With over 40 years of library experience and as longtime book review column editor for the Journal of Hospital Librarianship, Joseph shares her evidence-based library practice expertise in the latest volume of the Medical Library Association’s book series. The series showcases current topics in health sciences librarianship in a way that appeals broadly to the general library field by describing practical approaches and resources relevant to any library setting. Though the title implies a focus on collection development, the book covers the gamut of library consumer outreach from conducting community needs assessments and writing grants to planning community activities and developing multicultural collections to serve a variety of specialized populations. Of particular interest is a chapter describing where consumers often locate health information with recommendations on guiding library patrons in finding and evaluating health information judiciously. This text is most appropriate for practicing health sciences librarians and for public librarians interested in consumer health information and/or community outreach programming.



Summing Up: Recommended for practicing librarians.

Choice Reviews

Joseph does a good job of writing for and providing examples from all three types of libraries. These types of libraries are quite different from each other, but as consumer health libraries vary significantly themselves, the differences in setting are less important. . . I recommend this book to those interested in beginning work on or improving on consumer health information resources and services in their library.

Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association

The lists of online resources, including links to pages on where to find print and multi-media resources, make this more than a guide useful to public, academic, and health sciences librarians alike, but a valuable reference. Plenty more information on finding resources, taking into account the problems with health literacy, is provided, as well. . . . The book ends emphasizing that not only should each and every library be involved with providing consumer health information, but that as service providers, “Librarians with consumer health collections should be on a proactive mission to get their much needed information to their community.”

Consumer Connections

If a library is considering creating a consumer-focused collection, this is the book for you! It is not only a guidebook on how to set up a collection, but also on how to train staff to be gatekeepers of information resources that patrons may not even know they are looking for. Anyone looking for information on the different aspects of creating a collection and services that will be useful to the patrons of an institution and that enables staff to fill a possible gap in resources, will find that this book gives librarians the framework to do so.

Journal of Hospital Librarianship

This publication represents the new standard in creating or revitalizing consumer health collections and services . . . This book is highly recommended for any health sciences, academic, public, school, or special library developing any consumer health collection, service, or out-reach. University libraries supporting schools of information science, public health, or health education may also find it valuable.

Journal of the Medical Library Association

This book is the new core text for any librarian building or recreating their consumer health collection. This book steers librarians & their patrons to top notch information, with the end goal of improving your community’s health and building with them a positive and helpful relationship.

Becca Billings, leadership team member, Health InfoNet of Alabama