Consumer Health Information Services in Philippine Libraries

Navigating Obstacles and Capitalizing on Opportunities

Abstract

The limited role of medical libraries in providing consumer health information services in the Philippines presents a challenge. To address such a challenge, this paper suggests that information professionals, healthcare providers, and the government must collaborate to meet the information needs of healthcare consumers. Information professionals can be crucial in promoting health literacy by providing access to reliable and easy-to-understand health information. They must be equipped with the necessary skills to assess the readability of resources and identify signs of low literacy among library patrons. Librarians should develop more relevant and effective health information services tailored to the specific needs of their communities. Professional organizations and library schools must work together to provide comprehensive training for librarians by identifying current trends and gaps in the field and incorporating them into the curriculum. By working together, these stakeholders can overcome the challenges faced by medical libraries and provide healthcare consumers with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health.