The library’s card catalog may be full of the latest health reference books but did you know your local Chester County library system contains many more resources for your wellbeing than what you can look up using the Dewey decimal system?
Tapping into a community's expertise and enthusiasm is frequently an essential issue for addressing health issues says Nicole Cheetham, Deputy Director of Advocates for Youth. She describes community members as rich sources of knowledge about their community as well as sources of energy and commitment to that community. So, it’s no wonder that the community library would be a perfect hub for broadening your health education.
The Chester County Library System’s main Exton location commenced the Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies initiative last year by offering a series of seminars on a wide variety of health topics such as natural solutions to Hypothyroidism, introductions to meditation and stress management, Medicare basics, organic gardening, skin cancer risk and many others. With each program attendance, you receive a stamp in your program booklet and are qualified for a grand prize drawing. In another healthy initiative, Paoli library has partnered with medical experts from Paoli Hospital and they encourage you to bring your questions to a health seminar series called Second Opinion which aims to help separate medical fact from fiction.
A Library Services and Technology Act grant has presented several Chester County libraries with the opportunity to expand their wellness material selection and provide health programming for the public. The Honey Brook branch starts its first program this week with a discussion on preventing ovarian cancer and features a speaker from the Chester County Health Department. With their grant money, the Easttown Library in Berwyn is replacing current print, reference, audio, and DVD materials with more than 116 new, updated wellness publications and media.
Beyond seminars, several local branches now even offer exercise classes. A Yoga and Pilates class is available at the Tredyffrin branch in Strafford and the Morgantown library offers yoga on Wednesday and Friday mornings. The Tredyffrin branch has also organized a Dance Your Heart Out Marathon for kids and teens on February 4th.
A few hikes and nature walks are also scheduled as wellness activities included in the healthy minds and bodies programs. In addition, health-related support groups meet at several Chester County branches including the nursing mothers group facilitated by an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant at Henrietta Hankin library in Chester Springs.
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