A Bridge to Health Literacy for Denver - Denver Public Library

Abstract

Health information is recognized as one of the most vital community needs. The Library is well positioned to begin addressing the challenges to the continuity of its health information resources and services: • Lack of standardized expectations for librarians and educational program assistants who are charged with providing these services • The limited number of staff capable of providing health information training and outreach • The Library’s limited ability to draw those who need the training into the classes

The “Bridge to Health Literacy” project is designed to address these challenges through: • Development and implementation of a core curriculum for Library staff who are providing health information to the public • raining of a cadré of staff capable of providing effective health information reference, training and outreach • Development of a hands-on training service that would use a suite of laptop computers to send specially trained staff into the community to introduce the public to quality electronic health information • Implementation of a health information outreach program for senior and low-income adults living in proximity to the Central Library and the Schlessman Branch Library • Exploration of ways to introduce this outreach and training to minority and non-English speaking populations residing near the Ford Warren and Montbello Branch Libraries