Info Newsletter Index

In this issue of SIS INFO, we announce new SIS elected officers, the intriguing and useful program we have planned for the December meeting, and other news you can use.  If you would like to submit articles for future newsletters (a great way to communicate with local colleagues in all types of libraries!), please e-mail me at aliciae@tampabay.rr.com.  Thanks!   - Alicia Ellison, Editor 

Next Meeting: Monday, December 8,2003

WHEN and WHERE. Monday, December 8, 2003, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Pinellas Park Public Library (new building) http://pppl.tblc.org/
7770 52nd Street
Pinellas Park, FL 33781
(727) 541-0718

PROGRAM: "Read this Poem and Call me in the morning!" Robin Leigh, librarian and poetry therapist in-training, will address ways that public, academic, and special libraries can integrate poetry into their work with library customers. Topics include the following: suggestions for promoting poetry and scheduling poets during April National Poetry Month; resources for poetry displays; the librarian’s role in bibliotherapy; current organizational trends NAPT (National Association of Poetry Therapists) and ALA. Handouts and interactive exercise.

RSVP, REFRESHMENTS and COST: RSVP to Robin Leigh, (leighr@tblc.org) by Friday, December 5 if you wish to pay for a light meal of sliced pizza and drinks. Cost will be divided among those eating and should be around $6 or less. Bring cash or make out a check the night of the meeting. Bring cash or by make out a check (payable to SIS) the night of the meeting.

DIRECTIONS:  http://pppl.tblc.org/libmap.html.

Congratulations...and Thanks

to Robin Leigh, Paul Wetmore and Karen Wilber, our top three elected officers for 2004-05. Robin, who has planned great programs for us as Vice-President/ President-Elect, will succeed Anita Lindsay in the top spot. During the October election, Paul, who has ably served as Secretary, was voted in as VP/Pres-Elect. And we welcome Karen to the Board, as Secretary. Robin is Head of Reference at Safety Harbor Public Library. Paul is Adult Reference Librarian at Tampa-Hillsborough County Public (Austin Davis Branch). Karen is Continuing Education Coordinator with TBLC. Betsy King will continue as Treasurer.

Librarian Wins Access Pinellas TV Award

Harriet Thompkins, Pinellas Talking Book Library, Outreach Librarian received the Access Pinellas Award at the second annual Suncoast Access Award ceremony. The award is given by the Pinellas County Communications Department. Harriet won the award for "Best Show" in the Cultural/Ethnic Diversity category for her program, "The New Montage," which she produced and hosted. The show guest was Gene Cappolla, Palm Harbor Library Director, and the topic was "What’s New@Your Library." The ceremony was held at St. Petersburg College, Seminole Compus Digitiorium, on October 11.

Ronnie Goldstein, Pinellas County Communications Director, congratulates Harriet (on the right in the spiffy red suit) after giving her the award.

Past Meeting: October 14, 2003, at Florida Mental Health Insitute, USF-Tampa

Hosted by Ardis Hanson. Topic: "Library Services to Mental Health Patients and Their Families: an Underserved Population"

Notes from the meeting:

Old Business

In addition to the presenters, about a dozen members and guests attended the meeting. Ardis, our host, welcomed everyone and briefly described what she called a "services research collection" at FMHI, specifically focused on special populations and behavioral disorders. After introductions, the upcoming election slate was read, called, and seconded as read. Candidates were:

• President: Robin Leigh
• Vice President: Paul Wetmore
• Secretary:  Karen Wilber
• Treasurer:  Betsy King

Panel Presentation

Yvonne Frasier, Senior Training Specialist (USF/FMHI), specializes in how services providers (such as IS) should talk to and interact with mentally disordered patrons

• provides guidance for lay persons
• talked about differential diagnosing; DSM-TR IV
• such clients rely on libraries for basic information
• such patrons usually anonymously seek information
• key: make the patron feel welcome, minimize sense of intimidation, be non-judgmental in response to patron’s questions
• remember that knowledge leads to hope ("I am not alone." "There is information I can use to help myself." "Support groups exist.")
• encourage information-seeking behavior; forcing disclosure during the reference interview only makes the patron fear rejection

George Thomas, FMHI and member of NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill www.nami.org) deals with clients with long-term mental illness who need INR (information and referral services)

• finding information on local resources is essential
• acknowledging one’s own condition takes time; we just need to provide the facts
• help the patron to locate materials that reveal the subjective nature of the illness (biographies, autobiographies)
• "This is how you find information on how the illness feels from a family viewpoint; how to find analytical overview; how to find support."
• good choicses to add to the collection would be biographies and autobiographies that reveal the subjective aspect of the condition; aim for a wide range of materials on the subject and a variety of formats, from short articles to long books
• the patient/patron seeking information from the library is taking a healthy step forward from the initial diagnosis
• "Be prepared to meet people where they are and present a variety of options."
• treatment management issues motivate on-going information seeking; materials sought will change over time as progress is made
• establishing trust within the search process/reference interview is critical; if a patron develops an attachment/relationship with a particular IS person, honor that fact

Beverly Crockett, disabilities coordinator/nurse, FMHI

• after a mental health illness diagnosis, the patient/patron follows the same process as with medical illness/death/grieving
• consider ways to make the information more accessible, particularly to patrons wishing to maintain anonymity
• suggestions include creating an "information library" section for these patrons, perhaps within the stacks or the reference sections for the subject area:
  • brochures (in-house and from agencies)
  • fact sheets on handout rack
  • lists of resources by topics:
  • most patrons are familiar with keyword searching; IS folks can assist by developing local subject headings, scope notes, and authority records (SEE, SEE ALSO, etc.) that will aid natural language searches; NIDRR provides the disability terms

• mother of autistic child herself; empathy
• "evidence-based medicine" is the new trend
• autism specialists agree that it includes both a developmental and mental health illness component
• participants received an example of informational packages librarians might want to develop
  • CD-ROM with electronic version of each item
  • "Resources on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities" (4 pages)
  • "People First Language" (4 pages)
  • "Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) FactSheet: What is Asperger Syndrome?" (1 page)
  • "Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) FactSheet: Positive Behavior Support" (1 page)
  • "Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities" (1 page, journal advertisement)
  • "CARD: Center for Autism & Related Disabilities" brochure
  • "CARD: What is Autism?" brochure
  • "CARD: Tips for Emergency Responders" brochur
  • "Family Network on Disabilities of Florida" brochure
  • "Parent Education Network: Information for Families of Children with Disabilities" brochure
• these patrons are often the ones who arrive at the library in chaperoned groups
• familiarize staff with repeat patrons in this category; learn problem triggers, favorite learning style of each, etc.
• these patrons have dual diagnosis: developmental and mental health illness
• autism now considered a "communication disorder" and researchers are investigating a new "positive behavioral support" theory

In Conclusion

Participants offered comments and suggestions; panelists recapped high points of the presentation.

Of note: How to de-escalate an angry, upset patron

• establish clear boundaries at the outset (time constraints, staffing requirements, etc.)
• ask the patron to call or come back later for a more private conference time/situation
• although most parents will curb the desire to let go of their anger in INR situations involving a foundation or a service organization, this does not necessarily generalize to the individual Information Specialist providing the service
• offer the patron or caller alternative choices for continuing ("I have 10 minutes to spend with you right now.")
• remember that AAL and telephone reference callers may want to remain anonymous; just accept the "fake" name and leave whatever materials you need to in an envelop at the desk under that name

(Thanks to Sandy Hawes for preparing these notes!  -ae)