Ideas for “Next Steps” Generated at October 23, 2002,
Meeting of
Holyoke Consumer Health Library, Inc.

1) With $300 grant from Cigna, select and buy health-oriented books and develop physical library at Nuestras Raices.
2) Secure health materials for the library; solicit in-kind donations and financial contributions for these (see below for list of funding prospects).
3) Develop budget and strategic plan; generate list of funding prospects
4) Create a planning or steering committee to implement key strategies
5) Build plan for collaboration with ACCESS Holyoke and Light of Restoration Community Technology Centers; offer more workshops at these sites for different target groups
6) Recruit and train volunteers to staff library (even if initially for just a few hours each week)
7) Recruit a bilingual peer educator for teens and other groups
8) Build community awareness of HCHL and hold a “grand opening” event.
9) Hold press conference, promote awareness of HCHL through access channel, flyers, posters (next couple of weeks)
10) Have the pilot library available for “peace week” (11/17/02-11/24/02)
11) Use volunteers to get the word out about the new library (next month!)
12) Hold an “open house” for HCHL by end of year 2002 for the purpose of outreach into the community (this is not necessarily an indication that the library is “all set” and completed)
13) Develop more culturally diverse planning committee and Board; identify a staff person from Nuestras Raices who will serve as a liaison to the HCHL (Daniel Ross or someone he delegates to serve in that role)
14) Expand/clarify relationship with Nuestras Raices; coordinate HCHL services with existing programs of Nuestras Raices (e.g., its after school programs, etc.)
15) Get some funds to engage a part-time manager of the Nuestras Raices library
16) Meet with Nuestras Raices to see where they will be spending the Beveridge Foundation grant money allocated for the library
17) While physical library is being set up, promote use of the virtual library, HCHL’s web site.
18) Identify primary marketing target(s) for web site (e.g. Holyoke residents in general, parents, local health service, providers, etc.) and for physical library (e.g. mothers of young children, teens, etc.)
19) Continue developing and marketing web site and physical library based on identified target markets
20) Develop programs for adult education
21) Once physical library is set up and staffed, encourage people to use it; develop a “public relations” campaign to let people “know we exist.”
22) Develop an HCHL brochure as a tool for publicity.
23) Explore partnering with other agencies/groups in order to become larger
24) Continue “having conversations” to develop more concrete partnerships with agencies, providers, etc. (e.g., commitments to provide web links; write HCHL into funding requests as collaborator; refer possible funding opportunities)
25) Provide workshops in community to teach use of health databases, conduct Internet searches, and orient users to resources available on the web.
26) Conduct a second workshop to orient Holyoke Public Library staff to health information available on the Internet
27) Encourage visitors to the web site to fill out the User Survey; make User Survey available in an interactive form.
28) Analyze responses from user surveys to identify needs and opportunities for HCHL; incorporate this information into strategic planning process
29) Conduct focus groups to explore needs/opportunities
30) Conduct more Internet workshops; determine where and for whom these workshops should be held.
31) Disseminate information about good health-related web sites for specific user groups, such as the Kids Need Us Now website.

Funding Prospects suggested by Planning Group:

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation
Beveridge Foundation
Johnson & Johnson
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation: Catalyst Grants

Other:
Holyoke Pediatrics
Other groups of doctors
Pharmaceutical companies
Solicit stores at the Holyoke Mall
Holyoke Hospital
Mailings to a selected list (take names from United Way, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)