The Medical Library Association Guide to Providing Consumer and Patient Health Information

Abstract

It is evident from the first chapter that the writers of The Medical Library Association Guide to Providing Consumer and Patient Health Information have put together a valuable and comprehensive resource, one that steers their fellow librarians through the process of starting and maintaining a consumer health resource collection. Its thirteen chapters are full of sound advice and valuable guidance from beginning to end. The first chapter on the history of consumer and patient health librarianship by Michele Spatz immediately makes the point that the rise in availability of consumer health information is “intertwined in the history of medicine itself” (p. 1). Medicinal knowledge was for a long time the secret provenance of physicians. Only recently was medicine translated into language that the average person could understand. As patients and consumers became more involved in making their own decisions, the need for more and more information that they could understand grew as well. Patient-centered care spawned the need for patient health information. The next few chapters address the “nuts and bolts” of putting together a consumer health library, beginning with Nicole Dettmar, AHIP, writing about “Where to Start? Needs Assessment.” Dettmar outlines a plan to evaluate the requirements of starting the new venture and gives a couple of helpful case studies as examples. Mary Grace Flaherty, AHIP, writes about strategic planning in a straightforward manner, taking the angst out of what can be a daunting task. Cara Marcus, AHIP, then takes you through the “Bricks and Mortar” of building your new library, including everything from office supplies to grants and awards. Chapters 5 through 7 cover the important aspects of consumer-friendly technology, staffing, and health information reference service. Case studies and examples are found throughout these chapters, as are charts and graphs that help you organize your plan. There are also very useful tips on funding the venture to build your consumer health library. After the chapters on the practical aspects of starting your consumer health library, the book addresses how to reach out to and connect with the consumers themselves. Barbara Bibel and Michele Spatz offer advice on the ethics of providing patrons with health information. Perhaps the most important point is the reminder that librarians are not physicians and cannot offer medical advice, only information (p. 122). Michelle Kraft, AHIP, covers social media and its use in outreach, as well as any concerns and risks involved. Linda Stahl writes one of the most important chapters, regarding the information needs of “diverse groups” that include children, those with low literacy levels, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered (LGBT) community. Although there is now more information for these groups than in previous years, it can still be a challenge to find useful and relevant information. Stahl also discusses ways to handle delicate reference interviews, especially with children and with teens who might be wary of trusting adults at the same time that they are looking to them for answers. Donna McCloskey, AHIP, continues in this vein with her chapter on cultural sensitivity. Chapters 12 and 13 again address practical topics, but ones that some librarians find particularly challenging. Marketing the library and forming strategic partnerships are not always in a librarian’s “comfort zone,” yet you must do them to ensure the success of your library. Ideas are presented for reaching out to consumers and stake holders to find both users and supporters. Storytelling, branding, and embedding yourself within your organization are just a few of the ideas from these chapters. The Medical Library Association Guide to Providing Consumer and Patient Health Information is well written and full of constructive and timely advice. Any librarians thinking of starting a consumer health or patient health information collection would be wise to use it as the roadmap for their new venture.