“Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.” – Health Resources and Services Administration
During October, Consumer Health Literacy is highlighted at libraries and medical institutions, in an effort to bring more health information access to us all.
Low health literacy is more prevalent among older adults, people with low incomes, and medically under-served people (people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ people, for example).
Health Resources and Services Administration
How can Lafayette Public Library help?
We provide access to journals, books, articles, and online resources for help in finding out what you need to know to be healthy. Our staff can assist you in accessing our health online databases; just ask!
A sampling of works in our collection
- Merck Manual of Medical Information
- Medical Library Association Guide to Cancer Information
- The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook
- The Everything Health Guide to Schizophrenia
- Bipolar Disorder
Online resources you can access through the Library
- Consumer Health Complete
- Explora Public Libraries
- Merck Manual online
- Reference USA
- US National Library of Medicine: PubMed
PubMed comprises more than 30 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.