Consumers are barraged with nutrition and health information. This presents a challenge for educators to keep abreast of the latest information. In order to help address this need, a Nutrition Information and Resource Center (NIRC) was developed. NIRC has an informational Web site (http://nirc.cas.psu.edu/) with online fact sheets, links to credible Web sites, an email question and answer system (eat4health@psu.edu), and a lending library. The NIRC provides resources for educators that they can use to help children, youth, and families to acquire knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to improve their health

Carson, Katherine L

Haines, Julie A

English

Clemson University: TigerPrints

The Journal of Extension Volume 40 Number 2 Article 18 4-1-2002 The Nutrition Information and Resource Center at Penn State University Katherine L. Carson The Pennsylvania State University, klc13@psu.edu Julie A. Haines The Pennsylvania State University, jah15@psu.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Carson, K. L., & Haines, J. A. (2002). The Nutrition Information and Resource Center at Penn State University. The Journal of Extension, 40(2), Article 18. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol40/iss2/18 This Ideas at Work is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. 	 JOEHOME JOURNAL GUIDELINES ABOUT	JOE CONTACT NATIONAL	JOB	BANKCurrent	Issues Back	IssuesApril	2002	//	Volume	40	//	Number	2	//	Ideas	at	Work	//	2IAW3The	Nutrition	Information	and	Resource	Center	at	Penn	StateUniversityAbstractConsumers	are	barraged	with	nutrition	and	health	information.	This	presents	a	challenge	foreducators	to	keep	abreast	of	the	latest	information.	In	order	to	help	address	this	need,	aNutrition	Information	and	Resource	Center	(NIRC)	was	developed.	NIRC	has	an	informationalWeb	site	(http://nirc.cas.psu.edu/)	with	online	fact	sheets,	links	to	credible	Web	sites,	an	emailquestion	and	answer	system	(eat4health@psu.edu),	and	a	lending	library.	The	NIRC	providesresources	for	educators	that	they	can	use	to	help	children,	youth,	and	families	to	acquireknowledge,	skills,	and	behaviors	necessary	to	improve	their	health.	IntroductionConsumers	are	bombarded	with	a	tremendous	amount	of	nutrition	and	diet	information	every	day.This	information	overload	often	leads	to	requests	for	additional	information	or	clarification	fromnutrition	educators.	This	presents	a	challenge	for	nutrition	educators	in	having	up	to	date	andaccurate	information	about	food	and	nutrition.	To	maintain	professional	credibility,	to	offer	viablenutrition	advice,	and	to	initiate	contemporary	nutrition	services,	nutrition	educators	must	keepabreast	of	the	latest	food	and	nutrition	information.In	order	to	address	this	information	need,	a	Nutrition	Information	and	Resource	Center	(NIRC)	wasdeveloped.	The	purpose	of	NIRC	is	to	provide	educational	resources	for	Extension	agents	and	othernutrition	educators	so	that	they	can	more	effectively	and	efficiently	educate	consumers.Project	DescriptionThe	NIRC	is	an	innovative	mechanism	for	providing	nutrition	information	and	educational	resourcesto	nutrition	educators.	The	NIRC	development	began	with	a	needs	assessment	of	Extension	agents.Informal	interviews,	a	Web-based	survey,	and	focus	group	interviews	were	conducted.	Theinformation	obtained	indicated	a	strong	need	for	accurate	and	up-to-date	information	provided	in	atimely	manner.The	project	coordinator	believed	the	best	approach	to	meeting	these	needs	would	be	through	aWeb-based	educational	resource	center.	Extension	Program	Priority	Initiative	(EPPI)	funding	wasacquired	to	begin	the	development	of	the	NIRC	in	Spring	2000.	Graduate	assistants	and	staff	wereemployed	to	begin	the	development	of	the	NIRC.	Using	the	framework	developed	by	the	projectcoordinator,	the	NIRC	was	developed	with	the	following	components.InformationKatherine	L.	CasonAssociate	ProfessorDepartment	of	Food	ScienceInternet	Address:	klc13@psu.eduJulie	A.	HainesProgram	Coordinator8L	Borland	LaboratoryInternet	Address:	jah15@psu.eduThe	Pennsylvania	State	UniversityUniversity	Park,	PennsylvaniaNIRC	has	an	informational	Web	site	(http://nirc.cas.psu.edu/)	with	online	fact	sheets	that	can	bedownloaded	and	printed.	The	Web	site	was	constructed	by	a	Web	master	at	a	local	company,	ByThe	Numbers.	The	NIRC	Web	site	has	links	to	many	other	food	and	nutrition	Web	sites,	making	it	agreat	place	to	begin	searching	for	information	on	any	nutrition-related	topic.	These	Web	sites	havebeen	evaluated	for	accuracy,	objectivity,	currency,	coverage,	and	design	and	format.Nutrition	educators	may	submit	questions	about	various	nutrition	and	food	science	topics	throughan	email	question	and	answer	system	(eat4health@psu.edu).	The	answers	to	the	questions	areresearched	and	responses	provided	in	a	timely	manner.	Questions	may	also	be	submitted	inperson,	over	the	telephone,	through	the	mail,	or	by	using	the	form	on	the	Web	site.ResourceThe	NIRC	has	a	lending	library	with	the	inventory	of	listings	maintained	on	the	Web	site.	The	foodscience	and	human	nutrition	materials	consist	of	books,	journals,	nutrition	education	curriculums,nutrition	activities	and	displays,	and	audiovisuals	covering	a	broad	range	of	topics	from	children'sliterature	to	technical	nutrition	information.	The	materials	collection	is	reviewed,	categorized,annotated,	and	listed	in	a	database.CenterA	physical	location	for	the	NIRC	was	acquired	within	the	Food	Science	Department	at	Penn	StateUniversity.	The	center	serves	as	the	storage	place	for	educational	resources,	and	a	site	whereeducators	can	preview	materials.NIRC	Site	MaintenanceThe	NIRC	resources	are	easily	maintained	through	the	Web	site.	Authorized	NIRC	staff	access	theNIRC	site	administration	page	to	process	requests.	When	a	site	user	sends	a	request,	a	notificationappears	on	the	NIRC	administration	page.	The	NIRC	staff	process	the	requests	and	record	thestatus	on	the	administration	page.An	email	message	is	automatically	sent	to	borrower	to	let	him	or	her	know	when	the	request	hasbeen	processed.	Another	email	message	is	sent	to	the	borrower	a	few	days	before	the	resource	isdue	back	to	remind	him	or	her	to	return	the	item.	NIRC	staff	may	also	add	or	delete	items	in	thelibrary,	online	publications,	and	Web	site	databases	from	this	site	administration	page.EvaluationThe	NIRC	was	introduced	to	a	group	of	Cooperative	Extension	agents	attending	inservice	trainingin	March	2001.	The	NIRC	has	also	been	publicized	through	articles	in	departmental	andprofessional	association	newsletters	and	through	various	email	listservs.	When	NIRC	was	firstintroduced,	several	users	and	NIRC	staff	requested	resource	processing	and	site	administrationchanges.	These	requests	were	incorporated	into	the	Web	site	by	the	Web	master.Users	of	the	NIRC	have	included	Cooperative	Extension	Agents	with	foods	and	nutritionresponsibilities,	EFNEP	and	FSNEP	agents	and	paraprofessionals,	Food	Science	and	Nutritionstudents	and	dietetic	interns,	Family	&	Consumer	Science	Teachers,	and	Public	Health	DepartmentEducators.NIRC	user	responses	have	been	overwhelming.	Educators	have	reported	that	the	availability	ofNIRC	materials	has	enabled	them	to	supplement	and/or	update	existing	nutritionlessons/curriculum	with	current	and	attractive	materials,	activities	and	displays	that	they	could	nototherwise	afford	to	purchase.	Others	have	reported	that	the	NIRC	materials	have	allowed	them	topreview	new	materials	in	a	timely	and	cost	effective	manner	for	input	when	making	their	ownpurchasing	decisions.	These	comments	provide	project	staff	with	insight	into	the	success	of	theNIRC."Thank	you!	This	is	wonderful!""You	gave	us	a	start	on	where	to	get	information.	The	Web	site	is	great.	It	will	be	especiallyhelpful	for	new	agents.""Excited	about	the	availability	of	Web	site.	This	is	great!	Fantastic	job!"ConclusionThe	NIRC	is	a	valuable	resource	that	can	be	replicated	by	Extension	in	other	states.	ExtensionSpecialists	traditionally	conduct	many	of	the	NIRC	activities,	such	as	the	development	ofpublications	and	informational	Web	sites	and	the	loan	of	educational	resources.	The	publicationsdeveloped	for	consumer	use	could	readily	be	adapted	for	placement	online.	With	publicationsorganized	on	a	searchable	Web	site,	the	users	can	more	easily	locate	the	needed	information.By	using	the	Pennsylvania	NIRC	as	a	model,	others	can	consolidate,	and	organize	existing	Websites	to	become	a	searchable	site	with	links	to	other	credible	sites.	Educational	materials	can	beacquired,	reviewed,	and	made	available	for	loan.	Many	resources	are	free	or	have	a	nominal	fee.Others	may	be	purchased	with	grant	funds,	and	when	appropriate,	with	EFNEP	or	FSNEP	funds.The	NIRC	has	helped	Extension	educators	to	locate	accurate,	up-to-date	information	and	resourcesthat	they	can	use	to	help	children,	youth,	and	families	to	acquire	knowledge,	skills,	attitudes,	andbehaviors	necessary	to	improve	their	nutrition	and	fitness.Copyright	©	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Articles	appearing	in	the	Journal	become	the	property	of	theJournal.	 Single	 copies	 of	 articles	may	 be	 reproduced	 in	 electronic	 or	 print	 form	 for	 use	 in	 educational	 or	 trainingactivities.	Inclusion	of	articles	in	other	publications,	electronic	sources,	or	systematic	large-scale	distribution	may	bedone	only	with	prior	electronic	or	written	permission	of	the	Journal	Editorial	Office,	joe-ed@joe.org.If	you	have	difficulties	viewing	or	printing	this	page,	please	contact	JOE	Technical	Support©	Copyright	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	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The Nutrition Information and Resource Center at Penn State University

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The Nutrition Information and Resource Center at Penn State University

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