Presentation at SWACL Regional Conference 2013

1. The Public Library Health
and Well Being Offer

2. Background
• 2010 Public library health mapping research
• Wales developed Books on Prescription model
• Successful bid to the ACE Library
Development Initiative fund
• Public library health offer development group:
63 authorities in 7 regional clusters

3. A Key Moment for Public Libraries
and Health
• Huge pressure on traditional health services.
• Stark health inequalities, ageing population
• 6m people with anxiety and depression, three quarters not
receiving treatment
• Health and Social Care Act, 2012: local authority
responsibility for improving health outcomes, tackling
wider determinants and new approaches to preventative
care
• £5.45b ring fenced budget for local authority health
services
• GP commissioning/Health and Well Being Boards
• Key role for community based early intervention,
prevention and self help strategies

4. The Public Library Health Offer
Libraries have huge potential to deliver a health offer
• Trusted community space,
• Assisted digital access,
• Out reach to vulnerable groups
• Health information and signposting,
• National reading programmes,
• Social reading,
• Volunteering
• RFID provides anonymity
• http://readingagency/about/health.html

5. New Public Library Health Offer
• Reading Well Books on Prescription Scheme
• A new shared approach to Books on Prescription delivery building
on existing best practice supported by health partners
• Self-help reading material based on a quality assured, expert
endorsed core book list of 30 books
• Complimented by signposting to mood boosting creative and social
reading opportunities
• Endorsed by SCL, delivered in nearly all English library authorities
• Shared branding and materials, Summer Reading Challenge delivery
model
• National economies of scale, value of local delivery
• Demonstrates that libraries can deliver a national programme at a
local level

6. • Shared health offer as a key development platform
• Result: high profile value for money shared service
contributing to local authority priorities, delivering
community health benefits
• Endorsed by strategic partners; supporting joined up
working locally
• Levering in new resources for libraries
• Delivering shared evidence and learning
• Profiling wider social, learning, creative library offer
• Planning for on going innovation (children and young
people, carers, physical health)
• Providing a shared service delivering local value
Value and Impact

7. • Delivered in partnership with Society of Chief Librarians
through nearly all English public library authorities
• 100% sign up from South West
• Supported by Local commissioning partnerships
• Endorsed by Dept of Health Mental Health Tsar
• In partnership with The Royal College of GPs, Psychiatrists
and Nursing, DH IAPT programme, The British
Psychological Society, BABCP, Mind, British Association of
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
• Signposted via NHS Choices, public health web portal
• Working with publishers
Partnerships

9. Stress-buster: Reading can help you
relax and escape and this is a good
strategy for dealing with stress and
anxiety
The medicinal power of
literature: Books on
prescription to be introduced

10. Official launch 4th June

11. FAQs
•We’ve been operating our own scheme /
booklist so can we add our books to the list?
•What support do we get for our local
project?
•Where can we obtain funds?
•How does the scheme work?
•How will it be promoted?

12. Debbie Hicks Director of Research
The Reading Agency
debbie.hicks@readingagency.org.uk
Martin Burton SCL
martin.burton@southglos.gov.uk
Contact