Let’s Move! Fitness Programming in Public Libraries

ABSTRACT

Public libraries increasingly offer fitness programming, which includes yoga, running groups, and story times that involve exercise. This article assesses this trend by 1) analyzing the social forces that have led this programming to increase and 2) reviewing the literature about this programming. Fitness programming is being designed for all ages and abilities, and has benefits both for individuals and for communities. The article also reports on ongoing efforts to map the current state of fitness programming in North American public libraries, as well as to develop tools to better assess and develop this programming.

KEYWORDS:

• Assessment
• health
• programs
• wellness

Notes

1. For additional examples, visit http://www.letsmovelibraries.org/, the website for this project.

2. More information on these awardees can be located on the Urban Libraries Council’s website, http://www.urbanlibraries.org/top-innovators-publications-pages-197.php.

3. For more information on these and other examples cited in the text, visit www.letsmovelibraries.org

4. See http://www.kellogghubbard.org/storywalk.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Noah Lenstra

Noah Lenstra is an assistant professor of library and information studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He received his PhD from the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science. His research and teaching focus on community engagement and community informatics in libraries and archives.