Policy statement on libraries and public health adopted by CILIP Council, September 2008
The library and information services provided by Members of CILIP are well-placed to contribute to the national aims of promoting the health and well-being of all people within the UK. They are able to reach individuals and communities, informing positive lifestyle choices of individuals and the self-management of medical conditions, and providing a better understanding of the problems and challenges facing local communities. They provide essential information to all the key stakeholders necessary to promote public health: patients, carers, community leaders, healthcare workers, policymakers, and the public.
Libraries are able to provide so much more when working across institutions and sectors to provide a seamless service to all stakeholders. There are examples of excellent partnership working involving various combinations of NHS libraries, public libraries, higher education libraries, the library and information services of voluntary organisations and other specialist information services. However such initiatives are patchy and lack coordination nationally. A modest investment in facilitating and supporting such partnership working would enable a truly national service to be provided
Library and information services are able to support public health by:
• Providing access to quality health information
• Helping users find what they need
• Signposting further sources of information and advice
• Reaching minority and disadvantaged groups
• Teaching information literacy skills within a health context
• Providing information at a time and place suitable to the user
• Working across institutional boundaries in an endeavour to provide a seamless service to patients, carers, policy makers, healthcare staff and others
CILIP is promoting the work of all library and information services in supporting public health. It will work with others to demonstrate the value and potential value of the services provided by our members to those in a position to influence such provision. Libraries can really make a difference to the quality of life of individuals and the local communities in which they live. It is time to optimise that contribution through a modest national investment in the facilitation of the partnership working necessary to provide national information services in support of better public health.
August 2008
Updated: 20 October 2008