Kindling Area youth Literacy Outreach

Abstract

Fostering future generations of Hawaiians involves directing attention to the information needs, especially health information needs, of one of the most vulnerable groups – teens. Today’s teens reside in an era of instant access to virtually unlimited information available via mobile technology. A recent search for the words health information retrieved 8,770,000,000 results in less than one second. Understandably, the constant connection to these sources of information has been likened to “drinking water from a firehose”. Teens face different challenges when searching for health information, such as the physical, cognitive, and emotional changes they undergo during these years and may only rely on one or two results for their answers. Key findings from a Northwestern University study found that out of the 84% of teens that have searched for health information online, one in three (32%) reported changing their behavior due to digital health information or tools (2015). Though teens have access to these sources of information, they may not be the most accurate or relevant.

Librarians may help alleviate this burden by expanding their outreach to this population. Librarians are often seen as respected figures whom teens turn to with their questions about health information, including stress, depression, sex and relationships. By providing youth with the resources necessary to find accurate information and critically analyze search results, librarians partake in growing the next generation of healthy Hawaiians.

In reference to kalo, K(indling) A(rea) youth L(iteracy) O(utreach) is one innovative method to interact with communities. The presenter will offer fun, practical methods of engaging patrons to expand their health literacy. Participants will discover applicable methods for improving their health reference skills and knowledge of trustworthy resources, as well as sources for continuing education on this topic, including those from the National Library of Medicine. Attend this session to create ways to implement freely available, reliable health information resources into different types of programs, from passive to active and advocate for the value of libraries.