Libraries Leading Forward: Outreach Vehicles Engaged in Consumer Health Information Services and Literacy

The library system has been actively engaged in increasing its capacity for consumer health information services and health literacy programming over the course of the last two years. During the first year, focus had been on creating a cadre of library staff better prepared to offer consumer health information reference services and programming opportunities. During the second year, three librarians engaged with the library system's outreach vehicles have taken the lead in the system in providing consumer health information and actively providing extension services and programming through these vehicles to the communities served. The library system's outreach and extension services vehicles include two book mobiles and a library bike. This session will provide a framework of an initiative to increase health literacy and consumer health information services, expanding those services through the library's extension services (book mobiles), and developing new means of health literacy outreach with the new cargo book tricycle funded by grants specifically for consumer health information programming and community engagement.The first two panelists (one from the library and a representative from the national organization for consumer health information) will present on the initiation of the library system's process of staff development and training in preparation of expanding the capacity to perform consumer health information reference services and programming. This portion of the panel will contain information about the consumer health information specialization and other health literacy training offered for library staff, and includes discussion of the ways in which this library system has supported and promoted pursuit of the specialization among its staff.The next panelist will discuss the engagement of the pre-existing extension services resources in the form of the book mobiles and how their role evolved to increased focus on health information at their scheduled outreach sites and new resources incorporated into their program offerings. The panelist is a manager for the book mobiles, and will speak to the changes made in order to implement the consumer health information programming through the extension services vehicles.The final panelist will share the process for the acquisition of a new form of outreach mobile- the book trike. This panelist wrote the proposal funding the purchase of a cargo book tricycle and additional supplies and technology that has allowed a small, urban library to provide consumer health information services at locations within the community outside of the library branch.The panelists will all provide information about identifying the community needs for increased information services as outreach. The discussion will include the process of also identifying experts (individuals and organizations) in specific health information related roles and purposes with whom the outreach services were expanded. The program culminates with lessons learned from the first year implementation of the library vehicles for consumer health information services and outreach.

Lina Correa, Miami-Dade Public Library System

Athanasia Fitos, Miami-Dade Public Library System

Jarrod Irwin, National Networks of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM)

Jonathan Quinones, Miami-Dade Public Library System

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