Roxanne Dupuis

“Our Doors Are Open to Everybody”: Public Libraries as Common Ground for Public Health

A fundamental problem of American cities is that they are highly Bsorted,^ with people divided by race, class, age, religion, and ethnicity, according to the urban scholar Mindy Fullilove [1]. Philadelphia is no exception, as one of the fivemost segregated of the 100 largest US cities [2]. In Philadelphia, as in cities across the USA, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and even supermarkets often reflect these stark demographic, cultural, and social divides, leaving few opportunities for people to interact with others from different backgrounds [3–6]. Public libraries may be able to help address this limiting feature of urban life, according to results from a community needs assessment we conducted in Philadelphia. In street intercept interviews with 77 residents [11], participants expressed how the city’s diversity was both an asset and a challenge—and they saw a role for the library in fostering intergroup relationships and understanding. This finding was particularly compelling because of its relevance across the USA, where there are over 9000 public libraries, which host over 1.5 billion visits annually [7]. Public libraries are free and open to all, and are seen by nine out of ten Americans as valuable to community life [8]. This shared view is remarkable at this moment of deep cultural and political strife. Many of our interviews were conducted in South Philadelphia, the site of a new Community Health and Literacy Center that combines a ground floor public library, adult and pediatric health clinics, and a recreation center. With over 20% of residents reporting being foreign born, South Philadelphia is one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods [9]. Many neighborhood residents spoke of a desire for increased intercultural exchange, improved access to English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, and sustained support for refugees and immigrant families. They saw the public library as a logical site for all of these activities. One community resident discussed the need to strengthen Bethnic relations,^ and Bbring all the cultures together to sit down to talk, maybe hash out stereotypes or perceived stereotypes that they have about each other and just flatten it out so we can all have a better understanding of who we are^ (Fig. 1). Many of the residents emphasized the need for additional opportunities for children and youth, who they feared were not well served by existing schools and programs—leading many young people to engage in unsafe or illegal activities. These concerns were J Urban Health (2017) 94:1–3 DOI 10.1007/s11524-016-0118-x

Public Libraries As Partners for Health

Introduction Public libraries are free and accessible to all and are centers of community engagement and education, making them logical choices as partners for improving population health. Library staff members routinely assist patrons with unmet health and social needs. Methods We used a 100-question, self-administered web survey sent to all library directors listed in the Pennsylvania Library Association database (N = 621), to investigate staff interactions with library patrons to address social determinants of health. We conducted statistical comparisons of quantitative responses and a content analysis of open-ended responses. Results Respondents (N = 262) reported frequently interacting with patrons around health and social concerns — well beyond those related to literacy and education — including help with employment (94%), nutrition (70%), exercise (66%), and social welfare benefits (51%). Acute emergencies were not uncommon in Pennsylvania’s public libraries, with nearly 12% of respondents having witnessed a drug overdose at the library in the past year. Most respondents felt that their professional training left them inadequately prepared to assist patrons with health and social issues. Although at least 40% of respondents offered some health programming at their library branch, their offerings did not meet the high level of need reflected in common patron inquiries. Conclusion The challenges library staff members experience in meeting their patrons’ information needs suggest opportunities for public libraries to advance population health. Library staff members need additional training and resources and collaboration with public health and health care institutions to respond to community needs through effective, evidence-based public health programming.

Youth Speak Out on School Food Environments

In Philadelphia, over 40% of youth are overweight or obese. The objective in this assessment was to learn about urban residents’ perspectives regarding the local food environment and its impact on eating behaviors. Using photo-elicitation, 20 adolescents reflected on their food environments through photographs and corresponding interviews. Without specific prompting from interviewers, every participant raised concerns about their school food environments, which they commonly found to be unhealthy and unappealing. Participants’ responses reflected four themes: (1) mixed reviews regarding the healthfulness of school vending machines, (2) lunch from home versus lunch from school, (3) factors that influenced food choice at school, and (4) critiques of school food environments. Students embraced the photo-elicitation approach as a way to convey their concerns and to suggest opportunities for improvements. School nurses, who are trusted by students and school personnel, are well-positioned to solicit student input and advocate for healthier school food environments.

Public Library Staff as Community Health Partners: Training Program Design and Evaluation:

Public libraries are free and open to all—and accessed at high rates by vulnerable populations—which positions them to be key public health allies. However, library staff themselves often feel ill-equipped to address the health and social concerns of their patrons. To fill this gap, we developed a case-based training curriculum to help library staff recognize, engage, and refer vulnerable patrons to appropriate resources. Topics addressed in the training, including homelessness, mental health and substance use disorders, immigration, and trauma, were selected based on findings from a prior community needs assessment. Using a modified measure of self-efficacy, participants (n = 33) were surveyed before and after each session. Several participants (n = 7) were also interviewed 4 months after the training was completed. Overall, staff reported significant increases in comfort, confidence, and preparedness in assisting vulnerable patrons across all topic areas. Qualitative findings reflected positive perceived impact and value of the trainings. Staff felt training resources should be made more readily accessible. Improving library staff capacity to address the health and social needs of their patrons can further establish public libraries as partners in improving population health.

A Typical Day With Mild Cognitive Impairment

The article discusses the Typical Day project which is designed to raise awareness, educate individuals, and provide opportunities for people affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to photograph their daily lives and tell their stories. According to the article, the Typical Day project includes the www.MyTypicalDay.org Web site and a traveling exhibit. Professional photographer Damari McBride is addressed, along with several MCI patients from the University of Pennsylvanias Memory Center.

The Life Stories of Homeless Youths

The article discusses the life stories of various current and former homeless youths in the U.S. such as Brandon Stokes, and it mentions statistics regarding homeless children in places such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Programs journey2home public art project dealing with youth housing insecurity is examined, along with the A Place to Call Home youth housing project and the efforts to help young people such as Stokes improve their lives.