As a Staffordshire library assistant I’m very aware of the various campaigns run throughout the year to provide services for the public; your local library can provide a wealth of information and services for all walks of life from Baby Bounce and Rhyme sessions to access to Ancestry and Genealogy websites and training in the use of computers.
The beginning of July sees Health Information week, which the NHS explains as:
“Health Information Week is a multi-sector campaign to promote the good quality health resources that are available to the public. This campaign aims to encourage partnership working across sectors and benefit all staff and the public by raising awareness of the resources that are available to them.”
But basically it’s about promoting good health practice and communication so that you know who to contact and who/how to get in touch.
Here in Staffordshire for example, this includes stalls and displays on a wide variety of health themes from Mental health and the availability of books on prescription* through to arthritis support and blood pressure testing, the NHS site suggests that Health information week should help promote the following
Reduce the number of people who smoke
•Reduce obesity / increase exercise
•Support sensible drinking
•Improve sexual health
•Improve mental health and wellbeing
•Tackle health inequalities
Throughout the UK libraries will be running similar projects so it’s always worth popping in and having a word if you do need information.
Carl Johnson – District Disabilities Liaison for Mid-West & Wales.
This post originally appeared on our first site, dis-spelling.org.uk in 2017