I have another comment from a slightly different direction here. I was just on the website of the Weight-control Information Network (NIH), and I really like the statement of services they provide. I get sick of libraries that print lots of signs and brochures detailing what they DON'T (or can't) do -- wherever possible I try to word such statements in terms of what we CAN do and where the patron can get help if we are not the ones to help them. For example, instead of saying "We do NOT provide I.L.L. service to students or members of the public," you can say "We provide I.L.L. service for physicians and staff of the hospital. Students, researchers and members of the public should visit their school library or a branch of the public library for I.L.L. service." Perhaps the best way to issue "disclaimers" is by positively delineating the services you (and the other libraries in your area) DO provide -- by issuing "proclaimers" if you will. Other people here have also pointed out important goals (beyond "covering your [tail]") which might be furthered through the use of disclaimers, such as enhancing public and professional understanding of the librarian's role. But if your main concern is to protect yourself from liability, make sure you run any statement you write past your corporate counsel office. No matter what other libraries are using, it's possible that the words you use and the manner in which you intend to disseminaate them will not meet the goal of protecting you legally. If there's one thing I learned in 20 years of law library work, it's that good common sense, as my fellow non-lawyers and I perceive it, is seldom synonymous with the law. With tha "disclaimer" in mind, how is this as an example of a "proclaimer"? (For a patient-oriented brochure): "We provide journals, books and computer resources to help you answer your health-related questions. Because every person and situation is unique, the general information we provide cannot substitute for the diagnosis and medical advice of your doctor, but is there to help insure that you as a patient can participate as fully as possible with your doctor and other members of your health care team in meeting your treatment goals." Here is an extract from the WIN site for a fine example of what I am suggesting: ----- Begin excerpt ----- [from http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/win.htm] Weight-control Information Network The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a national information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health NIH). ... How can WIN help you? WIN produces, collects, and disseminates materials on obesity, weight control, and nutrition. WIN provides * Publications, including fact sheets, and brochures, article reprints, and conference and workshop proceedings. * Clinical Weight Loss and Control Lecture Series Videos, taped lectures sponsored by NIDDK on weight loss and control-related topics. * Clinical Nutrition Research Centers (ONRCs) and Clinical Nutrition Research Units (CNRUs). * Abstracts, including thousands of references to articles, books, and audiovisual and educational materials for health care professionals and consumers that are available as the weight control subfile on the Combined Health Information Database (CHID) at http://chid.nih.gov. * WIN Notes, a quarterly newsletter for health professionals, features the latest information from NIDDK and other organizations on obesity, weight control, and weight-related nutritional disorders. Win Notes also lists resources available from other organizations and reports on the National Task Force on Prevention and Treatment of Obesity activities. * Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better, WIN's health awareness pilot campaign to encourage black women in three Boston communities to maintain their weight by increasing their physical activity and eating healthy foods. * Related sites [link] For more information, write, call, or email us at The Weight-control Information Network 1 WIN Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3665 Phone: (202) 828-1025 or 1-877-946-4627 Fax: (202) 828-1028 Email: [log in to unmask] ----- End excerpt ----- The more "negative" disclaimers are presented in a FAQ, but again with positive suggestions on where users can get the information they want, rather than just as road blocks saying they don't provide it. This is FIRST RATE public service! Someone there needs to be commended on this. ----- Begin excerpt ----- http://www.niddk.nih.gov/tools/faq.htm Q: How do I find the answers to my specific medical questions? A: NIDDK cannot provide a diagnosis or medical advice for an individual situation. A doctor who has examined you and knows your medical history is the best person to provide that information. The NIDDK's health information section lists titles of lay-language and easy-to-read publications on topics covered by NIDDK. (You may also refer to the National Institutes of Health's health information section or to use the NIH search engine if you're not sure which institute covers the area of your interest.) If you have a complex question and you're comfortable with technical articles, you may want to search the medical literature by using the free Internet access to Medline. If you still need help finding general information about a diagnosed condition, send your question to the NIDDK site manager. Q: How can I find a support group for people with my medical condition? A: You may wish to ask your doctor or local hospital for information on support groups. You may also find it helpful to check our directories of professional and voluntary organizations for the areas of diabetes, digestive diseases, kidney and urologic diseases, and metabolic and endocrine disorders. Q: What are the possible side effects of my prescribed medicines? A: You should ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions about the drugs prescribed for you. You can also consult the Physician's Desk Reference, which is widely available at local libraries. It describes drugs, how they work and interact, and their possible side effects. ----- End excerpt ----- ===== James Quinn Interim Medical Librarian, Silver Cross Hospital 1200 Maple Road, Joliet, IL 60432 815-740-1234, ext. 7477 (voice) 815-740-7024 (fax) [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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