M&D is collaborating with Rachel Wedeward of Miss Research to develop educational webinars to help public health professionals achieve their goals. Rachel Wedeward, MLIS, AHIP is a research project manager for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) in Chicago. A professional librarian, Rachel has previously worked at the American Hospital Association (AHA) as a research information specialist and at the American Library Association (ALA) as a research coordinator. In her current and previous roles, her primary responsibilities have been to conduct research, manage research projects, and teach end users to use healthcare technology resources and database searching. She received her BA in anthropology, politics, and government from Ripon College in 2014 and an MS in library and information science from Dominican University in 2016.
Public trust in public health has faced significant challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, libraries have consistently remained among the most trusted institutions, especially with younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z actively engaging with them.
This opens a unique opportunity for public health and libraries to collaborate in rebuilding trust by creating authoritative, accessible information for communities. Here’s how:
Information Literacy and Education
Some researchers estimate that as many as 90% of Americans get health information from social media. While health professionals share accurate information online, social media is also rife with dis/misinformation, which threatens public health and has further eroded trust in health institutions. Public health professionals can collaborate with librarians to provide digital literacy education to their communities, particularly in low-income areas.
Librarians can also assist public health professionals with their own research needs. They can teach public health professionals how to find and evaluate credible resources, while public health experts bring insights into emerging challenges. Through collaboration, both disciplines stand to gain.
Grant Writing and Funding
Librarians support grant proposals with literature reviews and research, while public health professionals secure funding to drive impactful programs. If you do research within or in partnership with an academic institution, find out if your university’s library has a subject librarian who could assist with grant preparation. Often these services are available, but may not be well-publicized. Likewise, inviting a librarian to become a part of a research collective can open up more funding opportunities.
Advocacy and Policy Development
When translating public health research into policy, there is often a communication gap that must be bridged. Librarians can help build these bridges by providing access to evidence and historical documents, enabling public health professionals to advocate for stronger policies. By enlisting the assistance of public librarians, public health professionals can also tap into a repository of knowledge about local community health needs. Through collaboration, librarians and public health professionals can craft more robust policy initiatives and lend support to each other.
Systematic Reviews and Research Support
Librarians streamline the research process with expert search strategies, helping public health teams develop evidence-based policies. For example, systematic reviews are a more advanced form of literature review that requires rigorous documentation and high-level research skills. They also can be used to make more persuasive policy recommendations. Collaboration between public health and librarians can strengthen public trust and empower communities with reliable, actionable information.
We Are Stronger Together
If you work in a research institution, consider the value added of bringing a librarian onto your team. If you work for a non-profit or governmental public health institution, consider reaching out to your local libraries to inquire about collaborations. Together, we can work more effectively to rebuild and renew trust in scientific research.
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