In this module, an article that stuck with me was Cory Greenwood’s, Healthy Library, Healthy Life. The article explore the “Libraries for Health and Wellbeing” framework for Victorian public libraries, which boils down to libraries having the ability to develop partnerships with organizations that can in turn support their communities health and wellbeing (Greenwood, 2024).
Something that I love about libraries is how versatile they are. How they are not merely buildings that house books, but are places where members of the community can go when looking for information on resources or services available to them either through the library itself or through local organizations, among other things. Greenwood (2022) declares that “Libraries can play a critical role in improving some of the detriments of health (for example, employment, education, housing, socioeconomic status and access to technology) through programs and services that equip communities with the necessary skills, information and confidence needed to manage their own health and wellbeing.” I think many of us have the lived experience of not knowing where to start when searching for information on health and wellbeing resources or services. I am certain that many of us do not go or have not gone seeking for resources or services because we fear what the cost may be. I know I often fear the financial burden of things that are for my health and wellbeing.
Libraries are in a unique position where in developing partnerships with local organizations, they might be able to provide these needed resources or services that are cost free to community members. At the library where I work I have seen organizations provide free tax services, voter registration, family circles, and a multitude of flyers from different organizations that patrons can reach out to for a number of things. Going back to the idea of the participatory library and participatory service that I explored in Assignment X, by developing a partnership with local organizations regarding health and wellbeing, libraries can also be informed by these organizations on what it is that members of the community would be interested in terms of programming and services. After all, when looking out for the health and wellbeing of our communities, programming like crafts, knitting clubs, storytimes, etc., are a way to bring the community together and give people the opportunity to engage with others. Something that they might not do outside of their home.
Last summer I saw how kids who were not necessarily from the same grade or school became friends and spent the summer attending our programming and activities together. In recent months, our monthly Lotería program has a good number of attendees (including my mom who from what she has said to me, I gather that most, if not all, the women who attend enjoy it because they get to interact with other people. Our knitting club has also recently started to get a good a number of people and it is yet again something we offer that allows people to spend time with others.
Life is hard, but libraries have the ability to help their communities find resources and services that can help promote health and wellbeing. Perhaps making life just a little bit easier. Our biggest task after nurturing partnerships with organizations is making sure that the people of our communities know that we can provide them with the information or service.
References
Cory Greenwood. (2022). Healthy library, healthy life. In Incite (Sydney) (Vol. 43, Issue 6, pp. 24–24). Australian Library and Information Association.
Hey Stephanie,
Thanks for your post. You really highlight how libraries have evolved from simply a place for books and that they truly are centers for connection–not only to information or resources but people and community. This also connects nicely with our more recent module about bringing fun to the library and learning through play/fun. Libraries really are a unique place of service!
I agree that libraries are so important to help improve the community’s health. What Greenwood points out is so true. Employment resources are necessary. In my county, we provide some job resources, but it is inspiring to see job and career centers like the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library. They have a YouTube channel with helpful videos, such as Careers in Automotive Technology and LinkedIn Job Search. A patron came in at my library, and our library assistant helped him print his resume. Even though we only allow ten prints for free, they gave him extra copies because they knew he was in need.
The free tax service program is a great example of a partnership. We should look more to local businesses for partnerships so we can support each other. The businesses will get to advertise their company as they provide a free service to the community.
@stephandbooks The health and wellbeing part of this is so striking to me. It just makes so much sense to have those partnerships and offer for example healthcare items that someone can come into the library and pick up. As we often hear public libraries are one of the only places you can enter for free and access all of the services.