Harris, R., Henwood, F., Marshall, A., & Burdett, S. (2010). "I'm Not Sure If That's What Their Job Is" Consumer Health Information and Emerging "Healthwork" Roles in the Public Library. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 49(3), 239-252. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
This article discussed the need for public librarians to understand how to "locate, retrieve, understand, cope with, and use" health related information. While libraries already deal with health related questions frequently, this article suggests that the political state of the medical world may require citizens to become more responsible for their own health. The article seemed especially relevant, since I know MCPL is having an IU science librarian come to speak about health information in November.
The study finds that about 80% of health consumers find health information online, but the internet doesn't have everything they need, or may not meet a quality standard that can provide an unbiased opinion. While librarians can't offer any definitive answers to health-related questions, the hope is that they can direct these information seekers to "trusted sources that will aid them to work with their health care providers." In the U.S., very few libraries have health information centers relative to the popularity of the topic.
The study was conducted in a British library that emphasizes self-service, and was a survey designed to determine what the public believes librarians should do concerning health information. While many respondents admitted that they had searched the internet for answers to their questions first, and while only 27% said they would be "most likely" to turn to the library for answers to health questions, the public library was second only to a person's doctor as the most trusted source of information. Because of the self-service attitude in this library, most of the respondents didn't expect help with their questions, just access to reliable, up-to-date sources. The library was accepted as a safe place to seek information without the fear that accompanies consulting a doctor.
