Health Information and Health Literacy: Public Library Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities

ABSTRACT

This study investigated 18 libraries in two public library systems in Oklahoma to find out how they are addressing health literacy and facilitating access to consumer health information; how library staff members view their roles and responsibilities relative to health information and health literacy; what challenges libraries face; and what strategies are being used. Staff members recognized several challenges to providing health information and to developing programs, including staff and patron difficulties with reference interviews, and patron lack of awareness of library resources. Staff members often had only a partial understanding of health literacy, and were unaware of system strategies to address health literacy or provision of health information.

KEYWORDS:

• Health information
• health literacy
• public health
• public libraries

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ellen L. Rubenstein

Ellen L. Rubenstein is an Assistant Professor at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma. She has a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois, and an M.L.S. from Indiana University. Her research encompasses access to health information and health literacy in public libraries and online communities.