Healthy changes Healthy changes (February 27, 2004)

Health library, cancer resource center relocate
by Teresa C. Brown

The ValleyCare Health Library and Ryan Comer Cancer Resource Center has opened its doors at a new location while continuing to offer the community health-related resources. The library, which has been open since 1991, moved its office last month to the ValleyCare Medical Plaza, 5725 W. Las Positas Blvd., Suite 270.

"We're up on the second floor and in the back," said Mary Reilly, the library's registered nurse. The move puts the library closer to the ValleyCare medical community.

In addition to its move, the library continues to build its collection of medical books, videos, DVDs, models and kits for check out. Although it continues to maintain its medical VHS video collection, Reilly said, the library is expanding its DVD collection for those users.

For its Spanish-speaking customers, its Spanish video database called Salud Para Todos is fully under way. The database, which is written and produced in Spanish, is a full-text health resource. Because the database is a video, it does not require extensive reading, she added.

Another change for the library is its electronic checkout. "Everything is done electronically. Once you're in the database, you don't have to remember to bring your card," Reilly explained. All resources available for checkout only need to be scanned.

The library offers personal reference assistance with Reilly, a registered nurse, as well as a medical librarian. The library has more than 6,000 cataloged items available for checkout, including books, posters, models and videos, as well as a journal and magazine collection with up to five years of back issues.

The library opens weekdays at 10 a.m. It closes at 2 p.m. Monday and Friday; 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; and 8 p.m. Thursday.

For more information about the library and its services, call 734-3315.

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