January is a perfect time to review healthy personal hygiene tips to minimize the spread of illness with books like Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo,6 which underscores the importance of hand hygiene in an entertaining child-friendly manner. Collaboration with hospital departments provides opportunities to increase inter-departmental cooperation and awareness of specific subspecialty services. For example, to promote National Sleep Awareness Week, one of the hospital’s Sleep Laboratory technicians dressed up in cozy childfriendly pajamas and enthusiastically read from The Napping House 7 and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? 8 In preparation for summer, May is perfect for the kick-off of National Physical Fitness Month to highlight the hospital’s Fit4AllKidsTM and AllSports Medicine programs. The most recent activity added to the roster of monthly library programs is Art for All Kids @ the FRC, which recognizes the importance of integrating the arts into the health care setting.9 In collaboration with artists of Creative Clay, Inc. (a nonprofit organization of professional artists), the library staff encourages patient family members to explore their individual creativity.10 Activities range from spelling their name through dance movements to painting a mural of a ‘‘magic tree.’’ While paintbrushes were available, several finger and toe prints graced this majestic mural. During one afternoon, library staff as well as hospital staff and patient families were introduced to the art of ‘‘Smoosh’’ painting. All that is required is a sheet of paper and dabs of color paint. Just place a few dots of paint on the paper, fold the paper over, press together, and ‘‘ta da’’ a masterpiece is created! Through these diverse artistic activities, all participants have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the experience.11–13
MARKETING Scheduling dynamic high-interest programs is wonderful, but if visitors are unaware of the library’s existence, how can they be expected to attend? Effective marketing is the key. Utilizing multiple methods, library staff maximizes the promotion of each month’s programs. Brainstorming ideas is a collaborative process involving all library staff including the part-time Library Graduate Assistants from the School of Information at the University of South Florida (USF), the FRC Medical Librarian, and the FRC Library Director. The library staff reviews and discusses concepts and slogans with a focus on the incorporation of consumer health topics relevant to the pediatric community.
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
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215
Once a theme is selected, the library staff begins to develop promotional materials to catch the attention of kids of all ages, including a child-friendly, health-related thematic window display, adult and child-friendly flyers, hospital newsletter articles, and e-mail announcements for each of the library programs. The Graduate Assistants creatively conceive a design and arrange for the displays in a custom-crafted floor-to-ceiling glass cabinet that is built into the wall outside the doors of the FRC (see Figure 2). They also design a monthly calendar of events and colorful flyers for each program. Promotions for the monthly events take place throughout the Outpatient Care Center where the library is located. The Graduate Assistants distribute the flyers to hospital departments, outpatient offices, the Ronald McDonald Houses1, the Children’s Developmental and Rehabilitative Center, West Central Early Steps (early intervention services program), and the Child Learning Center (daycare for employees’ children). Several days prior to a program, flyers will be strategically placed in high traffic areas for visitors to view as they pass by. For the ‘‘Paws to Read’’ program, an added bonus to the usual marketing efforts was the purchase of a custom-made sign featuring life-sized dogs made possible with funding from the Target Early Childhood Reading Grant (see Figure 3). In addition to flyers and signs, an article is published in the weekly hospital electronic newsletter encouraging staff to let their patient families know about the upcoming activity. On the day of the program, an intranet broadcast announcement is sent to all hospital staff as a last-minute reminder of that
FIGURE 2 ACH FRC Library November 2013 display window (color figure available online).
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
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Hospital Information Services
FIGURE 3 ACH FRC Library Paws to Read custom-made sign (color figure available online).
day’s FRC event. Throughout the program, the Graduate Assistant or Medical Librarian greets, invites, and encourages families and visitors in the adjacent lobby area to check out the activity inside the library. If it is not a convenient time for the visitors to come in, the staff gives them a library brochure that provides a listing of the monthly programs, library services and resources, and hours of operation.
CONCLUSION Each of the FRC programs offers the opportunity for patient families to briefly take a break or set aside their child’s health issues for a few minutes and allows them to enjoy their child being a child. Through interactions with therapy dogs and their owners, professional artists, librarians, and other hospital staff members, families have the opportunity to create positive memories during what is otherwise a stressful time. In the past two and one-half years, more than 1,400 adults and children have attended these three programs. While participating in a creative activity, individuals also discover the information services available to them through the FRC. By providing engaging literacy and arts programs14 along with authoritative consumer health information, the FRC Library embodies the family-centered care tenets of its renowned children’s hospital and strives to enrich the lives of all patient families.
Hospital Information Services
217
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
REFERENCES 1. Intermountain Therapy Animals. Reading Education Assistance Dogs1: A Program of Intermountain Therapy Animals [Brochure]. August 12, 2009. http:// www.therapyanimals.org/Read_Team_Steps_files/R.E.A.D.%20Brochure.pdf. 2. Endenburg, N., and H.A. van Lith. ‘‘The Influence of Animals on the Development of Children.’’ The Veterinary Journal 190, no. 2 (2011): 208–214. doi: 10.1016= j.tvjl.2010.11.020. 3. Reading Is Fundamental1. RIF’s Guide to Reading Aloud to Your Children: A Guide for Parents from Reading Is Fundamental1 [Brochure]. 2010. http://www.rif. org/documents/us/reading_aloud.pdf. 4. Quick, C. A., reviewer. Reviewed ‘‘Helping Reluctant Readers.’’ KidsHealth1 from Nemours. May 2013. http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/all_reading/readers.html. 5. Miller, C., K. Zickuhr, L. Rainie, and K. Purcell. Parents, Children, Libraries, and Reading. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, Pew Research Center, May 1, 2013. http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/05/01/parents-childrenlibraries-and-reading/. 6. Redmond, E.S. Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009. 7. Wood, A., and D. Wood. The Napping House. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Children’s Books, 1984. 8. Yolen, J., and M. Teague. How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? New York: Blue Sky Press, 2000. 9. Society for the Arts in Healthcare. ‘‘What is Arts and Health?’’ 2011. http://thesah. org/doc/Definition_FINALNovember2011.pdf. 10. Kemper, K.J. Mental Health, Naturally: The Family Guide to Holistic Care for a Healthy Mind and Body. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2010. 11. Madden, J.R., P. Mowry, D. Gao, P. McGuire Cullen, and N.K. Foreman. ‘‘Creative Arts Therapy Improves Quality of Life for Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy.’’ Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing 27, no. 3 (2010): 133–145. doi: 10.1177=1043454209355452. 12. Porter, S., V. Holmes, K. McLaughlin et al. ‘‘Music in Mind, a Randomized Controlled Trial of Music Therapy for Young People with Behavioural and Emotional Problems: Study Protocol.’’ Journal of Advanced Nursing 68, no. 10 (2012): 2349– 2358. doi: 10.1111=j.1365-2648.2011.05936.x. 13. O’Callaghan, C., P. Barry, and K. Thompson. ‘‘Music’s Relevance for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: A Constructivist Research Approach.’’ Support Care Cancer 20, no. 4 (2012): 687–697. doi: 10.1007=s00520-011-1104-1. 14. Brenner, S., J. Palmer, and K. Leniart, eds. Report on the Arts in Healthcare Symposium. Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts and Society for the Arts in Healthcare, 2003. http://arts.gov/sites/default/files/AIHReport.pdf.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Katherine Haver, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Medical Librarian, Family Resource Center Library, All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, 501 Sixth Avenue South, Box 7665, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Medical Reference Services Quarterly Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wmrs20
Books, Children, Dogs, Artists: Library Programs for the Entire Family Mary Katherine Haver
a
a
Family Resource Center Library , All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine , St. Petersburg , Florida , USA Published online: 15 Apr 2014.
Click for updates To cite this article: Mary Katherine Haver (2014) Books, Children, Dogs, Artists: Library Programs for the Entire Family, Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 33:2, 211-217, DOI: 10.1080/02763869.2014.897523 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2014.897523
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/termsand-conditions
Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 33(2):211–217, 2014 Published with license by Taylor & Francis ISSN: 0276-3869 print=1540-9597 online DOI: 10.1080/02763869.2014.897523
HOSPITAL INFORMATION SERVICES Cheryl R. Dee, Kate Daniels, Priscilla L. Stephenson, and Peggy Cruse, Column Editors
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
Books, Children, Dogs, Artists: Library Programs for the Entire Family MARY KATHERINE HAVER Family Resource Center Library, All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
The promotion of library resources and services is a continuous process for all libraries, especially hospital family resource center libraries. Like public libraries, a family resource center can utilize programs as a pathway for connecting with and developing awareness of library resources and services available to patient families. This column describes the programs currently offered for All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine patient families, marketing initiatives to promote these programs, and utilization of grant funding to supplement a program. KEYWORDS Artist-led activities, calendar of events, family resource center libraries, family-centered care, hospital libraries, literacy, pet therapy dogs, story time, Target1
# Mary Katherine Haver Comments and suggestions should be sent to the Column Editors: Cheryl R. Dee (crdee@ fsu.edu), Kate Daniels ([email protected]), Priscilla L. Stephenson (priscilla.stephenson@ va.gov), and Peggy Cruse ([email protected]). Address correspondence to Mary Katherine Haver, Family Resource Center Library, All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, 501 Sixth Avenue S., Box 7665, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. E-mail: [email protected] 211
212
Hospital Information Services
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
INTRODUCTION Family Resource Center can mean many things to many people. As a pediatric health information library for patient families, the primary mission of the All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine Family Resource Center (FRC) is to assist individuals in locating accurate and reliable consumer-level health information pertaining to their child’s condition. This directly supports the institution’s mission of promoting ‘‘family-centered care.’’ More than 19,000 individuals have visited the FRC Library since it opened in June 2010. While this is an outstanding statistic, on occasion a visitor will mention he or she never knew that the library existed. In response to comments like these, as well as to increase awareness of library resources and services available to our patient families, the FRC staff initiated three diverse high-interest monthly programs. Current programs include ‘‘Paws to Read,’’ where children read aloud to pet therapy dogs; thematic Story Times; and ‘‘Art for All Kids’’ for children to express themselves through creative artist-led activities.
PROGRAMS Prior to opening in June 2010, the FRC Library Director and Medical Librarian started investigating the requirements for establishing a pet-therapy literacy program for patient families. Through collaboration with the Child Life Director, the Child Life Pet Therapy Coordinator, and the Infection Prevention Coordinator, the FRC Library staff launched the ‘‘Paws to Read’’ program in June 2011. Similar to Reading Education Assistance Dogs1(R.E.A.D.) literacy programs, the premise of ‘‘Paws to Read’’ is to create a comfortable, relaxed setting in which a child reads aloud to a non-judgmental canine companion.1 For children dealing with chronic or life-changing health conditions, this capitalizes upon the positive connection between human and canine2 to enable each child the opportunity to enjoy being a child without thoughts of illness. Amazingly, ‘‘listening dogs’’ Brew, Maya, and Resi each has a tale to tell, too. Brew, a Greater Swiss Mountain dog, found his ‘‘forever home’’ when rescued from an abusive environment. Golden Retriever Maya found her ‘‘forever home’’ when adopted from a golden retriever rescue. Resi, a Bichon Frise´, abandoned during a hurricane, now lives in his ‘‘forever home.’’ Under the loving guidance of their owners, these dogs have overcome the trials of their young lives to grow and mature into warm, gentle, and loving pet therapy dogs. While every day is a good day to host ‘‘Paws to Read,’’ library staff decided the third Monday of every month would work best. Never late for an afternoon of reading, the pet-therapy dog teams warmly greet and listen attentively as children read aloud an age-appropriate book. On occasion, a parent or caregiver will mention that his or her child cannot or will not read
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
Hospital Information Services
213
aloud. Without hesitation, one of the pet-therapy dog owners or library staff members sits with the child and the ‘‘listening’’ dog in order to read a story ‘‘together.’’ This provides the opportunity to engage the child in the story, encourage the child to predict what will happen next in the story, and ask the child to add sound effects, which always draws even the most reluctant reader into the tale3,4 (see Figure 1). Ultimately, as each child becomes more comfortable reading aloud, he or she is more willing to browse and select a book of interest. This enables the child to focus on the story and strengthen fluency and comprehension skills. To supplement the ‘‘Paws to Read’’ program, the library staff, in collaboration with the hospital Grants Proposal Coordinator, applied for and received funding through the Target1 Early Childhood Reading Grants program. The primary use of these grant funds has been applied to the purchase of highinterest varying literacy-level books for the children. Each month, program participants choose a ‘‘pawographed’’ book courtesy of Target to keep. Over the course of the one-year grant cycle (September 2012–September 2013), of the 190 books purchased, 112 were snatched up by readers by the end of the grant period, with the remaining 78 books still available for selection by future participants.
FIGURE 1 Maya the ‘‘ACH FRC Library Listening Dog’’ and child reading a story together (color figure available online).
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
214
Hospital Information Services
Like public libraries, a pro-active Family Resource Center needs to promote the connection between the library and children’s literary development.5 Story Time provides the opportunity to engage all members of the family in a literacy activity. Especially popular are seasonal events like the winter holidays, Valentine’s Day, the beginning of spring, summer vacation kick-off, and Halloween. The library staff creates and presents a variety of monthly story time themes. Incorporating consumer health-related topics can sometimes be challenging but ultimately rewarding. For instance, January is a perfect time to review healthy personal hygiene tips to minimize the spread of illness with books like Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo,6 which underscores the importance of hand hygiene in an entertaining child-friendly manner. Collaboration with hospital departments provides opportunities to increase inter-departmental cooperation and awareness of specific subspecialty services. For example, to promote National Sleep Awareness Week, one of the hospital’s Sleep Laboratory technicians dressed up in cozy childfriendly pajamas and enthusiastically read from The Napping House 7 and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? 8 In preparation for summer, May is perfect for the kick-off of National Physical Fitness Month to highlight the hospital’s Fit4AllKidsTM and AllSports Medicine programs. The most recent activity added to the roster of monthly library programs is Art for All Kids @ the FRC, which recognizes the importance of integrating the arts into the health care setting.9 In collaboration with artists of Creative Clay, Inc. (a nonprofit organization of professional artists), the library staff encourages patient family members to explore their individual creativity.10 Activities range from spelling their name through dance movements to painting a mural of a ‘‘magic tree.’’ While paintbrushes were available, several finger and toe prints graced this majestic mural. During one afternoon, library staff as well as hospital staff and patient families were introduced to the art of ‘‘Smoosh’’ painting. All that is required is a sheet of paper and dabs of color paint. Just place a few dots of paint on the paper, fold the paper over, press together, and ‘‘ta da’’ a masterpiece is created! Through these diverse artistic activities, all participants have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the experience.11–13
MARKETING Scheduling dynamic high-interest programs is wonderful, but if visitors are unaware of the library’s existence, how can they be expected to attend? Effective marketing is the key. Utilizing multiple methods, library staff maximizes the promotion of each month’s programs. Brainstorming ideas is a collaborative process involving all library staff including the part-time Library Graduate Assistants from the School of Information at the University of South Florida (USF), the FRC Medical Librarian, and the FRC Library Director. The library staff reviews and discusses concepts and slogans with a focus on the incorporation of consumer health topics relevant to the pediatric community.
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
Hospital Information Services
215
Once a theme is selected, the library staff begins to develop promotional materials to catch the attention of kids of all ages, including a child-friendly, health-related thematic window display, adult and child-friendly flyers, hospital newsletter articles, and e-mail announcements for each of the library programs. The Graduate Assistants creatively conceive a design and arrange for the displays in a custom-crafted floor-to-ceiling glass cabinet that is built into the wall outside the doors of the FRC (see Figure 2). They also design a monthly calendar of events and colorful flyers for each program. Promotions for the monthly events take place throughout the Outpatient Care Center where the library is located. The Graduate Assistants distribute the flyers to hospital departments, outpatient offices, the Ronald McDonald Houses1, the Children’s Developmental and Rehabilitative Center, West Central Early Steps (early intervention services program), and the Child Learning Center (daycare for employees’ children). Several days prior to a program, flyers will be strategically placed in high traffic areas for visitors to view as they pass by. For the ‘‘Paws to Read’’ program, an added bonus to the usual marketing efforts was the purchase of a custom-made sign featuring life-sized dogs made possible with funding from the Target Early Childhood Reading Grant (see Figure 3). In addition to flyers and signs, an article is published in the weekly hospital electronic newsletter encouraging staff to let their patient families know about the upcoming activity. On the day of the program, an intranet broadcast announcement is sent to all hospital staff as a last-minute reminder of that
FIGURE 2 ACH FRC Library November 2013 display window (color figure available online).
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 05:32 26 December 2014
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Hospital Information Services
FIGURE 3 ACH FRC Library Paws to Read custom-made sign (color figure available online).
day’s FRC event. Throughout the program, the Graduate Assistant or Medical Librarian greets, invites, and encourages families and visitors in the adjacent lobby area to check out the activity inside the library. If it is not a convenient time for the visitors to come in, the staff gives them a library brochure that provides a listing of the monthly programs, library services and resources, and hours of operation.
CONCLUSION Each of the FRC programs offers the opportunity for patient families to briefly take a break or set aside their child’s health issues for a few minutes and allows them to enjoy their child being a child. Through interactions with therapy dogs and their owners, professional artists, librarians, and other hospital staff members, families have the opportunity to create positive memories during what is otherwise a stressful time. In the past two and one-half years, more than 1,400 adults and children have attended these three programs. While participating in a creative activity, individuals also discover the information services available to them through the FRC. By providing engaging literacy and arts programs14 along with authoritative consumer health information, the FRC Library embodies the family-centered care tenets of its renowned children’s hospital and strives to enrich the lives of all patient families.
Hospital Information Services
217
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REFERENCES 1. Intermountain Therapy Animals. Reading Education Assistance Dogs1: A Program of Intermountain Therapy Animals [Brochure]. August 12, 2009. http:// www.therapyanimals.org/Read_Team_Steps_files/R.E.A.D.%20Brochure.pdf. 2. Endenburg, N., and H.A. van Lith. ‘‘The Influence of Animals on the Development of Children.’’ The Veterinary Journal 190, no. 2 (2011): 208–214. doi: 10.1016= j.tvjl.2010.11.020. 3. Reading Is Fundamental1. RIF’s Guide to Reading Aloud to Your Children: A Guide for Parents from Reading Is Fundamental1 [Brochure]. 2010. http://www.rif. org/documents/us/reading_aloud.pdf. 4. Quick, C. A., reviewer. Reviewed ‘‘Helping Reluctant Readers.’’ KidsHealth1 from Nemours. May 2013. http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/all_reading/readers.html. 5. Miller, C., K. Zickuhr, L. Rainie, and K. Purcell. Parents, Children, Libraries, and Reading. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, Pew Research Center, May 1, 2013. http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/05/01/parents-childrenlibraries-and-reading/. 6. Redmond, E.S. Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009. 7. Wood, A., and D. Wood. The Napping House. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Children’s Books, 1984. 8. Yolen, J., and M. Teague. How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? New York: Blue Sky Press, 2000. 9. Society for the Arts in Healthcare. ‘‘What is Arts and Health?’’ 2011. http://thesah. org/doc/Definition_FINALNovember2011.pdf. 10. Kemper, K.J. Mental Health, Naturally: The Family Guide to Holistic Care for a Healthy Mind and Body. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2010. 11. Madden, J.R., P. Mowry, D. Gao, P. McGuire Cullen, and N.K. Foreman. ‘‘Creative Arts Therapy Improves Quality of Life for Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy.’’ Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing 27, no. 3 (2010): 133–145. doi: 10.1177=1043454209355452. 12. Porter, S., V. Holmes, K. McLaughlin et al. ‘‘Music in Mind, a Randomized Controlled Trial of Music Therapy for Young People with Behavioural and Emotional Problems: Study Protocol.’’ Journal of Advanced Nursing 68, no. 10 (2012): 2349– 2358. doi: 10.1111=j.1365-2648.2011.05936.x. 13. O’Callaghan, C., P. Barry, and K. Thompson. ‘‘Music’s Relevance for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: A Constructivist Research Approach.’’ Support Care Cancer 20, no. 4 (2012): 687–697. doi: 10.1007=s00520-011-1104-1. 14. Brenner, S., J. Palmer, and K. Leniart, eds. Report on the Arts in Healthcare Symposium. Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts and Society for the Arts in Healthcare, 2003. http://arts.gov/sites/default/files/AIHReport.pdf.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Katherine Haver, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Medical Librarian, Family Resource Center Library, All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, 501 Sixth Avenue South, Box 7665, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
