Public libraries across the country have received materials from the Academy to further their health-related efforts.
"I encourage you to consider the role of family physicians in your community and to use them as a collaborative partner in your library's health initiative," said AAFP Board Chair Michael Fleming, M.D., of Shreveport, La., in his Aug. 15 letter to about 9,400 libraries. The mailing included bookmarks that contained information about AAFP's patient education site and a resource for library reference sections, the 2005 edition of Family Doctor: Your Essential Guide to Health and Wellbeing.
Fleming said the Academy, through its fitness initiative Americans in Motion; is partnering with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; the Academy helped develop the 2006 NCLIS Health Award for Libraries. "The AAFP encourages your organization to participate in this first-ever national award program recognizing libraries that excel in providing health information and promoting healthy lifestyles," Fleming said.
Some state library commissioners are already working with the Academy and AAFP chapters to obtain family physician judges for the award contest.
