health

I Had No Idea! Changing How the Library is Viewed One Stakeholder at a Time

Josephine Community Library Oregon

By Vanessa Craig

Kate Dwyer, Education Outreach Librarian at Josephine Community Libraries, is used to hearing, “I had no idea!” She works diligently to reach out to members in her community that have no clue what modern day libraries offer.

A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center  found that, “…forty-six percent [of those polled] say that they know some of what their libraries offer and thirty-one percent said they know not much or nothing at all of what their libraries offer.”

Kate faces this unfamiliarity when she is presenting what their library offers to various community groups. Most attendees thought they knew exactly what the library offers, but after her presentation on all the databases, services, programs, and books their libraries offer, her participants often exclaim, “I had no idea!”

Read moreI Had No Idea! Changing How the Library is Viewed One Stakeholder at a Time

Resources for Curbing Kids’ Summer Weight Gain

Kids Summer Weight Gain

By Jacquelyn Goetz Bluethmann

GVRL Healthy living ebooks

Ice cream, popsicles, and other sugary snacks are certainly plentiful in the summer months, one of many factors for children being at a greater risk for weight gain during their time off from school. Research available from the National Summer Learning Association has shown this to be true. Without the structure of school, children gain weight two to three times faster in the summer months.

It’s a cause close to First Lady Michelle Obama’s heart and one of the main reasons the Obama administration launched its “Let’s Read. Let’s Move.” campaign. The campaign has the duel goal of curbing summer learning loss and preventing childhood obesity.

Read moreResources for Curbing Kids’ Summer Weight Gain

Health resources to support better living!

Healthy lifestyle ebooks

By Carrie Stefanski

Meet Sara. She’s a mom with three young children and has parents who are getting up there in age.  She wants the best for her family, and that includes good health. She needs reliable, up-to-date resources that to turn to, whether seeking new yoga poses for herself, healthy cooking for her family or researching specific health concerns such as heart disease.

Read moreHealth resources to support better living!

You have to start somewhere, help out your beginners!

Idiot Guides and For Dummies ebooks on GVRL for libraries

Meet Connie, a spunky 72-year-old grandma who just received her first computer. Her grandkids want her online, so online she must go! “I don’t know what took me so long and I want to learn everything I can,” she says, “but I guess I’m a little hesitant because I don’t know quite where to start.” We couldn’t think of a better way than an eBook like  Laptops For Seniors For Dummies, 3rd Edition. Connie can read and follow activities on her screen at the same time, it’s a perfect match.

Read moreYou have to start somewhere, help out your beginners!