Advancing Together to Achieve Lasting Impact Across NNLM Region 7
With NNLM Region 7 funding support, partners across the New England states and New York advanced health literacy, access to reliable health information, and community wellbeing through innovative, evidence-based projects:
Mental Health & Inclusion: Libraries hosted workshops, panel discussions, and new collections that fostered understanding of mental health, homelessness, and lived experience, equipping staff and patrons with tools for empathy and practical de-escalation.
Health Literacy & Navigating Information: Programs like adolescent media literacy courses and multilingual outreach initiatives empowered teens to identify reliable information, make informed health decisions, and share trusted resources such as MedlinePlus.
Technology & Innovation in Learning: NNLM funding brought advanced technologies—including virtual reality empathy training for health professions students and interactive distance-learning tools—to rural and academic settings, improving engagement and access.
Community-Based Health Education: Region 7 grants supported culturally responsive partnerships that expanded outreach to communities that would benefit from access to reliable health information. Initiatives included adaptive cycling for wellness, “Health Quest” community engagement events, and programming for teens which improved mental health, nutrition, and healthcare navigation.
Workforce Development: Librarians and educators received professional training and scholarships through programs like the New England Science Boot Camp, enhancing the capacity of library staff to support health literacy and scientific inquiry in their communities.
Sustaining Public Access: NNLM funding strengthened local digital infrastructure—such as migrating a historic public wiki and expanding inclusive OverDrive collections—ensuring stable, equitable, and lasting access to reliable information. Collectively, these initiatives reached thousands of participants, deepened local partnerships, and advanced NNLM’s mission to ensure equitable access to health information and empowered communities to make informed health decisions.
Mental Health & Inclusion: Libraries hosted workshops, panel discussions, and new collections that fostered understanding of mental health, homelessness, and lived experience, equipping staff and patrons with tools for empathy and practical de-escalation.
Health Literacy & Navigating Information: Programs like adolescent media literacy courses and multilingual outreach initiatives empowered teens to identify reliable information, make informed health decisions, and share trusted resources such as MedlinePlus.
Technology & Innovation in Learning: NNLM funding brought advanced technologies—including virtual reality empathy training for health professions students and interactive distance-learning tools—to rural and academic settings, improving engagement and access.
Community-Based Health Education: Region 7 grants supported culturally responsive partnerships that expanded outreach to communities that would benefit from access to reliable health information. Initiatives included adaptive cycling for wellness, “Health Quest” community engagement events, and programming for teens which improved mental health, nutrition, and healthcare navigation.
Workforce Development: Librarians and educators received professional training and scholarships through programs like the New England Science Boot Camp, enhancing the capacity of library staff to support health literacy and scientific inquiry in their communities.
Sustaining Public Access: NNLM funding strengthened local digital infrastructure—such as migrating a historic public wiki and expanding inclusive OverDrive collections—ensuring stable, equitable, and lasting access to reliable information. Collectively, these initiatives reached thousands of participants, deepened local partnerships, and advanced NNLM’s mission to ensure equitable access to health information and empowered communities to make informed health decisions.