Digital Pathways: Online Health Literacy Programming for Adults

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Libraries play a vital role in building adults' online health literacy by offering programs that help them evaluate health information, make informed decisions and access reliable resources. They also provide spaces for telehealth services and informational sessions. To fulfill this role, libraries need trusted tools and resources to create effective health literacy programs.

Digital Pathways: Online Health Literacy Programming for Adults, in collaboration with an advisory of four expert library workers, has created a programming toolkit to help library workers empower adults with online health literacy skills. The project emphasizes guidance and strategies applicable in library settings.

This project is developed with the support of UnitedHealthcare.

Questions? Contact the ALA Public Programs Office.

"Digital Pathways: Online Health Literacy Programming for Adults",  a guide for libraries 

This free resource guide outlines why libraries are uniquely positioned to do this work and the role of library workers. Sections include understanding online health literacy and telehealth, and how to equip adults with the skills for both.

The guide also provides best practices for designing spaces and workflows to expand community access to care within the library, as well as programming ideas libraries can implement or adapt to support online health literacy and telehealth access among adults. It also offers practical, detailed examples of successful and innovative programs drawn from diverse public library settings. The examples illustrate how libraries can effectively adapt these program models by leveraging local partnerships, enhancing digital and eHealth literacy, optimizing accessible spaces, and employing inclusive and culturally responsive outreach practices.

LIBRARY PILOT PROGRAM

In collaboration with UnitedHealthcare, the ALA Public Programs Office has selected 12 libraries to participate in Digital Pathways: Online Health Literacy Programming for Adults. This pilot program provides libraries with a resource package to support online health literacy programming during a nine-month implementation period. The selected libraries will be required to use the program guide to hold at least three health literacy programs for adults in their communities, and work with project evaluators to provide feedback on their effectiveness.

 For Grant Recipients

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