Be Well at Nashville Public Library – Health and Wellness Nashville

The ‘Be Well at NPL’ program provides numerous health and wellness benefits to the Nashville community…

With over 20 different branches of the Nashville Public Library across the city, these spaces are a vital place for community engagement. As well as offering the services typically expected of a library, such as borrowing books and access to the internet, there are a number of health and wellness programs provided for residents of Nashville as part of its ‘Be Well at NPL’ scheme.
“Nashville Public Library is very committed to our community, and health and wellness really fall under that umbrella,” Elizabeth Roth, program coordinator of Be Well explains. “In general, libraries are very well poised to be addressing public health and informing the public. According to a national study, 37% of people – when they are online here at the library – are looking up health information. Public libraries also have more visitors each year than doctors do. So you’re reaching people in a community setting, really well, rather than within a clinical setting.”

As the library is free to use, the services it provides are accessible to everyone within the community. The general public can utilize the internet service, search databases with medical information, read books about healthcare and even attend classes each week. Elizabeth explains that about three years ago, Nashville Public Library studied the health indicators within the county and looked at where the opportunities were to improve the wellness of the population. Together with corporate partners, the library wanted to address the high rates of blood pressure, lack of physical exercise and poor mental health in the community.

“We focused on mental health, physical movement, and nutrition programs. Now we have 15 free yoga classes a week across our library system. We have a dietician who has developed a program that is specific for the library, which is addressing things such as ‘How do you cook for your family on a fixed income?’ or ‘How do you cook for yourself if you have different health conditions, like heart disease or diabetes?’ We are being very intentional and specific to our Nashville community needs, and creating healthcare around that,” says Elizabeth.

The support from organizations has enabled the library to not just offer theoretical advice, but practical demonstrations of healthy living. “Through grants and funding, we have been able to purchase supplies, so our nutritionist has a portable kitchen that she takes around, meaning it is hands-on learning,” adds Elizabeth. “People are gaining cooking skills, in addition to the nutritional sides of things.”

As there are so many different branches across Nashville, each one has adapted its programs to reflect the needs of its users; looking at which classes or programs are most popular or effective. The various branches also focus on what matters most to those using its services. “Other library branches have done different things,” explains Elizabeth, “Such as celebrating mental health awareness with book displays and information about hotlines, counseling connections in the community, or promoting activities like relaxation coloring and crafting.” Although the library itself doesn’t offer mental health services, it can connect people with the facilities available to help them as much as they can, and support them on their journey. “Each branch is doing its own thing, looking at what is most meaningful for their community,” concludes Elizabeth.

For more information on the various activities and information available from the Be Well program, click here.