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Health Information in Public Libraries
Alison McAllister, North Ayrshire Libraries
Joan Black, South Ayrshire Libraries
Julia Harvey, East Ayrshire Leisure
‘Gaun Yersel’ • The Scottish Government’s strategy for self-management,
lists five stages where support is required: Diagnosis; Living
for today; Progression; Transitions and End of life.
• It specifically identified that it is vital that people living with
long term conditions have support, and access to reliable,
up-to-date information to enable them to manage their
health, and their life, as well as they can.
Reading ‘good for health’ of ScotsScottish Household Survey 2011
Those who visited a museum or library were 20% more likely to report good health than those who had not.
Background• Existing partnership between Libraries and NHS
Ayrshire & Arran
• Self-Management Network
– Health care partners were not aware of all that libraries
offer or how library services can benefit their clients
– Need to raise awareness
A flavour of our presentation Libraries at the heart of the community
Libraries already providing: health information; community spaces; book/knitters groups; access to Internet and signposting
Already many links between libraries, NHS and other partners e.g. Macmillan, PPF, RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss
Reciprocal promotion and support of health and wellbeing projects in libraries
What we can offer to support self-management
Access to health information
Sign posting to health care partners
Information services 24/7
Free access to computers and the Internet
Computer classes for beginners
Social opportunities
Scottish Government Public Library Improvement Fund
Public library services that have engaged with the Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix (PLQIM) self-evaluation process in the last five years are invited to apply for funding to develop projects that support:
• Community Engagement
• Health & Wellbeing
Aims• Raise awareness with community health professionals of the services that
public libraries can offer their patients in the community;
• Increase actual visits for libraries from health professionals, local groups and individuals seeking support;
• Increase virtual visits to library websites and online resources, thus decreasing the cost per visit for these services;
• A more holistic approach to health by introducing reader development techniques to patients and their carers;
• Combating loneliness and isolation experienced by many with health issues who can visit a library and participate in activities and groups.
Projected Outcomes
• An Ayrshire and Arran-wide health information and general service ‘offer’ from the
three authorities;
• Scoping of community health professionals using existing networks e.g. Self
Management Network, Managed Clinical Network, Macmillan Cancer Information
Services, Public Partnership Forum;
• Devise a working group of library and community health professionals;
• A marketing/promotion strategy to disseminate this ‘offer’;
• Identification and engagement of other community health professionals;
• A series of visits to libraries or presentations by library staff to groups of health
professionals;
• A hard copy and electronic version of a publicity leaflet for patients.
Who is involved?Partners invited to general project meetings
One librarian from each of the three Ayrshire authoritiesSelf-Management Network Co-ordinatorHealth ResourcesManaged Conditions NetworkMacmillanKeep Well teamVoluntary organisations such as Voluntary Action South Ayrshire, The Ayrshire Community
Trust and Volunteer Centre East Ayrshire
Core project team:
One librarian from each of the three Ayrshire authoritiesThe Self-Management Network Co-ordinator
Promotional materialA promotional brief was agreed which included a colourful credit card z-card, written in plain English, with accompanying posters, banner pens and pull-up banners for promotional events.
The project was launched at the Self-Management Network in May by the Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, John
Burns, to around 70 delegates.
A programme of presentations has been made to around 260 NHS
professionals, including:
• Keep Well Team• Podiatry (Enablement and High Risk)• Speech and Language Therapists
Attendance at public/patient events including:
• Strictly Seniors event run by Voluntary Action South Ayrshire• Diabetes Patient Conference in Ayr• Community Games in North Ayrshire• Tenant’s Family Fun Days in North and South Ayrshire
Phase TwoA funding application for phase two of the
project has been successful
• Purchase of “Reading Well Books on Prescription” to augment existing collections within the three library authorities.
• Introduction of Health Information Buddies; volunteers
who will promote the service to community groups.
Awards & Accolades• The project was put forward to the NHS Scotland Poster Exhibition, attended by around 1700 delegates, in June 2014.
The project won its category ‘person-centred’ out of 87 posters and awarded a trophy by Alex Neil MSP for Health and Wellbeing.
• The project featured as part of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS) annual conference in Dundee and around 70 delegates attended the presentation.
• Alison McAllister of North Ayrshire is a finalist in North Ayrshire Council’s “Lightbulb Moment” Employee Recognition Award.
• NHS Ayrshire & Arran was recently named Self-Management Supporting Board of the Year, one of six awards presented Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland (commonly known as the ALLIANCE), at a ceremony in the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Self-Management week.
ContactsAlison McAllister – North Ayrshire Libraries
Systems and Support [email protected]
Julia Harvey – East Ayrshire LeisureSystems and Support Officer
Joan Black – South Ayrshire LibrariesLifelong Learning Librarian
