Consumer Health and the Hospital Library- A Literacy Initiative

Abstract

ABSTRACTConsumer health is the latest buzzword in public librarianship. There is current research supporting integrating consumer health literacy initiatives into public libraries and that these initiatives are beneficial to public library patrons; however, there is very little research on integrating consumer health information and literacy into hospital libraries. The present study addresses the question of whether hospital patients have an interest and would be receptive to adding a clinical librarian to their health care provider team. Data collected from patrons in a hospital setting revealed that patients supported the addition of literacy care and instruction into direct patient care.