I’ve been following this thread with great  interest.  As a medical librarian at ZivaGuide  (http://www.zivaguide.com), I have been very much involved its creation  and content.  During this online discussion, what I believe has  been recognized by some—and overlooked by others-- is the value which  innovative technology combined with quality information brings to  patients and library patrons.
  
  Google and other search engines provide users with what they want—quick  access to information in an easy-to-use, understandable format.   What Google doesn’t provide—and what ZivaGuide does, is a review of  this information by librarians and other health information  professionals prior to application of information technology.
   
  Format, authority and context—these are the holy grail of today’s  information-based world.  I must respectfully disagree with Julia  Esparza (13 Dec 2005).  People are NOT “paying for what is free”;  Information available through sources such as MedlinePlus and our  public libraries have been subsidized by national, state and local tax  dollars.  As you are well aware, large percentages of library  budgets are spent on developing collections of proprietary information.
  
  From day one, ZivaGuide has been committed to offering subscriptions  free to needed populations and has worked with numerous community-based  and national organizations.  Currently, we are in discussions with  the American Library Association to offer ZivaGuide to public  librarians for use and distribution within rural communities, where the  need for quality health information is often the greatest.   Additionally, we have developed relationships with: the National  Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, the American Case  Management Association, the National Family Caregivers Association, and  the National Alliance for Caregiving.
  
  Librarians have been—and always will be—the guide in the search for  information. ZivaGuide’s vision was never to replace their role as  health information specialists, but to supplement it and assist in the  quest to provide health information when and where needed.  In  fact, ZivaGuide strongly urges its users to consult with local medical  librarians in their communities to explore resources further and access  existing resources available through the National Library of Medicine,  including PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov.   We do provide  executable search queries on various subjects, but encourage users to  work with members of their healthcare team and to utilize the services  and skills of medical librarians and libraries in their community.
  
  In regards to the comments on the role of ZivaGuide sponsors, we have a  clearly stated editorial policy which addresses this issue:  http://www.zivaguide.com/html/editorial-policy.jsp  “The  information presented on our site is gathered from resources that  maintain standards of quality, authority and accuracy…The primary  purpose of our content is educational, and not to sell a product or  service or endorse the products or services of our sponsors.   Sponsors and advertisers have absolutely no influence over, or  involvement in, the creation or distribution of the content on  ZivaGuide. Any and all sponsored segments are clearly marked as such.”
  
  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the development of ZivaGuide and  the standards which guide choices in content posted on our site in  further detail.  Thank you.
  
  
  Lori Gluckman, MLS, MA
  Ziva Continuum
  1111 Marcus Ave.
  Bldg. A, Suite LL08
  Lake Success, NY 11042
  Phone: 516/616-9600, ext. 33
  Fax: 516/616-9306
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