Provision of health-related information for immigrant patrons in public libraries in a large US city

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-10-2021-0093
• Published date: 29 September 2022
• Date: 29 September 2022
• Pages: 286-300
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Inequalities & diverse/minority groups,Sociology,Race & ethnic studies,Minorities,Multiculturalism,Racial identity,Work,economy & organizations,Labour movements
• Author: Suzanne Grossman,Lisa Jane Erwin,Ana Martinez-Donate,Denise E. Agosto,Mark Winston,Nancy Epstein,Ann C. Klassen

Provision of health-related information for

immigrant patrons in public libraries in a

large US city

Suzanne Grossman, Lisa Jane Erwin, Ana Martinez-Donate, Denise E. Agosto,

Mark Winston, Nancy Epstein and Ann C. Klassen

Abstract

Purpose –Public librariescan help immigrants adjust to life in the USA,including maintaining health and

well-being. The purpose of this study was to understand how immigrants use public libraries andhow

librarystaff provide health-related informationand services for immigrantaudiences.

Design/methodology/approach –This study used semistructuredinterviews with library staff (n=9)

and immigrant librarypatrons (n= 10), representing multiple first languagesand countries of origin from

two differentlibrary locations within a largepublic library system in a US mid-Atlanticcity.

Findings –Staff reported offering many health-related programs and services, but only one of the 10

patron respondentshad used them. Patrons more commonly usedthe library in ways indirectly related to

health (e.g. learning English) than direct health-related services. Staff reported comfort interacting with

immigrant patrons, but lacked consensus on navigating language barriers and determining community

needs.

Research limitations/implications –This qualitative study provides insights from a specific

geographic and cultural setting. It focused on immigrants using the library and may have excluded

vulnerable populations of immigrants who encounter barriers to using the library. Future research and

practice should focuson how public libraries can better meet the healthinformation needs of immigrant

populations, including navigating controversial social and political topics, as well as emerging health-

relatedinformation during a pandemic.

Originality/value –Public health practitioners often overlook public libraries as community

collaborators.This research identifies that whilethere is important and essential work happening in public

libraries to improve immigrant health, more can be done, especially in collaboration with public health

professionals.

Keywords Public library, Immigrants, Health information, Direct health, Indirect health

Paper type Research paper

Background

Over 44.9 million people, or 13.7% of the US residents, are immigrants (Batalova et al.,

2021). Immigrants encounter many linguistic, cultural and structural barriers. There are

over 9,000 US public library systems in the USA (American Library Association, 2019),

many of which provide diverse programs and materials to ease the transition. Because

they serve all people (Va

˚rheim, 2011,2014a,2014b;Grossman et al., 2021), public

libraries help to develop social networks and social trust for those in a new environment.

This role has been especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, given the

disproportionate burden of the virus on immigrant populations due to socioeconomic

factors and access to health care (Clark et al., 2020), and their need to access reliabl e

and accurate health-related information (e.g. protective measures, COVID testing and

vaccination).

(Informationabout the

authorscan be found at the

end of this article.)

Received 6 October 2021

Revised 20 July 2022

Accepted 2 September 2022

Funding for incentives were

provided by the 2017–2018

Patient Engagement Fellowship

at the Society for Public Health

Education (SOPHE).

PAGE 286 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MIGRATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREjVO L. 18 NO. 3 2022, pp. 286-300, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1747-9894 DOI 10.1108/IJMHSC-10-2021-0093