Libraries for Health & Wellbeing: early literacy programs
I’ve been writing about the ways public libraries support the health and wellbeing of their communities, and am continuing the series with a spotlight on a great collaboration between libraries and a health organisation, made possible with grant funding from State Library Victoria as part of the Libraries for Health and Wellbeing statewide development program.
In May 2021, Casey Cardinia Libraries and City of Greater Dandenong Libraries partnered with Monash Health to embed engaging and relevant information on mental health, wellbeing and nutrition into their established early literacy programs — Baby Time, Tinies’ Time and Storytime.
The initiative aimed to improve health outcomes for their communities in the southeast metropolitan area of Melbourne. It achieved this by employing a Health Promotion Officer who developed evidence-based content for library staff to disseminate through programming and guidance. This information was aimed at both children and their caregivers. Formal training sessions on the topics of mental and physical health and healthy eating were given to staff involved with facilitating early literacy sessions. This prepared them to deliver their programs with confidence in discussing these important topics.
