The Pixel Frontier: Electronic Books Twenty-first Century In The Library

The author examines the growing popularity and acceptance of e-books by taking a look at their availability, strengths and weaknesses, acceptance by users, and ways to introduce readers to the format. This was accomplished through a survey of the literature, observations of users, and an informal survey of students at Carson-Newman College

Facebook for Libraries

Libraries are looking for ways to reach patrons. Facebook is a Web site that students visit regularly. Opportunities exist to enhance our communication with our users, to promote our libraries, to increase information literacy, and to network with persons inside and outside our primary networks. Libraries should be finding ways to incorporate Facebook, reaching students where they are

Connecting Patrons with Genetic Genealogy Resources

Overview of genetic genealogy industry and what it offers patrons, including types of DNA tested, testing companies, and third party tools; Resources (books, periodicals, and websites) useful in genetic genealogy; educational opportunities in genetic genealogy; and sample LibGuides and library web pages on the topic

Implementing Cultural Competence in the Health Care Organization: Recommendations for Planned Parenthood Health Systems

Cultural competence in health care organizations is a way to extend to patients from every culture or ethnic background equal access to quality health care. Constantly shifting demographics are changing the health care needs of communities; language and culture barriers have the potential to create enormous gaps in health care for members of racial and/or ethnic minority groups. This study explores similarities of culturally competent health care organizations and examines their keys to successful implementation. Leadership buy-in and self assessment as essential steps are explored and several models of delivery are reviewed. Barriers in this process are also examined and discussed and then recommendations on cultural competence implementation for private health care organizations are given. Specific recommendations are made to Planned Parenthood health services programs that can be extended to other health care organizations.Master of Public Healt

Cash transfers for HIV prevention: considering their potential.

INTRODUCTION: Cash payments to vulnerable households and/or individuals have increasingly garnered attention as a means to reduce poverty, improve health and achieve other development-related outcomes. Recent evidence from Malawi and Tanzania suggests that cash transfers can impact HIV-related behaviours and outcomes and, therefore, could serve as an important addition to HIV prevention efforts. DISCUSSION: This article reviews the current evidence on cash transfers for HIV prevention and suggests unresolved questions for further research. Gaps include (1) understanding more about the mechanisms and pathways through which cash transfers affect HIV-related outcomes; (2) addressing key operational questions, including the potential feasibility and the costs and benefits of different models of transfers and conditionality; and (3) evaluating and enhancing the wider impacts of cash transfers on health and development. CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing and future studies should build on current findings to unpack unresolved questions and to collect additional evidence on the multiple impacts of transfers in different settings. Furthermore, in order to address questions on sustainability, cash transfer programmes need to be integrated with other sectors and programmes that address structural factors such as education and programming to promote gender equality and address HIV