Public Library Spotlight: Juanita Harrell, Health & Wellness Librarian, Oak Park Public Library

Posted by Bobbi Newman on August 28th, 2018 Posted in: Public Libraries, Public Libraries Spotlight
Tags: libs4health, oak park public library, public libraries and health

Name: Juanita Harrell

Title: Health & Wellness Librarian

Education: MLIS Dominican University

How did you become interested in focusing on Health and Wellness?

I’ve always been interested in Health & Wellness & was given the opportunity to make it my area of concentration.

Why is health literacy important in your community?

Making information available and accessible to the general public about health and wellness is beneficial to both the providers of services and the members of the community.

What’s different with a health reference interview?

In a health reference interview you have to take into consideration the sensitivity of the information that the patron is seeking. You also have to be able to give information without giving actual advice.

What’s the impact that you hope to make in your community?

To introduce our patrons to information and services that they may have not been aware of. Also to introduce providers to a new or different clientele.

What is your favorite health related program or outreach that you’ve done?

I’m new to my position so I don’t have a favorite yet. The month of September will have a lot going on. The local food co-op is doing a presentation on bulk shopping and herbs and spices, a local yoga sanctuary is starting a monthly midday meditation and several physicians are doing presentations on advocacy, gi health, and allergies.

ABOUT Bobbi Newman
Bobbi Newman (MLIS, MA) is the Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist for NNLM R6 at the University of Iowa. She is the author of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Guide for Libraries. She developed the popular NNLM course “Wellness in the Library Workplace.” Bobbi is a mindfulness student and a member of Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). She currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board for Let’s Move in Libraries. She divides her time between her dog, reading fantasy and nonfiction, playing video games, crafting, kayaking, biking, and gardening.

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