Have you ever had your doctor tell you that you have a condition, hand you a pamphlet, and then send you on your way? What do you do when you want to know more about it? There is a lot of great information on the internet, but I guarantee that googling a word such as “arthritis” will bring back over 66 million results- many of which are paid advertisements.
There is a vast wealth of information available online (obviously- look where you’re reading this!), but not everyone knows where or how to search online, or how to distinguish reputable sites from those with an agenda. Librarians aren’t the people to explain your symptoms to or ask for a diagnosis, but the library can be a good place to take your health search.
There are up-to-date books that you can photocopy or take home. If you want to do an online search, a librarian will refer you to some really great, free sites where you can get unbiased research results. Also, there are often programs hosted at the library by medical experts about topics of interest.
Jefferson County Library recently received an LSTA grant, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Missouri State Library, which allowed us to update our consumer health books. To showcase our new collection, we are also hosting a wealth of health-related programs this summer, too.
Check out the library’s website for more information, but some of the programs include free glaucoma tests for adults and amblyopia tests for children, free glucose and cholesterol screenings, tips for healthy eating on a budget, and much more. Remember- the library is not just full of books- it’s full of information.
