Medical Libraries Supporting Outreach Efforts to Rural Communities and Broadband Planning with Public Libraries: A Qualitative Research Study

Abstract

Objectives: Farmworkers suffer profound health inequities in the United States. Rural residents are often excluded from accessing reliable internet connections which impacts health outcomes negatively. To find ways public libraries can support these marginalized communities under the UN Sustainable Development Goal of “Good Health and Wellbeing,” a team of librarian researchers conducted a qualitative study of public librarians in North Carolina (NC).

Methods: The interview guide contained questions regarding the library's outreach to agricultural communities. We also asked participants about their experiences supporting broadband planning.

Results: Outreach efforts identified included little free libraries, targeting specific spaces that are used by Hispanic patrons to hold events or share information, hosting outreach pop-up events, literacy tabling around town, seed libraries, oral history projects, and collaborations with farmers markets. Some of the strategies for outreach included writing grants, building relationships with organizations that serve underserved communities, and offering programming.

Conclusions: Librarians in NC use a variety of strategies to reach underserved patrons. They are also involved in providing access to devices and internet, but not influencing broadband policy on a systemic level. Public libraries have many limitations in terms of funding and staffing and should be more adequately resourced to continue their work.