November Preview: Celebrating Rural Health with NNLM

Posted by Sarah Levin-Lederer on October 15th, 2026 Posted in: Blog
Tags: resources, rural health

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November 19 is the 15^th annual Rural Health Day. Rural Health Day highlights and honors the incredible efforts of rural healthcare providers, communities, and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of rural America.

According to the CDC, more than 46 million Americans, or 15 percent of the U.S. population, live in rural areas as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

NNLM is celebrating rural health all month long with a series of webinars featuring subject matter experts, as well as resources you can use at any time.

Rural Health Webinar Series

Check out each session to see full descriptions, available CEs, and to register.

Rural Health, Libraries, and Alaska: Perspectives from the Far North

When: November 4, 2-3pm ET

Objectives:

• Identify Alaska’s unique barriers to the delivery of health information.
• Discuss strategies that rural libraries and communities can use to distribute health information.
• Design a plan to support your community’s rural health information needs.

Mapping Hope: Understanding Diseases of Despair and Strengthening Recovery Ecosystems in Appalachia

When: November 10, 1-2pm ET

Objectives:

• Discuss factors present in strong rural recovery ecosystems
• Describe the recovery ecosystem index and how to use the mapping tool

Pathways to Wellbeing: How Libraries are Addressing Rural Health Needs in their Communities

When: November 17, 1-2pm ET

Objectives:

• Identify strategies libraries are using to address health information needs in rural communities.
• Describe opportunities for partnerships and outreach that can strengthen rural health initiatives.
• Recognize approaches and resources that may be adapted to support rural health needs in their own communities.

Small Towns, Big Gaps: The State of Rural Oral Health

When: November 18, 1-2pm ET

Objectives:

• Describe disparities in oral health access and dental disease in rural communities in the U.S.
• Explain the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program and how some states are using this funding to improve oral health in rural communities
• Identify innovative practices rural dentists are adopting to reach patients who are most in need
• Locate state and local resources to support families as they seek dental care and optimize their oral health

Rural Health Resources

When: November 19, 1-2pm ET

Objectives:

• Describe current demographic trends in rural America.
• Explore data sets and visualizations from rural health resources.
• Locate information on health conditions, demographic groups and social issues.

NNLM Resources

NNLM Reading Club offers books, discussion guides, and supporting materials to help bring resources to you and your community. Reading Club Topic—Rural Health

Find links to trusted resources from NLM and partners on the NNLM Rural Health Resource Guide.