Violence Prevention Library Offers Vast Resources for Advocates
“The library facilitates the transformation of information into prevention action by connecting people to the data they need to effectively address violence prevention,” said Robin Tremblay-McGaw, information services director with the Trauma Foundation. The library has a staff of four specialists with master’s degrees in library sciences or public health. Two additional staff develop and maintain the organization’s websites, and a volunteer helps with a variety of duties. “Working on injury and violence prevention is by necessity multidisciplinary,” Tremblay-McGaw said. “The library brings together data from a variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, law, criminology, public health, public policy and medicine.” The library also maintains several computerized databases, including one that profiles more than 3,000 injury and violence prevention programs across the United States. The library operates a clearinghouse on PCVP’s website that provides fact sheets, statistics and links to other websites, as well as profiles of violence prevention advocates. Visitors may also request reference assistance from the librarians via e-mail. Some information is also available in Spanish. Tremblay-McGaw cited examples of how community-based organizations have used the library’s services to assist in their work. While designing an elementary school curriculum on violence prevention, Richmond’s Community-In-Peace Partnership contacted the Injury and Violence Prevention Library for evaluations on existing curricula. Library staff provided four such evaluations to the Richmond group, who combined elements of each to develop their own program. Youth Radio, a broadcast journalism training program in Berkeley and a grantee of TCWF, contacted the library to obtain background information for a news feature on gun control. Library staff provided the youth reporters with articles from various perspectives, including analyses on the Second Amendment, pertinent statistics and reports about the issues of regulation and control. “The collection and dissemination of research, policy information and best practices on violence prevention are critical to advancing the field,” said Frank Acosta, TCWF senior program officer. “The library is a critical source of information for community residents, youth advocates, practitioners, policymakers, opinion leaders and the media working to prevent violence in California.” People who would like information or assistance from the Injury and Violence Prevention Library may call Tremblay-McGaw at (415) 285-1793 or visit the PCVP Website at www.pcvp.org. |
he epidemic of
violence in California isn’t caused by any one factor and won’t be ended with
any one solution. For that reason, violence prevention efforts involve a range of people
and professions: doctors, program directors, community residents, youth, news media
professionals, educators, policymakers and researchers. And all are in need of accurate
information to help them develop, implement and advocate for effective violence prevention
programs that will make their communities healthier.
Fall 1999
| INSIDE:
Clinics sharing administrative functions Art and books about pregnancy prevention Extensive violence prevention library Health needs of welfare recipients |
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Foundation.
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