The Executive Committee consists of members from selected from the Library Advisory Board, Communities of Interest Leaders, and Ambassador programs. 

Charge

The Executive Committee is charged to:

• Guide the overall direction of the RML
• Identify audiences and priorities that align with the mission and goals of the NNLM
• Provide feedback on strategies that maximize limited resources
• Tests and provides assessments on NLM products
• Identifies important outreach partners and individual members to serve as trusted ambassadors
• Contribute to national program goals

Membership

The Executive Committee will consist of:

• All Ambassadors
• 1 Community of Interest Leader
• 2 Library Advisory Board Members

Meetings

• Meetings of the Executive Committee are chaired by the Region 1 Executive Director
• Meetings will be held semi-annually.
• Members will serve 1-2 years to assure a graduated overlap across iterations.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the NNLM Region 1 Ambassadors Program 2021-2026 is to establish and enhance a member-driven governance structure to guide and support Region 1 health information outreach toward achieving health equity throughout the region.

Objectives for Ambassadors

• Provide health information resources and training to underserved and underrepresented groups that are priority populations of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). This training may be direct to community groups or train-the-trainer to equip community advocates to extend NLM’s reach with more community trainings.
  • During the first program year, underserved, underrepresented, and NNLM priority populations will be identified in 75% of all activities of Ambassadors leads.

• Act as ambassadors for NNLM services and resources, communicating health information needs to Region 1, and working with NNLM toward remediation of those needs.
  • Ambassadors will engage with NNLM Members within their state.

• Act as a field force in their state to identify potential partners for outreach and training.
  • Ambassadors will engage with non-NNLM organizations in their health information outreach.

The Ambassadors will consist of up to three persons in each of the states within Region 1. If no Ambassador is identified in a state within Year 1, the NNLM Regional Medical Library will continue to recruit for a Senator until that position is filled. Region 1 consists of Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Senators are individuals, affiliated with a Network Member organization, who possess expertise in community outreach and familiarity with NLM/NIH resources.

Ambassadors will perform outreach in their state to groups unaffiliated with their institutions thereby reaching populations previously unserved. Training sessions highlight NLM/NIH resources, such as MedlinePlus® and PubMed®, and include instruction of, at least, one full NNLM class. Targeted outreach efforts may include other resources such as regional resource guides as appropriate for specific audiences, inclusive of appropriate U.S. government sites, or quality organizational sites, such as nutrition.org, that align with NNLM priority topics or initiatives.

Ambassadors are encouraged to exhibit at health fairs or appropriate conferences. Based on projected attendance, additional Ambassadors, volunteers, or NNLM staff may also participate in the exhibit. For conference exhibitions, Senators will collaborate with NNLM to plan accordingly.

Quarterly Ambassador meetings, convened by NNLM, will serve as a bi-directional communication vehicle between Ambassadors and NNLM as well as Ambassador to Ambassador. Community health information needs, resource development and training, and local opportunities for outreach will be common topics for discussion. Outreach populations and topics will be those of priority to NLM.

Examples of Types of Activities

• Virtual or in-person NLM/NIH database training to community members, conference attendees, and organization staff
• Virtual or in-person site visits to potential partners and newly added NNLM member institutions
• Program development for community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and libraries
• Creation of resource guides focusing on local health information needs
• Dissemination of pre-packaged NNLM training resources tailored to local needs
• Partnership cultivation with local health collaboratives or grass-roots organizations to produce age-appropriate health information content for community members throughout the lifespan
• Representation of NNLM at local/community health fairs and conferences

Other Involvement

Ambassadors may wish to partner with other NNLM members to apply for larger outreach awards offered by NNLM. Examples include:

• Partner with a library in the development of a health information outreach award.
• Develop a successful TechQuity project award application that addresses the digital divide and makes meaningful gains toward health equity.

Remuneration

Ambassadors will receive remuneration, training, and direction from Region 1, according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Within an annual budget of $1500 per Senator, expenses related to outreach (travel, printing, etc.) and up to $300 per community outreach event (training sessions, exhibitions) will be paid.

NNLM Mission

To advance the progress of medicine and improve public health by providing U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving individuals' access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health.

Purpose of the Region 1 Library Advisory Board (LAB)

The purpose of the NNLM Region 1 Library Advisory Board (LAB) is to provide leadership guidance for outreach and engagement activities conducted by Region 1 staff and Senate Program members.

Charge

1. To guide the development and implementation of action plans for Region 1 programs that combat specific health disparities, and program areas identified as priorities with a focus on medically underserved populations

2. To develop strategic recommendations, programs, and relationships that advance the health of communities through equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data

Specifically, LAB members will provide three core services:

Identify Opportunities

• Provide input on library programming that would most benefit from NNLM support and NLM products and services
• Promote NNLM membership to libraries and other organizations
• Offer ideas and input on potential partnerships with organizations in the region
• Advise on potential conferences, health fairs, or other public events that would benefit from an NNLM Region 1 presence

Provide Feedback

• Offer guidance on effective Region 1 messaging and outreach
• Recommend serial and feature communications across Region 1
• Consult on the development and implementation of any Region 1  assessments

Align Activities

• Select activities for the region that align with NNLM initiatives and priorities
• Develop regional action plans to guide Region 1 training, funding, and engagement activities

Eligibility

To be eligible for membership, individuals must work in and/or be residents of Region 1 and be employed in one of the following kinds of libraries: public, academic, hospital, medical, research, or health sciences.

Members must have an interest in serving the mission of NNLM as well as the purpose of the advisory board.

Recruitment

NNLM Region 1 will promote the opportunity across multiple communication channels. An online form will collect information including position, experience, interest, and an attestation that the nominee will serve one or two-year terms during the cooperative agreement period that ends on April 30, 2026. Recruitment of NNLM Network Members will take place bi-annually if not annually.

Composition

The LAB will consist of 6-8 members, including one Region 1 staff member. Member recruitment and selection will be aimed at library professionals from public, academic, hospital, medical, research, or health sciences libraries. In addition, board composition will reflect multiple roles (director/manager, program staff, etc.) and types of communities served (urban, suburban, and rural).

The Region 1 staff member will facilitate the needs of LAB member meetings.

LAB members will elect two leads to participate in the Region 1 Executive Committee and work closely with the Region 1 staff representative to develop agendas. The RML staff member will also proactively share progress, outcomes, barriers, and successes with the LAB through regular bi-directional communication. 

Expectations of Library Advisory Board (LAB) Members

• to attend quarterly meetings
• to come prepared to contribute for each meeting
• to bring concerns, feedback, and requested recommendations to Region 1 staff

Terms

LAB members may serve a two to three-year appointment coinciding with the NNLM 2021-2026 grant cycle.

Resignation and Termination

• Any member may resign by sending an email resignation to the Region 1 staff representative at any time.
• If a member is not meeting expectations, they will be asked to step down.

Decision Making

Decisions will be made by majority vote. Each member will have equal vote. The Region 1 staff member will only vote in case of a tie.

Records

A Region 1 note taker will be assigned for each meeting. Meeting minutes will be sent to all members within one week. The Executive Director will make meeting minutes public after approval. Meetings may be recorded to support note taking purposes, but not made public.

Remuneration

Library Advisory Board members will receive remuneration and direction from Region 1. They will be paid a $200 stipend annually for meeting participation.

NNLM Mission

To advance the progress of medicine and improve public health by providing U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving individuals' access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health.

Purpose of Region 1 Communities of Interest (COI) Leader Program

The purpose of the Region 1 Communities of Interest (COI) Leader Program is to advise Region 1 on emerging trends and relevant issues in their communities, shaping educational offerings accordingly through topic-specific webinar series and workshops for NNLM members as well as timely blog and social media posts.

Charge

1. To guide Region 1’s evolving relevance on topics of interest throughout the region related to emerging trends and technologies, especially those identified as NNLM priorities.

2. To develop an action plan for the selection, scheduling, and launch of related topic-specific offerings, including webinars, workshops and social media posts that keep NNLM members up to date and informed.

Specifically, COI Leaders will provide three core services:

Identify Opportunities

• Provide input on specific topics of interest for health information in their communities and within their professional realm of expertise
• Recommend professional communities that would most benefit from NNLM and NLM products and services
• Create and present topic-specific webinar series or workshops for NNLM members
• Alternate with other COI Leaders to contribute a monthly “Emerging Topics” regional blog feature and provide topic-relevant social media posts.
• Promote NNLM membership to colleagues and communities served

Provide Feedback

• Review and offer guidance on effective topic-specific outreach from Region 1
• Provide guidance on keeping Region 1 offerings relevant as emerging trends and technologies evolve
• Consult with Region 1 on the development and implementation of any regional assessments

Align Activities

• Plan topic-specific webinar series and workshop offerings for the region that align with NNLM initiatives and priorities
• Develop a schedule of such offerings for each year of the cooperative agreement, factoring timing around NNLM initiatives and priorities, as applicable.

Eligibility

To be eligible for membership, individuals must work in and/or be residents of Region 1 and employed in one of the following: libraries, health care, public health, nonprofit, community-based or faith-based organizations. Specific knowledge of NLM initiatives and priority topics such as Research Data Management (RDM), health equity and the digital divide, or public library engagement, for example, is ideal. Members must have an interest in serving the mission of NNLM and the purpose of the COI Leader Program.

Recruitment

NNLM Region 1 will promote the opportunity across multiple communication channels. An online form will collect information including position, experience, interest, and an attestation that the nominee will serve one or two-year terms during the cooperative agreement period that ends April 30, 2026.

Recruitment of Network Members will take place bi-annually if not annually. New COI Leaders are recruited as new and emerging topics are identified to enhance the programming and relevance of the RML.

Composition

The COI Leader group will consist of 8-10 members, including one Region 1 staff. To foster a multidisciplinary approach, member recruitment and selection will be from a variety of professional backgrounds and expertise. Members may include those that work in libraries, health care, public health, nonprofit, and faith-based work. In addition, composition will strive to reflect multiple roles (director/manager, program staff, etc.) and types of communities served (urban, suburban, and rural).

The Region 1 staff member will facilitate the needs of COI Leader Program meetings.

The COI Leaders will elect one lead to participate in the Region 1 Executive Committee and work closely with the Region 1 staff representative to develop agendas. The RML staff member will also proactively share progress, outcomes, barriers, and successes with the COI Leaders through regular bi-directional communication. 

Expectations of Communities of Interest (COI) Leaders

• to attend quarterly meetings
• to come prepared to contribute for each meeting
• to maintain expertise on emerging trends and their specific topic of interest
• to bring concerns, feedback, and requested recommendations to Region 1 staff

Terms

COI Leaders may serve a two to three-year appointment coinciding with the NNLM 2021-2026 grant cycle.

Resignation and Termination

• Any member may resign by sending an email resignation to the Region 1 staff representative at any time.
• If a member is not meeting expectations, they will be asked to step down.

Decision Making

Decisions will be made by majority vote. Each member will have equal vote. The Region 1 staff member will only vote in case of a tie.

Records

A Region 1 note taker will be assigned for each meeting. Meeting minutes will be sent to all members within one week. The Executive Director will make meeting minutes public after approval. Meetings may be recorded to support note taking purposes, but not made public.

Remuneration

COI Leaders will receive remuneration and direction from Region 1. They will be paid a $200 stipend annually for meeting participation. If asked to present for NNLM members as a topic expert, COI Leaders will be paid $500 for each webinar or workshop offering.