HEALTHY LIVING AT THE LIBRARY
This webpage contains supplementary images associated with the book Healthy Living at the Library, published in April 2020 by Libraries Unlimited and written by Let’s Move in Libraries director Noah Lenstra. Get your copy of the book at the Libraries Unlimited website!
“From garden plots to cooking classes, 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 assess 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.”
Supplementary photographs for Chapter 5 “Look Inward: Healthy Libraries Create Healthy Programs”
Harlem Wilson, left, is Assistant Branch Manager of the Dee Brown Library, Central Arkansas Library System. He teaches a Saturday morning fitness class at the library. Image courtesy Rosslynn Elliott, Creative Writer, Marketing & Resource Development staff member at the Library System.
Harlem Wilson, bottom left, teaching his class, Saturday morning at Central Arkansas Library System’s Dee Brown Library. Image courtesy Rosslynn Elliott, Creative Writer, Marketing & Resource Development staff member at the Library System.
Samantha Toro teaches cooking and nutrition classes at the Dee Brown Library. Image courtesy Rosslynn Elliott, Creative Writer, Marketing & Resource Development staff member at the Library System.
Community members learn to cook at the Dee Brown Library. Image courtesy Rosslynn Elliott, Creative Writer, Marketing & Resource Development staff member at the Library System.
Supplementary photographs for Chapter 7 “Seek and Give Support in Communities of Librarians”
This collage conveys some of the healthy living programs funded by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries since 2011. Image courtesy Oklahoma Department of Libraries.
Pioneer Library System in Tecumseh hosts a “Moving to the Beat” exercise class. Great way to warm up on a cold day! This class is funded by a grant from ODL and IMLS. Image courtesy Oklahoma Department of Libraries.
A health fair at Southwest Oklahoma City Public Library offered parents the opportunity to have their child’s information put in a National Identification System. In the case of an emergency, the system can help identify the child by DNA, finger print, voice analysis, and teeth imprints. Image courtesy Oklahoma Department of Libraries.
Supplementary photographs for Chapter 9 “Healthy Living in All Programs”
Melissa ‘Miss Mel’ Hager starts off summer at the Alexander County Public Library in North Carolina with a hike at Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area. Hikers in 2018. Image courtesy Melissa Hager.
2013 Hike. Image courtesy Melissa Hager.
2019 Hike. Image courtesy Melissa Hager.
Supplementary photographs for Chapter 11 “Immersive Cooking and Fitness Classes”
At the St. John branch of the Whitman County Library in Washington State, cooking classes for teens and tweens occur off-site in a church kitchen. Image courtesy Clancy Pool.
Ending your library fitness program with a post-workout group selfie is a great way to celebrate your accomplishments! Image courtesy Kendra Auberry (kneeling), Librarian / Assistant Professor, IRSC Libraries, Pruitt Campus, Indian River State College.
Lyndsey Maloney leads a Charlie Cart program at the Horry County Public Library, made possible by the Read, Eat, Grow initiative of the South Carolina State Library. Image courtesy Lyndsey Maloney.
Supplementary photographs for Chapter 17 ” Sustaining Healthy Living at the Library”
Community members enjoy the KDLCruisers, bicycles you can borrow with your library card at the Kent District Library in Michigan. Image courtesy Calli Crow.
As part of its BikeKDL initiative, the Kent District Library in Michigan installed bike fix-it stations at branches located adjacent to greenways and popular biking routes. Image courtesy Calli Crow.