Class Overview

Beyond an Apple a Day: Providing Consumer Health Information at Your Library

This hands-on class will cover the health information seeking behavior of consumers and the role of the librarian in the provision of health information for the public. Come learn about the evolution of consumer health, health literacy and the e-patient. Participants will be equipped with knowledge of top consumer health sites, e-patient resources and collection development core lists. We will discuss creative ideas for health information outreach. The class will wrap up with an opportunity to explore effective marketing approaches and develop an elevator speech.

Objectives:

This class teaches you the basics of providing consumer health information at your library. We will cover:
•History and evolution of consumer health
•Challenges of providing consumer health information at your library
•Planning a consumer health service
•Collection development
•Consumer health on the internet
•The reference interview
•Ethics
•Outreach
•Project development / marketing