Health Literacy and Libraries

Health Literacy and Libraries
Author: Emily Vardell
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2024-02-27
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1538180804

This book brings together a diverse range of scholars and practitioners working at the nexus of health literacy work in libraries. This engaging resource presents a practical and accessible guide to meet the needs of librarians, health literacy researchers, and information and service professionals seeking to address health literacy needs in their communities. Through chapters offering multiple perspectives on the topic, the book covers specific types of literacy, such as mental health literacy and health insurance literacy, as well as timely applications, such as health misinformation. Chapters in this compilation also feature health literacy and the following communities: LGBTQ+, Latinx, Black, and Immigrants, Refugees, and Migrants. The book is full of numerous examples, thoughtful advice, and discussions addressing the challenges of working with adolescents and young adults, older adults, and parent caregivers of children with rare diseases. Each chapter starts with “Key Messages'' synthesizing the main points and concludes with a proposed set of “Discussion Questions'' to inspire further reflection and to facilitate health literacy conversations. Overall, the up-to-date coverage of health literacy in various contexts explored throughout the book will be beneficial to a range of stakeholders interested in health literacy work.

Growing Community Health Literacy through Libraries

Growing Community Health Literacy through Libraries
Author: Prudence W. Dalrymple
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 511
Release: 2020-08-24
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 3110396130

The capacity to understand and communicate health information is a major international health concern. Sponsored by the Health and Biosciences Section of International Federation of Library Associations, this book highlights the contribution that librarians are making to improving health literacy and enabling citizens to be active participants in the management of their own health. Knowledge is power and the World Health Organization recognizes that health literacy, involving effective access to and understanding of health information, is essential to health and well-being in society by empowering and enabling citizens to participate in their own healthcare. The book presents inspiring studies from an international group of authors showing how libraries and librarians are partnering with diverse sectors of society including universities, hospitals, public health clinics, community-based organisations, voluntary bodies and government agencies, to help citizens understand and manage their health. It provides guidance by example to suggest how libraries can help citizens participate in their healthcare and their communities by collaborating with others to increase health literacy in society.

The Medical Library Association Guide to Health Literacy

The Medical Library Association Guide to Health Literacy
Author: Marge Kars
Publisher:
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2008
Genre: Education
ISBN:

Helps you understand the role that medical, hospital, public, and health libraries are uniquely qualified to play in improving health literacy. This work teaches you ways to use collection development, the reference interview, community health information, and Web resources, as well as strategies for working with special needs populations.

Promoting Individual and Community Health at the Library

Promoting Individual and Community Health at the Library
Author: Mary Grace Flaherty
Publisher: American Library Association
Total Pages: 145
Release: 2018-11-30
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0838916279

Though today’s consumers have unprecedented access to health information, its quality and veracity varies widely. Public libraries can play an important role in supporting library users in their health information seeking efforts. In this book Flaherty shows how to guide library users to high quality health information by relying on up to date, authoritative sources. She also demonstrates why taking the initiative to offer health promotion programming can be a valuable form of community outreach, serving community needs while increasing visibility. Library directors, programming staff, reference librarians, and health educators will all benefit from this book’s patron-centered stance, which features a historic overview of the consumer health movement and how it intersects with public libraries;guidance on finding and evaluating the best print, electronic, and app-based health information sources, with advice on keeping up to date;an in-depth look at collaborative efforts to provide and sponsor simple health-related activities in public libraries, spotlighting programs in action at libraries across the county;instructions on creating, planning, preparing, marketing, and evaluating a public library health program;discussions of important issues surrounding health information provision efforts, including patron privacy and liability concerns; andguidelines for public libraries’ role in public health efforts, including disaster preparedness. Armed with this book’s expert advice and plentiful examples of successful initiatives, public libraries will feel empowered to make a difference in community members’ health and well-being.

Library Collaborations and Community Partnerships

Library Collaborations and Community Partnerships
Author: Vicki Hines-Martin
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2020-05-24
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0429799462

Library Collaborations and Community Partnerships illustrates the value of libraries and their resources through an array of alliances to improve health and enhance people's lives. It is unique in its illustration of key principles of collaboration, partner engagement, shared leadership, project development and outcomes measurement, as well as the challenges inherent in collaborations among diverse partners. The book includes collaboration exemplars focused on education, health, information literacy and capacity building for populations that experience access and resource disparities. It highlights the innovative use of existing assets, environments and diverse professions to broaden access to resources and information to those in need. The strategies, challenges, outcomes and lessons learned that are described in the volume have application for a variety of settings and populations. Highlighting the key role that libraries play in guiding successful interprofessional collaborations with communities, Library Collaborations and Community Partnerships should be of interest to academics, students and professionals engaged in library and information science, education, health care, social services and community organizations.

Libraries and the Affordable Care Act

Libraries and the Affordable Care Act
Author: Francisca Goldsmith
Publisher: American Library Association
Total Pages: 159
Release: 2015
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 0838912885

Ever since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, public library staff throughout the country have been working hard to provide access to information about the law while educating their communities about how implementation affects them. But defining the expectations and limitations of libraries’ roles regarding support of the new law remains a challenge. This important guide, the first written specifically for library staff, offers best practices, advice, and examples of library responses from the first open enrollment period (October 2013-March 2014). Offering clear and explicit guidance related to the ethical and legal aspects of Affordable Care Act policy support through local library services, this resource Analyzes the nearly 20 different state-level marketplace regulatory ecosystems to find common ground, then pathfinds the quickest routes to state-level information for each stateAddresses the diverse needs of public library communities in both urban and rural settings, while examining staff capacities at various librariesEncourages a pragmatic approach through the inclusion of “to do” lists at the end of each chapterProvides strategies and tools for building community healthcare awarenessPublished in advance of the second open enrollment period, this invaluable guide will encourage broader and more assured community support during this period of major policy changes to healthcare access and availability.

Health Information for Youth

Health Information for Youth
Author: W. Bernard Lukenbill
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 238
Release: 2007-10-30
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0313096279

Well-known authors, W. Bernard Lukenbill and Barbara Froling Immroth, provide an introduction to a difficult topic. This book covers the general status of youth healthcare, the issues and concerns providing a model of health delivery, and their relationship to the school and public library. Public and school librarians and their clientele will appreciate this straightforward approach to finding and selecting consumer information on health related topics. School librarians will find resources to help teachers who are being asked to teach consumer health classes. Students, librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers in need of information that addresses health issues encountered by youth will find it in this inclusive book on the topic. Public and school librarians will appreciate discussions of issues related to the general status of healthcare for youth, delivery systems, and locations of consumer information and methods to select and manage the collection of health information materials.

Consumer Health Information Services and Programs

Consumer Health Information Services and Programs
Author: M. Sandra Wood
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 179
Release: 2016-03-14
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1442262745

Consumer Health Information Programs and Services: Best Practices presents examples of successful and long-standing library programs and services that provide health information to consumers—the general public, patients, and families or patients – who seek information about health and diseases. This best practices volume brings together library programs and services currently offered in hospital libraries, public libraries, academic health sciences libraries, and standalone consumer health libraries, covering a range of topics and special programs. Advice and best practices provided by these experienced CHI librarians will help readers who are planning a new consumer health information service, or who are looking to upgrade and expand their current program or service. This best practices book will highlight successful library consumer health information programs and services, offering advice and tips about all aspects of providing health information to the general public and patients, from planning and establishing a CHI program, to offering specialized services to special populations. Readers will find both solid, tried-and-true methods for providing these services, as well as guidance on using newer, updated techniques to reach persons needing health information.

Health Literacy

Health Literacy
Author: R.A. Logan
Publisher: IOS Press
Total Pages: 496
Release: 2017-10-18
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 161499790X

While health literacy is a relatively new multidisciplinary field, it is vital to the successful engagement with and communication of health with patients, caregivers, and the public. This book ‘New Directions in Health Literacy Research, Theory, and Practice’ provides an introduction to health literacy research and practice and highlights similar scholarship in related disciplines. The book is organized as follows: the first chapter explains the still-evolving definition of health literacy; the next three chapters discuss developments and new directions in health literacy research, then a further two chapters are devoted to developments and new directions in health literacy theory. Two chapters explore health literacy interventions for vulnerable populations; four chapters cover health literacy leadership efforts; six chapters describe developments and new directions in disciplines that are similar to health literacy; and six chapters portray diverse health literacy practices. A preface from Richard Carmona M.D., the former U.S. Surgeon General, is included in the book. Although the book is intended primarily for health literacy researchers, practitioners and students, the diverse topics and approaches covered will be of interest to all healthcare and public health researchers, practitioners, and students, as well as scholars in related fields, such as health communication, science communication, consumer health informatics, library science, health disparities, and mass communication. As Dr. Carmona concludes in his preface: ‘This is essential reading for all health practitioners.’