Public Health and Public Libraries: Librarians as Health Literacy First Responders Lydia N. Collins Consumer Health Coordinator (NN/LM MAR) Anita Kinney Data Analyst, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System Christian I.J. Minter NLM Associate Fellow

Health Literacy: Why Is It Important?

What is Health Literacy? “The degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions.” Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Title V

Health Literacy is…

“Cost” of Low Health Literacy 36% of the U.S. adult population (87 million people) have basic or below basic health literacy. Low health literacy costs the U.S. approximately $106 billion to $236 billion annually. URLURL for The Health Literacy of America’s Adults Report (2006) URLURL for Low Health Literacy: Implications for National Policy (2007)

Seeking Health Information Online URLURL for Pew Health Online 2013

Realities of Health Care Today… 1972 – Patient Bill of Rights Patients are now asked to make decisions about their own disease process. Most patients do not have the tools to make these kinds of decisions

Public librarians are well-equipped to respond to this health literacy crisis: Offer skills as searchers & evaluators of information Provide free access to health information Instruct on finding, evaluating, and using quality information Host community programs Connect patrons to local social & health services

Health Literacy & Your Community

Measles 2015 URL URL for 2015 Measles Cases in the U.S. (CDC)

Herd Immunity URLURL for Community Immunity (Vaccines.gov) Measles cases are increasing in the US because herd immunity has effectively been reduced through low vaccination rates. “Herd immunity” is the term used to describe the containment of contagious diseases through widespread immunization.

Opting Out of Vaccines Childhood vaccinations have decreased due to “fading memory of vaccine-preventable diseases, adverse media coverage, and misinformation on the Internet” (American Journal of Public Health, 2008) 33% of parents believe that “vaccinations cause autism” (National Consumers League, 2014)

Changing Health Behaviors through Education Prenatal and postnatal care can drastically affect a child’s development: children’s librarians can make a difference! Photo credit: Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

Health Disparities Between Communities Latina women have the highest rate of children affected by spina bifida This is a neural tube defect linked to low folic acid consumption during pregnancy. Spina bifida was reduced in Hispanic communities through effective public health campaigns. Photo Credit: medicalxpress.com

What is Health Promotion? “Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health”.

Public Libraries as First Responders

PA Forward–Healthy Communities URLURL for PA Compendium News Article on PA Forward Health Literacy

Public Libraries and Health Initiatives URLURL for Colorado State Library Health Initiative Information

ALA- Movers and Shakers 2015 URLURL for Library Journal Article “I don’t just want to be a positive influence,” he says. “I want to change the trajectory of individuals, families, and communities. Our job isn’t to soften the negative effects of the status quo—it’s to change the status quo.” -Ignacio Albarracin

Discover New Resources! Library guides with actions and reflection questions to support health-related services Media kit with Communications Guide and free Health Happens in Libraries image files Profiles of state and public libraries taking action on community health URLURL For Health Happens in Libraries

NLM and NN/LM (Training/Resources/Fundin g)

NN/LM & The Birth of Consumer Health Outreach

NN/LM Mission URLURL for Public Libraries Community Partners Implementation: Training Funding New RML staff position Exhibiting Expanded to include: Outreach to the general public Focus on special and underserved populations Collaborations with public libraries, community and faith-based organizations

Outreach to Public Libraries Continues

NN/LM Health Information Resource Training URLURL for NN/LM Training Page

Support from Your Regional Medical Library URLURL for NN/LM Funding Information

NN/LM MAR: Region 1 Cooking for Good Health Laurel, DE

NN/LM SE/A: Region 2 A Simple Plan (Rural TN) URLURL for A Simple Plan Info Inspiring People in Our Region (Georgetown, SC) URLURL for SE/A Newsletter Article URLURL for NLM In Focus Article

NN/LM MCR: Region 4

NN/LM SCR: Region 5

NN/LM PSR: Region 7 Help Yourself to Reliable Health Information: eHealth Training for Public Libraries Rural Libraries throughout California URLURL for Consumer Health Toolkit URLURL to eHealth Training Presentation URLURL to eHealth Broadband Compendium

NN/LM NER: Region 8