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Article
A Qualitative Examination about Providers’ Perceptions and Recommendations Regarding the Role of Public Librarians in Addressing Communities’ Health Literacy.
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (QQML) (2014)
  • Van M. Ta Park, San Jose State University
  • Lili Luo, San Jose State University
  • Denise Rosidi, San Jose State University
Abstract
We assessed health care providers’ perspectives on libraries as a source of health information and elicited input on how to adequately prepare public librarians to provide health information services. Sample text-based reference transactions were shown to determine whether they think the health inquiries were adequately answered. Results showed that participants had favorable perspectives about public libraries, and thought that the public librarians’ role includes addressing the health literacy community needs. Participants provided recommendations for public librarians to improve health literacy. To enhance the ability of public librarians to meet the health literacy needs of their communities, diverse perspectives such as health care providers should be included in the development of a future training curriculum.
Keywords
  • Health literacy,
  • Health care providers,
  • Public libraries,
  • Library users,
  • Reference transactions
Publication Date
September, 2014
Publisher Statement
This article appears in the September 2014 issue of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries and can be found at this link.
Citation Information
Van M. Ta Park, Lili Luo and Denise Rosidi. "A Qualitative Examination about Providers’ Perceptions and Recommendations Regarding the Role of Public Librarians in Addressing Communities’ Health Literacy." Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (QQML) Vol. 2014 Iss. 3 (2014) p. 567 - 582 ISSN: 2241-1925
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lili_luo/26/