Healthy Living at the Library

This broad-ranging resource is for librarians who want to begin a new program or incorporate healthy living into an existing one.
From garden plots to cooking classes to StoryWalks to free yoga, more and more libraries are developing innovative programs and partnerships to encourage healthy living. Libraries increasingly provide health and wellness programs for all ages and abilities, and Healthy Living at the Library is intended for library staff of all types who want to offer programs and services that foster healthy living, particularly in the domains of food and physical activity.
Author Noah Lenstra, who has extensive experience directing and advising on healthy living programs, first outlines steps librarians should take when starting programs, highlighting the critical role of community partnerships. The second section of the book offers detailed instructions for running different types of programs for different ages and abilities. A third section includes advice on keeping the momentum of a program going and assessing program impacts. Lenstra offers tips on how to overcome challenges or roadblocks that may arise. An appendix contains resources you can adapt to get these programs off the ground, including waivers of liability, memoranda of understanding, and examples of strategic plans and assessment tools.

Noah Lenstra directs the Let's Move in Libraries initiative at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he is a faculty member of library and information studies.

PART I: SETTING THE STAGE FOR HEALTHY LIVING AT THE LIBRARY
Chapter 1-Introduction to Healthy Living at the Library
Chapter 2-Why Libraries? Everyone Has a Role to Play
Chapter 3-History: It's Longer Than You Think!
Chapter 4-How Do We Do This? Partnerships Extend Access to Healthy Living Opportunities
PART II: STARTING PROGRAMS
Chapter 5-Look Inward: Healthy Libraries Create Healthy Programs
Chapter 6-Exercise Your Resources and Don't Do It Alone
Chapter 7-Seek and Give Support in Communities of Librarians
Chapter 8-Watch Your Step: Key Challenges and Solutions
PART III: OFFERING PROGRAMS
Chapter 9-Healthy Living in All Programs
Chapter 10-All Ages Play, or Why Should Kids Have All the Fun?
Chapter 11-Immersive Cooking and Fitness Classes
Chapter 12-Creating Health-Supporting Spaces and Collections for Your Programs
Chapter 13-Take Your Programs Outside
Chapter 14-Putting the Pieces Together into a Programming Plan
Chapter 15-Healthy Living across the Seasons: Ideas for Year-Round Healthy Living
PART IV: SUSTAINING HEALTHY LIVING AT THE LIBRARY
Chapter 16-Assessing and Communicating the Impacts You've Made
Chapter 17-Building and Maintaining the Momentum
Appendix A: Waiver of Liability
Appendix B: Memorandum of Understanding
References
Index