There are diverse communities throughout the country and, most, if not all, still have libraries or access to libraries. We recognize that the existence of libraries is threatened. However, there can be new avenues for libraries to serve the greater community and communities still threatened by a “digital divide”. Libraries can serve as clearinghouses for information and a resource for dissemination of environmental and health information. Many communities, particularly, communities of color, suffer disproportionately from a multitude of diverse health/environmental health and environmental issues. Environmental Justice is a term used to reflect the fact that low-income and/or minority communities have historically been disproportionately impacted by adverse environmental effects. Libraries can help to increase the community’s capacity to understand and participate in defining and addressing their environmental and environmental justice issues. Libraries can serve a multigenerational constituency by providing Internet access as well as print documents. Libraries can also provide access to online mapping and screening tools to assist communities in determining their environmental and/or health risks and present threats (e.g. ToxMap, EJSCREEN). This workshop will provide useful information about library-based health information centers, environmental programming in libraries and grant programs to assist libraries in being a resource for environmental and health/environmental health information.
