Health and wellbeing collections

Public libraries play an important role in the health and well-being of local communities, by offering services and resources that support the public health responsibilities of local authorities. They deliver early intervention, preventative care, address local health inequalities and can help deliver better public health outcomes as part of the commissioning landscape. 

Libraries provide:

• A network of local hubs with non-stigmatised, non-clinical community space where people can meet others and stay connected, physically and virtually
• Staff with local knowledge and expertise in information management, reading and community engagement
• Assisted online access
• Health and care information services
• Referral and signposting
• Public health promotion activity
• National reading programmes promoting learning, literacy and well-being
• Social and recreational opportunities, for example - reading groups
• Volunteering and community engagement activities that build people-centred services and keep people active, involved and learning 

CWF Library Services are committed to delivering on The Health and Wellbeing Universal Offer, one of the national offers developed by Libraries Connected, in partnership with The Reading Agency.

This is a strategy which expresses the public library contribution to the positive health and well-being of local communities, and it includes a commitment to provide a range of services including public health information and promotion, sign posting and referrals as well as creative and social reading activity.

Reading Well Collections are the main plank of the Universal Health and Wellbeing Offer. It has been developed by The Reading Agency in partnership with Libraries Connected (formerly the Society of Chief Librarians). The scheme is endorsed by leading health bodies and delivered at local level by public libraries.

All the Reading Well book lists are selected by experts, and the book lists are endorsed by leading health organisations such as NHS England, Public Health England, The Royal Collage of General Practitioners, The Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Royal College of Nursing. Health professionals can refer people to these recommended lists of accredited titles to help with specific conditions, and people can also use the scheme independently, as a first step to understanding and managing symptoms and seeking help.

The programme complements existing local health services and is a simple way of delivering prevention and early intervention care. It also signposts people to other wellbeing services in libraries, including social and recreational activity such as reading groups and volunteering.

There are currently four Reading Well book lists available:

• Reading Well for mental health
• Reading Well for dementia
• Reading Well for Teens (Reading Well for young people)
• Reading Well for Children
• Reading Well Loan Box collection/s (adults, teens and children).

All the titles on these book lists were selected using an evidence-based approach supported by a rigorous process of consultation and expert advice. The titles have all been recommended and endorsed by health experts as well as people with lived experience of the conditions covered,
so whilst recommendations for titles for inclusion are often received from writers, publishers and members of the public, the recommended lists have to be adhered to without any additions at local level.

In addition to Reading Well Books on Prescription, our other health collections are:

• Autism? Your Questions Answered