Helpful Health Links

In the May, 2010 issue of Choice, I happened to come across four particularly useful open-access health-related websites that had been rather favorably reviewed in that publication. If you're a fellow librarian, you might consider adding these to the health and medicine section of your suggested websites list, if your library site has such a feature, and or update your reference bookmarks accordingly. For the general reader here, I would imagine these sites are equally relevant, perhaps especially, Hospital Compare.

Comsumer Health Ratings
http://consumerhealthratings.com

Hospital Compare
http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

PSNet: Patient Safety Network
http://psnet.ahrq.gov

ToxLearn
http://toxlearn.nlm.nih.gov

The Nonsectarian Librarian Turns 1

Well, it’s now official. The Nonsectarian Librarian turns 1 today and already, it can walk, talk, and discuss various aspects of the field of librarianship with a reasonable degree of authority. Impressive indeed. At times, I wasn’t really sure if I’d stick it out and continue posting in this forum, but in the end, I’m glad I did having recently received some rather encouraging feedback from a friend about it.

In any case, the coming year begins with a semi-solemn resolution to post more frequently and on a more routine basis. We shall see if those aims come to fruition. However, a few blog ideas, including some controversial ones I’ve been holding off on, are already beginning to take shape in the free range mind of the Nonsectarian Librarian. Check back here to see what happens.

Island Hopping

Block Island, Rhode Island is quite easily one of my favorite places on earth for a whole number of peculiar reasons I won't exactly ramble on about in this post. Likewise, Block Island is known world wide for its many incredible sites, attractions, and so on. Interestingly enough though, one of those prime attrractions now officially includes their one and only, Island Free Library. In fact, Library Journal has once again ranked this tiny, unsuspecting library, located literally on a small speck of porkchop-shaped land out in the Atlantic Ocean, with their prestigious 5-Star rating (click here to read the article).

Congratulations to the Island Free Library and its staff for making their remote institution such a distinguished and recognized success in the library world. Moreover, since Block Island is one of my favorite locales, then by extention, so too is its award-winning library! In any case, next time you decide to "rock the Block", make sure to stop by the Island Free Library and definitely check out their special Block Island collection.

P.S. - Last time I checked, the Island Free Library offers non-resident library cards for a fee.