Friday, February 17, 2017

New Library Resource: Merck Manuals



You may have noticed a new button on our homepage: Merck Manuals.  First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, The Merck Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. 

As a sign of its deepened commitment to worldwide medical information access and improving global health, Merck has made the Merck Manuals available for free in digital form to professionals and patients.

In 2015, Merck embarked on their most far-reaching medical knowledge initiative to date, Global Medical Knowledge 2020. Through this worldwide project, The Manuals aim to make the best current medical information accessible by up to 3 billion professionals and patients around the world by 2020. As part of this project, all translations of the Manuals will be available online and kept current with the English version.

The Manuals are the product of a collaboration between hundreds of medical experts worldwide, an independent editorial board of peer reviewers, and an editorial staff of physicians and professional medical writers. For over 100 years, the Manuals have had complete editorial independence to present the best current thinking regarding medical diagnosis and treatment and do not in any way promote or publicize Merck or MSD products. To ensure the absence of commercial or corporate bias, authors and peer reviewers cannot be employees of Merck & Co., nor can they serve as speakers for Merck or MSD products, or in any other way represent the company. Although the editorial staff is employed by Merck & Co., there is no control, review, or even input into the content of The Manuals allowed from any other part of the company, including research and development, sales and marketing, public relations, legal, and corporate management.

It delights us here at DPL to be able to offer the Merck Manuals to our patrons.  This resource is free and reputable and we hope you’ll take a look at it when you find yourself with health & medicine questions.   (Also, if you click on the Merck Manual link on our webpage and scroll all the way to the bottom, there’s a link to the Veterinary Health Edition!)

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Our World War I Veterans: Service, Sacrifices, and Songs in the Trenches




February is Black History Month and we are fortunate to have local Black History on display here in Decatur Public Library.  Local historians Dr. Wylheme Ragland, James L. Nicholas, Jr., and Frederick D. Kennedy, have put together some very interesting displays in the cases right inside our entrances. The theme for their display is “Our World War I Veterans: Service, Sacrifices, and Songs in the Trenches”. The items – including photos, books, and certificates – pay tribute to two Morgan County men who fought for the United States during World War I.  We hope you’ll have a chance to stop by and take a look at these artifacts.  Below you will find a little more information about these brave men.   



Owen Fowler, 1894  -  1918
Born:  
30 March 1894, Hartselle, Morgan County, Alabama
Parents:          
Robert Fowler and Lassie Draper Fowler
Maternal Grandparents: 
John Draper and Lou Draper
Occupation before Enlistment:
Laborer, L & N Railroad, Albany, Alabama
Enlistment Date:
28 October 1917
Military Service:
Bugler, Company “E”, 366th Infantry
The United States Army
Killed in Action:
3 November 1918, France
World War I Gold Star Family
Internment: 
23 May 1921, Hartselle Missionary Baptist Church    Cemetery
French Honor:
Memorial Certificate, The Republic of France
Presented to Family,  King’s Memorial
Methodist Episcopal Church     
 






Curtis Allen Moseley, 1891 - 1928
Born:
2 April 1891, Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama
Parents:
Allen S. Moseley and Ida May Schaudies Moseley Bowen
Maternal Grandparents: 
Samuel Schaudies and Abbie Robinson Schaudies
Grandfather’s Occupation:
Boot and Shoe Maker Business, Decatur, Alabama
Paternal Grandparents: 
Coleman “Gola” Moseley and Sally Moseley
Grandfather’s Military Service: 
Company “K”, 111th, United States Colored Infantry
Union Soldier, The American Civil War
Draft Registration:
05 June 1917, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama (age 26)
Occupation before Enlistment: 
Chauffer and Musician
Induction/Enlistment:
26 April 1918, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Boot Camp:
Camp Custer, Michigan
Military Service:
Corporal
92 Division
350th Machine Gun Battalion
Death Date and Interment:
23 January 1928, Decatur City Cemetery