Location
Paper Session #1b: Communities and Inclusion
Start Date
11-10-2019 11:10 AM
End Date
11-10-2019 11:20 AM
Type of Work
Presentation
Description
Title: Health Sciences Libraries: Supporting Public Libraries Supporting All of Us
Objective: Public libraries are known for being community-centered institutions providing equitable access to information and resources, playing an important role in improving individuals' access to health-related information. This project aimed to examine the perceived role and current practices of inner-city public librarians in delivering health-related information to members of their community.
Methods: An online survey was created using Qualtrics and distributed to branch libraries within a single library system serving diverse socioeconomic and demographic groups. The survey consisted of eighteen multiple choice and open-ended questions. Information was collected around four domains: demographics, perception of the role of public libraries in proving health-related information, current practices in providing health-related information, and perceived need for training to better support patrons with health information access. Both quantitative and qualitative assessments were conducted from the responses.
Results: 64 completed survey responses were collected from thirteen of the eighteen branch libraries surveyed. Understanding medical jargon, communicating with patrons, and limited availability of print resources were noted as being the top challenges in providing health-related information to patrons. When asked for health-related information, the majority of respondents reported consulting books from the library catalog as their go-to resources. 96% of respondents indicated that library employees need training on health literacy and ways to effectively provide health-related information to patrons.
Conclusions: Survey results indicated that many library workers believe public libraries play a significant role in providing equitable access to health-related information to patrons. However, many of respondents reported a need or want for additional training regarding available resources for finding adequate health-related information online. This study shows there is opportunity for health sciences libraries to partner with public libraries on programming and training needs in order to better support the needs of our communities.
Health Sciences Libraries: Supporting Public Libraries Supporting All of Us
Paper Session #1b: Communities and Inclusion
Title: Health Sciences Libraries: Supporting Public Libraries Supporting All of Us
Objective: Public libraries are known for being community-centered institutions providing equitable access to information and resources, playing an important role in improving individuals' access to health-related information. This project aimed to examine the perceived role and current practices of inner-city public librarians in delivering health-related information to members of their community.
Methods: An online survey was created using Qualtrics and distributed to branch libraries within a single library system serving diverse socioeconomic and demographic groups. The survey consisted of eighteen multiple choice and open-ended questions. Information was collected around four domains: demographics, perception of the role of public libraries in proving health-related information, current practices in providing health-related information, and perceived need for training to better support patrons with health information access. Both quantitative and qualitative assessments were conducted from the responses.
Results: 64 completed survey responses were collected from thirteen of the eighteen branch libraries surveyed. Understanding medical jargon, communicating with patrons, and limited availability of print resources were noted as being the top challenges in providing health-related information to patrons. When asked for health-related information, the majority of respondents reported consulting books from the library catalog as their go-to resources. 96% of respondents indicated that library employees need training on health literacy and ways to effectively provide health-related information to patrons.
Conclusions: Survey results indicated that many library workers believe public libraries play a significant role in providing equitable access to health-related information to patrons. However, many of respondents reported a need or want for additional training regarding available resources for finding adequate health-related information online. This study shows there is opportunity for health sciences libraries to partner with public libraries on programming and training needs in order to better support the needs of our communities.