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PLA Health

PLA Preconference Stipend for Promoting Healthy Communities: Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS)

  • Date Posted: October 16, 2017
  • Deadline for Submission: November 19, 2017 by 11:59 pm (CDT)
  • Award Notification Date: December 4, 2017
  • Required In-Person Workshop Date: March 20, 2018

Questions?

Read the grant Frequently Asked Questions and carefully review the requirements in each category before applying.

Contact the American Library Association (ALA) staff at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org.

Table of Contents

  1. Program Description
  2. Award Information
  3. Eligibility
  4. Requirements
  5. Application and Submission Information
  6. Application Review
  7. Award Administration Information
  8. Points of Contact

I. Program Description

Through a partnership between the Public Library Association (PLA), the Public Programs Office (PPO) of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM), a $500 stipend is being offered to cover most costs to attend a preconference workshop at the PLA 2018 Conference in Philadelphia, PA. The full-day preconference, Stand Up for Health: Health and Wellness Services for Your Community, will take place Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Attendees who participate in the preconference and complete pre/post work will receive the Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) certification offered by the Medical Library Association. The CHIS will help you keep current in the consumer health information field and obtain an additional, recognized level of expertise. See the MLA web site for more information about the certification.

The $500 stipend will be offered to up to 50 library representatives. Stipends can be used to support the preconference registration fee (see the conference web site for details), travel, and/or lodging expenses (not including meals). Recipients must commit to doing the required pre/post work to obtain certification and to submitting reports to PLA about their experience and library programming.

II. Award Information

PLA will award up to fifty (50) stipends to librarians, including library support staff and paraprofessionals, at libraries in the U.S. and U.S. territories to support attending a full-day preconference, Stand Up for Health: Health and Wellness Services for Your Community, scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Applicants from public libraries will be given priority consideration.

Benefits for Award Recipients

  • $500 to help cover registration and some travel costs for the preconference.
  • Gain increased confidence in providing English/Spanish health reference; teaching users how to recognize the elements of trustworthy materials and the warning signs of dubious health information; and selecting authoritative health information appropriate for diverse users.
  • Evaluate the quality of health information in a variety of formats and apply criteria for collection development of consumer health materials.
  • Be able to plan health-related programming and events that will appeal to your community.
  • Receive the Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) certification offered by the Medical Library Association. The CHIS will help you keep current in the consumer health information field and obtain an additional, recognized level of expertise.

III. Eligibility

All librarians in the U.S. and U.S. territories may apply, but those working at public libraries will be given priority consideration.

IV. Requirements

All librarians selected for the stipend must commit to the following program requirements:

  • Register for and attend the PLA 2018 preconference on March 20, 2018.
  • Participate in any pre-event conference calls or online meetings scheduled for preconference attendees.
  • Complete the required pre-event readings and education as directed.
  • Work with PLA to submit an application to the Medical Library Association for CHIS certification.
  • Complete a post-event assessment questionnaire.
  • Submit to PLA a plan to use the CHIS certification and knowledge in programming or other activity at a public library.
  • Submit to PLA a report on status of your plan, noted above, at a time interval to be determined after the preconference event (likely 3-6 months).

V. Application and Submission Information

PLA will accept applications for this stipend between October 16, 2017, and November 19, 2017.

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions before filling out an application.

Getting Started

To begin the application process, go to the project home page. To apply for the stipend, you must complete the following steps:

  • REGISTER to Apply.org (if you have not previously registered when applying for a different ALA project)
  • LOG IN (if you have already registered when applying for a different ALA project)
  • COMPLETE APPLICANT INFORMATION
  • COMPLETE INSTITUTION INFORMATION
  • ANSWER THE NARRATIVE QUESTIONS
  • AFFIRM ATTESTATIONS AND CERTIFY
  • REVIEW AND EDIT YOUR APPLICATION
  • SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Register or Log In

Before you access the application, you must either:

  • Register to create an application account, OR
  • If you have already registered when applying for another ALA Public Programs Office grant project, you may log in using your e-mail address and password.

Complete Applicant and Institution Information

To complete this step, provide all the information that is requested on the information screens. You must then save the information.

After clicking the SAVE button, you will be able to return to the application at any time and log in using your e-mail address and password. This will allow you to edit, save and return to your application as needed prior to the November 19, 2017, submission deadline.

Answer Narrative Questions

We strongly recommend that you read the narrative questions carefully and prepare your answers before logging in to the Apply system. Please note that an answer for the narrative questions is required. Each narrative may not exceed 200 words.

  1. Have you or your library worked with or used resources from the National Library of Medicine or your regional medical library? (See https://nnlm.gov/regions for a list of regional medical libraries). If yes, please briefly describe how you or your library worked with or used resources from NLM or a regional medical library.
  2. Describe any programming related to consumer health information, health literacy, or related topics you've developed or offered in a public library.
  3. Describe why you are interested in becoming certified in Consumer Health Information and what you intend to do for your library and the community with the credential and new knowledge.
  4. Describe some of the key health issues or challenges that people in your library's community are facing. How do you think your library could contribute or show leadership in response to these issues or challenges?

Affirm Attestations and Certify

This is an application for an award from the PLA, with support from NNLM. Applicants must identify a certifying official who is authorized to submit applications for funding on behalf of the organization's employee.

To complete this section, you must enter all the information that is requested.

Review and Edit Your Application

The Review and Edit page summarizes all the information that you have entered, including your Project Director Information and your Proposal Narrative. From this page, you can:

  1. Review and edit each section;
  2. Save the entire application and log out of the system; or
  3. Move ahead to certify and submit your application.

Submit Your Application

Once you have completed all parts of your application, you may submit it at any time by selecting the Submit button. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CDT on November 19, 2017. Applications submitted after that time will not be considered.

Note that once you have submitted your application, you can no longer alter it. The application will then be submitted for review.

You will receive an e-mail confirming submission of your application. At the confirmation page, you will be able to print out a copy of your application. Print and keep this copy for your records.

VI. Application Review

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Completeness of the application. Has the applicant supplied all required information, including all sections of the proposal narratives?
  • Clarity of the applicant's interest in securing and using the credential. Does the applicant see value and potential benefit for the library and community? Are plans and ideas for programs described clearly?

Other factors that may influence the final selection of libraries include the following:

  • Location of your library. The selection committee would like all NNLM regions represented in the cohort.
  • Size and demographics of the community. The selection committee seeks a mix of communities of different sizes and varied demographics.
  • Public libraries and staff working in public libraries will be given priority consideration.

Applicants are encouraged to address questions about the selection guidelines, process and requirements to the ALA Public Programs Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org.

Review and Selection Process

Each application will be assessed by project staff of PLA and NNLM. PLA will make the final decisions. VII. Award Administration Information

  • Application deadline: November 19, 2017, 11:59 pm (CDT)
  • Award notification: December 4, 2017

VIII. Points of Contact

If you have questions, contact:

Public Programs Office
American Library Association
1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045
publicprograms@ala.org

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