Introduction to Health Literacy for Libraries
Health literacy is obtaining, processing, and understanding basic health information and services. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy indicates that only 12% of Americans have the necessary health literacy skills to meet their needs, including locating health services, understanding drug labels, and following treatment instructions. Libraries are a natural conduit for working to improve the health literacy of their communities. This session provides examples of ways in which libraries can incorporate health literacy into programs and services.