This document summarizes a collaboration between Baystate Health hospital and the Springfield City Library to provide classes teaching people how to search for health information on MedlinePlus.gov. The populations in Springfield have high rates of poverty and non-English speakers, and tend to use the internet less for health information. Through classes at the library, residents learn to search for conditions, treatments, and other medical topics, and surveys found the classes improved participants' computer and searching skills. However, the classes had low enrollment of only 4-5 people on average.

1. www.postersession.com
Baystate Health is a teaching hospital
located in Springfield, MA.
Our city’s population is 52% White;
22% Black; 39% Hispanic (regardless
of race). Nearly 24% of our families
speak Spanish at home. Poverty
rates are 27%, as compared with
10% statewide.
These populations are less likely to
use the internet to find health
information.
The Dept of Health & Human
Services draws a correlation between
internet-based information seeking
and the status of people experiencing
disease, finding inverse relationships
between internet use and incidence of
asthma, diabetes, heart disease and
other conditions.
Libraries play a role in Healthy People
2020 by maintaining public internet
access and teaching computer
literacy classes.
Methods Conclusions
Hospital Collaboration with a Public Library
Margot Malachowski, MLS
Baystate Health & Springfield City Libraries
Springfield, Massachusetts
Bibliography
Baystate Health supports our
community in finding reliable health
information.
We collaborate with Springfield City
Library to teach classes on using
www.medlineplus.gov , the
consumer health information portal
from the National Library of
Medicine.
In our classes, we teach how to
search for health conditions,
diagnosis, tests, treatment, nutrition
and alternative therapies. All
information is science-based and
written for consumers.
1. US Census 2010
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/2567000lk.html
2. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.health.gov/communication/ehealth/ehealthtools/appe
ndix4.htm
3. 2009 National Survey of Public Library Computer and
Internet Access http://www.ii.fsu.edu/News-and-Events/The-
2009-National-Survey-of-Public-Library-Computer-and-Internet-
Access
Our class participants have low- to
moderate computer skills. In FY
2011, we administered pre- and post-
instruction surveys to assess
confidence in information-seeking and
computer skills.
After 90 minutes of instruction, 100%
agreed or strongly agreed that they
know more about MedlinePlus, were
more comfortable with using a
computer, and knew where to get
more help.
Our problem? Low enrollment. We
averaged 4-5 participants per class.
Other computer classes at Springfield
City Library attract 7-9 participants
per class.
Strong start: At least 90% of
Massachusetts public libraries offer
instruction on general internet use.
Work to do: Only 10.8% offer
classes on accessing government
information, 13.6% on accessing job-
seeking information, and 14.5% on
accessing medical information.
Our goal: We hope to attach
Massachusetts public libraries to
national efforts to improving health
literacy skills by 2020.
Introduction Results
Do you know how to?
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Find Search Print Email Updates Address
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