Community, Family and Health Literacyin the Public Library

Susannah Connor, MLSKara Mills, Knowledge River Scholar, SIRLS

• 2008 – Present: Fit for Life Programs

• 2012 – Leader of countywide Health Information Literacy Team

• 2012 – Library Nurse Program

• 2013 – Health Literacy Project

PCPL & Health Initiatives

• Build capacity for health literacy

• Develop sustainable programs & partners

• Determine the needs Pima County residents

PCPL Objectives

• Partner with the National Library of Medicine

• Focus on women’s health literacy

• Changes & Challenges

Project Overview

• Online – 125 responses• Print Survey – 582 responses

• Major health concerns: diabetes, heart disease, nutrition, mental health, stroke, autism, among others.

The Survey

• diabetes• healthcare access• hypertension• childhood illnesses• general nutrition

Matching Needs to Library Branches

Matching Needs to Library Branches

• heart disease• stroke• Alzheimer’s• dementia• other aging

concerns

• Use survey results to determine programs

• Presentations

• Skills Development Workshops

Programming

Potential Programs and Partners

• Diabetes Prevention Program

• Sarver Heart Center• Department of

Nutritional Sciences• College of Medicine• College of Nursing • Health Promotion

Sciences/Center for Rural Health

• Provide health services

• Children’s Storytime Kits

• Fitness & Movement Kits

• Health Information Literacy Kits

Programming Kits

Plans for the future

Susannah.Connor@pima.gov Kara.Mills@pima.gov