Health information and health literacy: Public library practices, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

This poster reports on a study of 18 libraries in two public library systems in central Oklahoma. The project sought to gain an in-depth understanding of how libraries are contributing to health information access and health literacy. The poster reports on preliminary results in regard to three aspects of the study: library personnel's perspectives on the roles and responsibilities of libraries in reference to health information and literacy, how staff assisted patrons with health questions, and how they defined “health literacy.” This research highlights disparities in library staff's understanding of health literacy, as well as some of the problems they encounter as they disseminate health information.