SCL and the NHS Sign Partnership Agreement

SCL has signed a partnership agreement with the NHS to give people more health information in their local library.

On November 19, at an NHS ‘Live Well Day’ at Peckham Library, the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) and NHS Choices will sign an agreement that formalises a partnership between the Department of Health and public libraries to provide people with access to more information about their health choices.

In more than 3,600 public libraries in England people will be able to easily access a wide range of health and well-being information. These resources are available in every library and library staff are trained and on hand to offer advice and help. NHS choices have developed new training for library staff so they can guide people through its website, and find trustworthy health information to make informed choices. 90% of the population of England lives within a mile of a public library.

Under the agreement, library staff will get extra training so they can guide the public through NHS Choices website which has information about conditions, treatments or living a better lifestyle. As of September 2009 more than 800 librarians had completed the free online NHS Choices training, and NHS Choices are launching a marketing campaign to all library staff to promote the training.

Public libraries offer support programmes such as bibliotherapy, books on prescription, and activities to help people make positive choices. For many socially-excluded groups, public libraries provide a vital link to support and community.

NHS Choices has over seven million visits a month and is the first point of call for anyone wishing to access reliable health information online. However, not everyone knows how to use the internet or has the equipment to do so. Sixteen million people are digitally excluded and of these, six million are also socially excluded. Public libraries are bridging this digital divide by offering free access to the internet and classes that teach people how to access information online.