Health Information in Public Libraries

1. Health Information in Public Libraries • Alison McAllister, North Ayrshire Libraries • Joan Black, South Ayrshire Libraries • Julia Harvey, East Ayrshire Leisure

2. ‘Gaun Yersel’ • The Scottish Government’s strategy for self-management, lists five stages where support is required: Diagnosis; Living for today; Progression; Transitions and End of life. • It specifically identified that it is vital that people living with long term conditions have support, and access to reliable, up-to-date information to enable them to manage their health, and their life, as well as they can.

3. Reading ‘good for health’ of ScotsScottish Household Survey 2011 Those who visited a museum or library were 20% more likely to report good health than those who had not.

4. Background • Existing partnership between Libraries and NHS Ayrshire & Arran • Self-Management Network • Health care partners were not aware of all that libraries offer or how library services can benefit their clients • Need to raise awareness

5. A flavour of our presentation • What we can offer to support self-management • Access to health information • Sign posting to health care partners • Information services 24/7 • Free access to computers and the Internet • Computer classes for beginners • Social opportunities • Libraries at the heart of the community • Libraries already providing: health information; community spaces; book/knitters groups; access to Internet and signposting • Already many links between libraries, NHS and other partners e.g. Macmillan, PPF, RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss • Reciprocal promotion and support of health and wellbeing projects in libraries

6. Scottish Government Public Library Improvement Fund • Public library services that have engaged with the Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix (PLQIM) self-evaluation process in the last five years are invited to apply for funding to develop projects that support: • Community Engagement • Health & Wellbeing

7. Aims • Raise awareness with community health professionals of the services that public libraries can offer their patients in the community; • Increase actual visits for libraries from health professionals, local groups and individuals seeking support; • Increase virtual visits to library websites and online resources, thus decreasing the cost per visit for these services; • A more holistic approach to health by introducing reader development techniques to patients and their carers; • Combating loneliness and isolation experienced by many with health issues who can visit a library and participate in activities and groups.

8. Projected Outcomes • An Ayrshire and Arran-wide health information and general service ‘offer’ from the three authorities; • Scoping of community health professionals using existing networks e.g. Self Management Network, Managed Clinical Network, Macmillan Cancer Information Services, Public Partnership Forum; • Devise a working group of library and community health professionals; • A marketing/promotion strategy to disseminate this ‘offer’; • Identification and engagement of other community health professionals; • A series of visits to libraries or presentations by library staff to groups of health professionals; • A hard copy and electronic version of a publicity leaflet for patients.

9. Who is involved? • Partners invited to general project meetings • One librarian from each of the three Ayrshire authorities • Self-Management Network Co-ordinator • Health Resources • Managed Conditions Network • Macmillan • Keep Well team • Voluntary organisations such as Voluntary Action South Ayrshire, The Ayrshire Community Trust and Volunteer Centre East Ayrshire • Core project team: • One librarian from each of the three Ayrshire authorities • The Self-Management Network Co-ordinator

10. Promotional material • A promotional brief was agreed which included a colourful credit card z-card, written in plain English, with accompanying posters, banner pens and pull-up banners for promotional events.

11. The project was launched at the Self-Management Network in May by the Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, John Burns, to around 70 delegates.

12. A programme of presentations has been made to around 260 NHS professionals, including: • Keep Well Team • Podiatry (Enablement and High Risk) • Speech and Language Therapists • Attendance at public/patient events including: • Strictly Seniors event run by Voluntary Action South Ayrshire • Diabetes Patient Conference in Ayr • Community Games in North Ayrshire • Tenant’s Family Fun Days in North and South Ayrshire

13. Phase Two • A funding application for phase two of the project has been successful • Purchase of “Reading Well Books on Prescription” to augment existing collections within the three library authorities. • Introduction of Health Information Buddies; volunteers who will promote the service to community groups.

14. Awards & Accolades • The project was put forward to the NHS Scotland Poster Exhibition, attended by around 1700 delegates, in June 2014. The project won its category ‘person-centred’ out of 87 posters and awarded a trophy by Alex Neil MSP for Health and Wellbeing. • The project featured as part of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS) annual conference in Dundee and around 70 delegates attended the presentation. • Alison McAllister of North Ayrshire is a finalist in North Ayrshire Council’s “Lightbulb Moment” Employee Recognition Award. • NHS Ayrshire & Arran was recently named Self-Management Supporting Board of the Year, one of six awards presented Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland (commonly known as the ALLIANCE), at a ceremony in the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Self-Management week.

15. Contacts Alison McAllister – North Ayrshire Libraries Systems and Support Officer amcallister@north-ayrshire.gsx.gov.uk Julia Harvey – East Ayrshire Leisure Systems and Support Officer Julia.Harvey@east-ayrshire.gsx.gov.uk Joan Black – South Ayrshire Libraries Lifelong Learning Librarian Joan.Black@south-ayrshire.gov.uk