Key Findings from Literature Review
in AAAS Publication on Libraries

The following information is from The Challenge of Providing Consumer Health Information Services in Public Libraries, published by AAAS in June 2002. For information on obtaining a copy of the booklet, please contact lboesen@aaas.org.

• Consumers report that health information found through libraries is valuable and affects their health care decisions.
• Much of the health information available in print and in electronic formats is written for a level well above the individuals using it.
• Public libraries are important providers of consumer health information.
• There are lessons to be learned from libraries that have established a Consumer Health Information Service.
• Regional networks, consortia and other partnerships play an important role in meeting the health information needs of consumers.
• Hospital, health sciences and medical libraries are increasingly providing consumer health information services to the public.
• The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and other government agencies are valuable sources of consumer health information.

About Healthy People 2010

Healthy People 2010 is the prevention agenda for the Nation. It is a statement of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health and to establish national goals to reduce these threats.

http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/About/

About SEPA

The Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) Program encourages biomedical and/or behavioral scientists to work as partners with science museum educators, media experts, and other interested organizations on projects to improve the student (K-12) and the public understanding of the health sciences.

This Program Announcement (PA) is intended to support either the development (Phase I) or the dissemination (Phase II) of highly meritorious and innovative models for enhancing K-12 student and/or general public health science education.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-00-036.html

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