Mid-Semester Check-in!

I am about halfway through the current semester and have learned so much already about Information Literacy and the various instructional techniques I can utilize to help visitors to the library increase their information literacy skills. Looking back at my most recent posts, a clear theme is obvious (albeit not surprising to anyone who knows me). I have a passion for Health Literacy! Most of my posts and reflections center on how to increase health literacy and how to stay on top of current trends. It's important for me to keep current on the resources that are available to me as a librarian so that I am in the best possible position to assist patrons at the reference desk.

As the semester progresses, I find myself examining the various ways other libraries throughout the country have dealt with challenging situations regarding the implementation of the ACA and how I may be able to apply their methods in the future.

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the Atlantic City Free Public Library became a hub of activity with patrons coming in to apply for FEMA assistance. Now, a year later, the ACFPL is seeing increased activity as patrons come into the library seeking information and assistance regarding the ACA. This scenario hits close to home for me. Just last month, Longmont, Colorado was hard hit by flooding, leaving many of our community's patrons displaced from their homes and in need of aid. Working the reference desk at the Longmont Public Library, I understood the importance of being prepared to provide directions to the Disaster Assistance Center in Longmont as well as provide information on federal assistance to individuals affected by the floods. Just like the ACFPL, I had to immediately shift gears shortly after a natural disaster in order to deal with patrons seeking a different kind of assistance - help with understanding the ACA.

Because the flooding and the implementation of the ACA happened just weeks apart, I felt as though I did not have as much time as I would like to prepare for people seeking assistance with understanding the new health care laws. By reading about the experiences of others at libraries throughout the country, I know that I am not alone. I can examine how libraries have handled similar situations and see how effective their preparations were for their library. In the ACFPL's case, it was essential for the library to adapt to their community's needs. That meant compiling a list of reputable resources for patrons seeking assistance after Superstorm Sandy and updating that list as needed to provide resources for people who need more information on health care laws. ACFLP encouraged staff to keep current on these resources so that they can better direct patrons to appropriate websites. Additionally, they took advantage of further resources such as the ALA's E-Government Toolkit which is a great source for locating Internet agencies on the federal, state, and local levels.

Keeping in mind how other libraries have prepared for unique circumstances as well as the resources they have utilized in the process gives me confidence that I can tackle patron requests for ACA and disaster relief information!

Bibliography

Morris, L. (n.d.). Ready, Set, Respond: How Atlantic Free Public Library Prepared for ACA Implementation. Retrieved October 19, 2013, from WebJunction: http://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/ready-set-respond-acfpl-aca.html