Background
The Internet has created new possibilities for information and communication and PAHO has sought to create and implement a Virtual Health Library (VHL). It is being implemented by the PAHO Centre BIREME (Centro Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Informacion Ciencias de la Salud/Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information) Brazil.
Goal
Maximize impact of technology to improve access to reliable, locally relevant information for health-professionals, researchers, academics, educators, decision makers, and the general public.
What is a Virtual Health Library?
Technical knowledge which is recorded, organized and stored in electronic format and is accessible universally through the Internet. It is compatible with international databases and can be accessed throughout the Latin American & Caribbean countries.
How do I find information through the VHL?
SEARCH THE VHL
Each country has a national VHL site and all the collaborating institutions are linked to it through an online catalogue or OPAC, which shows the documents and other resources that are available in participating libraries.
Aim of the VHL
The aim of the VHL is to have an international network which links the national VHL sites in each country. Individual institutions in each country would in turn, be linked to their national VHL site. This would make the information more widely available, and help to meet the information needs of the growing number of persons who wish to access information via the Internet. |
VHL Jamaica
- Collaborating Institutions
The Ministry of Health; The University of the West Indies; The Caribbean Food & Nutrition Institute, and The Pan American Health Organization.
Other potential partners include training institutions; government agencies and non-government agencies, and professional associations.
National VHL Site for JAMAICA http://vhljamaica.uwimona.edu.jm
The National VHL Website in Jamaica is being implemented by the University of the West Indies Medical Library, and the Pan American Health Organization is guiding the process. |
