No health insurance is required to receive support with finding health information from your local public library. Public libraries are great resources where patrons can access reliable health information due to their ability to reach people beyond formal health care settings. In this blog, I wanted to highlight a few public libraries who are doing great work in providing health literacy programming.Â
Through combining resources, libraries and health centers can better support marginalized communities who might not otherwise have access to health information. The programming at the South Philadelphia Library, a fully functional public library co-located with a community health center, is a great example of these concepts in action. For example, the library provides cooking classes in their teaching kitchen, has a nurse on staff who provides free health screenings, and helps patrons navigate health insurance sign-ups, including ACA and Medicaid. Because of the library’s location, patients can easily access support in seeking health information about their conditions after consulting their medical provider.
Other libraries are beginning to provide services in partnership with health organizations. Sacramento Public Library has partnered with Planned Parenthood to provide sexual health education cabinets stocked with free sexual health resources and products. Sacramento Public Library has also recently introduced a webpage dedicated to health literacy with linkage to community resources and provides a form for patrons to contact a health literacy specialist with their specific questions. These types of programs are essential to increasing access to health information for medically underserved communities because we can meet people where they are and provide them with the free resources they need to improve their health.
Are you a public library worker and want to expand your knowledge about consumer health services in libraries? Consider obtaining your Consumer Health Information Specialization, a free training opportunity through the Network of the National Library of Medicine, to become more familiar with health literacy strategies in public libraries and how you can meet the needs of your community!