Mid-Hudson Library System
103 Market Street | Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 | 845.471.6060 | fax 845.454.5940 | http://midhudson.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Barbara N. Lindsley, Outreach Consultant

Health Information Project

Mid-Hudson Library System

845.471.6060 x45

blindsley@midhudson.org

OR

Barbara Clapp, Health Information Project Coordinator

Mid-Hudson Library System

845.471.6060 x23

bclapp@midhudson.org

DATE: January 6, 2003

Available for interview/photos

WHEN TEENS’ COMMENTS COUNT

(POUGHKEEPSIE, NY)

“Probably the best health information video I’ve seen yet”, stated a teen reviewer, referring to HOW I QUIT SMOKING AND SAVED MY LIFE, the highest-ranked video from the Health Information Project’s Teen Intern Program. Guided by comments like this from 48 media-trained youth, 82 videos (52 titles) have just been purchased, addressing substance abuse and related health issues of concern to young persons and their families. Following strict criteria, the interns evaluated over 100 current videos last summer in public libraries in Beacon, Catskill, Hudson, LaGrange, Mahopac, Pawling, Plattekill and Town of Ulster. A few of the titles acquired are EVERYONE’S NOT DOING IT: AN ALCOHOL PREVENTION FILM; CLUB DRUGS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW; HOW YOU LOOK IS NOT WHO YOU ARE and HIGHER STAKES: THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIGH SCHOOL HARASSMENT, as well as four videos in Spanish. The videos are now available to borrow at no charge through the 71 member libraries of the Mid-Hudson Library System. With public performance rights, the videos are valuable resources for schools and. youth service agencies.

In addition, 53 current teen health websites were viewed, with the top 18 selected for direct linkage to the Project. The highest ranked site, Freevibe ( by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign) drew reviewer comments “great site”, “creative”, “catches the attention of teenagers”.

The Project’s site, at http://midhudson.org/hip/main.htm, offers a complete listing of all available Project videos from four years of teen reviewing, links to the highest-ranked websites, and an extensive list of “hot topics” teen books available for borrowing. All items may be requested online through the Request a Title feature, using patrons’ library cards. This allows patrons to request the video from any library in the Mid-Hudson Library System and have it delivered to their local library.

The interns returned to their schools in the fall and gave presentations to health classes, helping their peers become more media savvy and aware of health-threatening situations they may face. One of the interns commented afterwards: “It was cool, giving information to others”. She went on about the reviewing experience: “I learned a lot more than I thought I would. It was worthwhile, and will help me when friends ask for advice or a I myself confront a problem”.

Funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and in part by Dutchess County Government, the Health Information Project provides youth health information, following the RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS research-based prevention model. For more information, call Project Outreach Consultant Barbara Lindsley at 845-471-6060 x45.