The recording for this webinar is now available. During the question-and-answer session, the issue of increasing a medical or hospital library’s visibility among physicians, beyond having library staff serve on institutional committees, was raised. Attendees suggested the following approaches. -Ask physicians what their specific research needs are; particularly if an evidence-based approach is necessary, an “evidence-based toolkit”…
Year: 2015
NN/LM (MAR) Symposium on the Affordable Care Act
For anyone who might be interested, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region, will be holding a symposium on the role that libraries of all types (medical and hospital, public, and academic) can play in promoting awareness of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The full-day event, titled “The Affordable Care…
Impact of Proposed Cuts to Illinois Medicaid
The Governor’s proposed budget, which is intended to overcome a projected $6 billion budget deficit for FY 2016 (on top of a $1.6 billion deficit for the current fiscal year), includes $1.5 billion in cuts to Medicaid, making the program one of the main targets of the Governor’s cost-cutting efforts. The program currently covers more…
Update to Legislative Alert for Illinois HB2689 (Mandatory Filters)
Two weeks ago, House Bill 2689–the Internet Screening in Public Libraries Act–was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly. The Act would require that all public libraries in the state put into place a “technology protection measure”, such as a filter, that would prevent library users from viewing material that could be construed as obscene or…
Legislative Alert–Illinois House Bill 2689 (Mandatory Filters)
House Bill 2689, the Internet Screening in Public Libraries Act, was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly on February 19. (So far, no action has been taken on the legislation since it was referred to the Rules Committee that same day.) The sponsor is Representative Peter Breen (Republican–48th District, Lombard), who just started his first…
Proposed Federal Budget for FY 2016 Released
Earlier this month, President Obama announced his priorities for the FY 2016 federal budget. Part of the budget is devoted to improving health care for Americans, through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and through other reforms. The specific areas being targeted, and the goals under each one, are listed below. Supporting Implementation of…
ILA Positions on Illinois Legislative Issues
The Illinois Library Association’s Executive Board has taken the following general positions on legislation that has already been introduced, or is likely to be introduced, during the current session of the Illinois General Assembly. –Opposes any legislation cutting funding, for counties and municipalities, that comes from the Local Government Distributive Fund –Is against legislation reducing…
House Makes Another Attempt to Repeal Obamacare
Yesterday (February 3), the United States House of Representatives made yet another attempt to start the process of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. House Resolution 596 passed by a vote of 239 to 186, with the tally split almost entirely along party lines. (No Democrat voted for it, although three new Republican…
Two NLM exhibits in Illinois this spring
Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness will be hosted by Trickster Art Gallery in Schaumburg, IL, from January 27 – March 20, 2015. Online Exhibition: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/ Every Necessary Care and Attention: George Washington and Medicine will be hosted at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine – Medical Library, Springfield, IL, from…
Legislative Alert–Proposed Amendment to Illinois Concealed-Carry Law
Yesterday, an amendment to the “Firearm Concealed Carry Act” was introduced by Representative Ed Sullivan, Jr. (Republican, 51st District-Mundelein), and the bill was referred to the Rules Committee this morning. The amendment would affect the section of the legislation covering the removal of a weapon from a vehicle, specifically if the vehicle is parked in…