About Us

In 2013, faculty at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Robert M. Bird Library set out to
build a community of practice between libraries across the state of Oklahoma with the creation of the
Oklahoma Health Information Specialists (OKHIS) program.
Goals of the program include:
 Nurturing a network of health information professionals across public, academic, and tribal
libraries, as well as literacy organizations, in the state of Oklahoma
 Helping information professionals in Oklahoma contribute to the health and wellness of their
communities
 Expanding knowledge of and access to reliable consumer health information
To date, 105 staff members from 67 libraries in Oklahoma have earned their Consumer Health
Information Specialization from the Medical Library Association through participation in the OKHIS
program. All materials and classes on this website are free to use. Classes are eligible for credit counting
toward the achievement of the Consumer Health Information Specialization, and financial assistance
may be available to assist with the CHIS fee.
To schedule an in-person class from our roster, or to request a class on a specific subject, please visit our
Classes page, or feel free to contact us.

Publications About the OKHIS Program
Clifton S., Jo P., Longo J., Malone T. “Cultivating a Community of Practice: The Evolution of a Health
Information Specialists Program for Public Librarians.” J Med Lib Assoc 2017 Jul; 105(3)

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