Libraries Transform: Health Literacy Toolkit

Posted by Carolyn Martin on September 18th, 2017 Posted in: Health Literacy, News from NNLM, Public Libraries

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Many Americans remain unable to understand how to take their medication, use a web browser rather than a trusted website for finding health information, or do not believe the importance of disease prevention efforts due to misinformation they’ve heard or seen. Poor health and poor health outcomes have often been linked to low rates of health literacy. Libraries have been instrumental in supporting health literacy efforts such as providing health related programs, recommending trusted health information resources, and providing information in other languages. We here, at the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Pacific Northwest Region (NNLM PNR), want to support your health literacy efforts in making quality health information accessible for all.

October is Health Literacy Month.

Whether your organization decides to highlight health literacy in October or all year long, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) and the American Library Association (ALA) have partnered through the Libraries Transform public awareness campaign to create a free toolkit for health literacy to assist libraries in guiding their patrons to quality health information so they are better equipped to engage in their health.

The campaign is an initiative designed to increase public awareness of the value, impact, and services provided by libraries and library professionals. The Health Literacy Toolkit provides an array of materials including program ideas, downloadable social media graphics, and bookmark templates for libraries to use to promote health and wellness in their communities.

Learn more about the Libraries Transform campaign and access the Health Literacy Toolkit and look for our upcoming Dragonfly posts, in October, focusing on health literacy.