Description
Providing a centralized display and/or space for veterans to come in order to find reliable resources, as well as assistance in how to utilize/navigate said resources, surrounding health literacy.
*May coincide/highlight display and/or space resources with awareness month toolkits (i.e. PTSD Awareness Month, Women’s History Month, etc.).
Audience
- Adults, 18+ years old
- Veterans, dependents, family, and friends
*Display and/or space may be open to veterans and anyone within their support network.
Cost
Variable depending on needs
- Display:
- $0 - $500 annually, depending on needs and currently available resources
- May desire a graphic designer to create infographics, posters, and other materials
- May wish to add titles to the library collection that support Veteran health literacy
- Space:
- $0 - $5,000 initially, depending on needs and currently available resources, with potential for recurring costs either annually or over a longer period of time
- Can space be allocated/dedicated on a continual basis for the health literacy purpose, and how large is the space?
- Is furniture needed?
- Will electronic resources be needed for veterans and patrons to use? Computers, printers, software, etc.
- How often will these supplies need to be maintained/updated?
- Will an outside source need to be responsible for this maintenance, and how much do they charge?
Timing
- Display:
- *Rotating and updating frequently and periodically throughout the year
- *Monthly to highlight resources surrounding Awareness Month topics
- *At least quarterly to ensure ongoing/static resources are still up-to-date/links still work
- Space:
- Same as above, with the following added considerations
- Electronic Resources (Optional):
- Weekly maintenance of software updates/debugging, etc.
- Annual assessment of devices to ensure they are still in good condition/do not need replacing
- Furniture:
- Annual assessment of furniture to ensure they are still in good condition/do not need replacing
Suggested Duration
Ongoing throughout the year
Resources needed
- Area to display information regarding health literacy resources and helpful guides
- The table on which to set up a display
- Wall space to hang posters and other informational materials (optional)
- Available resources surrounding health literacy and other awareness topics
- Handouts, bibliographic list of resources, etc.
- Pens, highlighters, and other office supplies for veterans and patrons to utilize for taking notes (optional)
- Space:
- Same as above, with these added considerations -
- Available space/room depending on needs of the facility
- Furniture for veterans and patrons to sit comfortably and review health literacy information
- Chairs
- End and/or coffee tables (optional)
- Tables
- Computer station(s) for veterans and other patrons to utilize (optional)
- Computer(s) for veterans and other patrons to utilize (optional)
- Appropriate computer software for veterans and other patrons to utilize (optional)
- Printer(s) for veterans and other patrons to utilize (optional)
- Marketing of Veteran health literacy resource displays and/or spaces
- Social Media
- Flyers/Posters
- Email blast to patrons
Tips for Success
- Ensure staff are available to assist veterans and patrons with any questions they may have regarding the resources being provided
- Examples: How to navigate health literacy websites, how to perform a health literacy web search, etc.
- Ensure staff are aware that they CANNOT provide actual medical advice; only guide patrons to helpful resources – including advising patrons to seek out their medical providers
- Evaluate health literacy resources for their clarity, reliability, ease of use, and accessibility
- Resources should be easy to use and understandable for patrons
- Reach out to medical community partners for recommendations and ideas on health literacy resources
- Try and make the displays and/or spaces as comfortable, visually appealing, and inviting as possible to encourage patron usage of health literacy resources
- Periodically update the visual design of graphic resources, like posters, to provide ongoing visual interest for patrons
- Do not just limit said health literacy resources to the physical area of the display and/or space
- Advertise the resources on the library’s website, social media accounts, via email, etc.
- Survey veterans and patrons regarding what type of informational resources they are most in need of
Assessment Ideas
- Circulation: track how many people take the handouts provided, use the space, or check out resources recommended by the display
- Surveys:
- Ask the patrons various questions regarding the resources
- Ask staff and organizers regarding their views on the resources
- Re-postings, comments, and/or “likes” of health literacy resource advertising on social media
- May need the ability to track platform metrics to assess this
- Suggestion box
- Provide an avenue, whether via a physical suggestion box, electronic suggestion box, or both, for staff and patrons to provide feedback
Partners and Stakeholders
- Community veterans, their friends, and their families
- Local VA organizations/programs and their points of contact to assist with resources/suggestions
- VA Library Network
- Local medical resources
- Medical associations
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Medical libraries
- Academic partners, such as local college health science programs
- Other community organizations (public, medical, academic, etc.) that may want to participate
Additional Resources/Bibliography
*See the following VA Library Toolkit Committee’s other toolkits for potential resources (provided by Marielle McNeal):
- Combating Health Misinformation – VHL, MedlinePlus, etc. (lesson plan)
- Health Information Literacy Skills for Veterans (lesson plan)
- Health Information Literacy Handout for Veterans
Other helpful health literacy resources for veterans:
Helpful resources for Librarians:
Submitted by
Jennifer Jones, Fargo VA Medical Center Library
Public Domain
This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Foreign copyrights may apply.