Past Funded Projects

At 12% proficiency, U.S. health literacy sets the population at disadvantage for consumer health outcomes and overall healthcare costs NCES, 2006; DHHS, 2017. While efforts exist for improvement via rewriting and training in plain language, these strategies are found to be limited pieces of a process that must be placed in a larger community context NNLM, 2018. Witnessed in this context is variance in access to health resources multiplied by effects of social determinants such as aging, low socio-economic and minority status.

Drake LRC wants older African Americans and students to make healthy choices and avoid risky healthcare behaviors. However, the potential pitfalls for senior 88 and students are great. Drake LRC proposes to make available through workshops and health fairs the content from the NLM databases to combat alcohol abuse, hypertension, eye care, diabetes, and other health topics that can promote good preventive healthcare.

Project HEAL will combine health literacy with English language instruction at the Trident Literacy Association TLA in Charleston, SC. TLA has provided comprehensive literacy programs, GED preparation, English as a Second Language ESL, Computer Basics, WorkKeys and Civics and Citizenship programming since 1972. Incorporating health literacy into the existing program provides a unique opportunity for students. TLA uses the South Carolina Adult ESL Handbook and ESL Scope and Sequence South Carolina Adult Education standards.

Remote Area Medical RAM Volunteer Corps at Gray, TN Nov 2-4, 2018 We will have a table with printed handouts on specific conditions and general wellness for the patients waiting to receive medical care. We will also search onsite for individual consumer health questions. We will also have consumer health forms if someone wants us to search more in depth on a topic.

As one of the largest consumers of healthcare, senior 88 are often left behind as new technologies are introduced to support patient engagement. The goal of The Connect to your Health wellness fair project was to provide an interactive educational experience to connect the 89 living in the Town of Southampton to online health-related resources. A collaborative effort between Stony Brook University, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, and the Town of Southampton Senior Centers helped drive this project forward.

Remote Area Medical RAM Volunteer Corps at Wise, VA July 20-22, 2018 We will provide consumer health information request forms and Medline Plus promotional materials to assist the medical providers at RAM. In previous years, we typically have sent information on 400+ consumer health questions.

A two-topic set of programs to promote healthy communities. The initial programs would be part of a planned on-going series aimed at addressing the issues of mental health and health impacts of climate change in our communities. Education and information would be provided from and promotion of the National Library of Medicine and the Research Program

The Cranston Public Library's mission is to bring people, information, and ideas together to enrich lives and strengthen the community. Our community includes a growing number of immigrants and new citizens who are facing language and technology barriers when it comes to acquiring health information and resources. In order to lower that barrier, the library is proposing new technology enhancements in order to communicate health information to its users, with a particular emphasis on ESL learners, through interactive visuals.

Public libraries are known for being community centered institutions providing equitable access to information and resources. Seen as trusted members of the community and the go-to for information, public librarians play an important role in improving individuals access to health information and overall well-being. Through this project we will assess the information needs of pubic librarians within Memphis to better inform our efforts to meet NNLMs goal of improving access to information enabling community members to make more informed health decisions.

Involve local stakeholders in the Rotary effort to promote community-based education on preventing substance abuse/addiction at the local level in all New England states CT, MA, ME, NH, RI and VT. Addiction prevention and treatment resources from the National Library of Medicine will be used in conjunction with the the Addiction Prevention Toolkits from Edventi.

In recognition of the issues of homelessness, mental health, and poverty-related health disparities that exist for many residents in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield and surrounding areas, The Mason Square Branch Library and its community health partners seek to compile and evaluate health data on these topics in order to develop the tools and training necessary to better serve 88 and 87 in our community.

Nahant, Massachusetts is a small, coastal community with an aging population. One or more chronic conditions are typical to this age group. Nahant Public Library would like to update its aging computers, laptops and e-readers and enhance them with shortcut links to trusted health information portals such as the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus and the National Institutes of Health's Research Program.

This project will update the collections and technology at the Campton Public Library to support a healthier and well informed community. Additionally, we would have informational packets that show patrons where they can find reliable health information including from the National Library of Medicine. Also, laminated copies of important information provided by medical specialists referring to common ailments, and the best ages to have preventative care and testing done.

The goal of the proposed "Essentials" workshop project is to guide older 88, as well as their families and caregivers, in the identification, evaluation, and use of essential online resources for informed consumer health decision-making. The Westchester Library System WLS will deliver a series of workshops to engage and educate older 88 in the use of online health information resources available from the National Library of MedicineNLM and other selected providers.