Remember how we learned to use card catalogs and The Guide to Periodical Literature in grade school? They were the best resources available in any library to find the information we needed for those social studies and science reports we were given to write. You may be surprised to learn that today's public libraries, plus some specialized libraries, may be among your very best resources for health and medical information, too.
And the best part about them? They are free, and come with someone who can help you get what you need.
There are a number of ways you can get health and medical information from libraries:
Health and Medical Research at Public Libraries
Your library's shelves and digital archives are loaded with resources that can provide you with the information you need. And the best way to find it? The good old card catalog. Whether your library's card catalog is still in its physical form (yes, those little drawers) or it has gone digital, you can search for what you need by topic, author or title.If you don't use computers or are otherwise uncomfortable with their use, ask one of the librarians if someone is available to help you. Same goes for conducting Internet research at the library. If you find it tough to determine how credible the Internet medical information you find is, ask a librarian for some assistance.
Medical journals are often available through your public library, even if you must pay a fee to access them on the Internet. If you find an article from a medical journal during an Internet search, and there is a fee associated, jot down as much detail as you can (name of the journal, publication date, author(s), page numbers, etc.) Then, ask a librarian whether he or she can get a copy for you. If so, it may take a few days, but it's still better than paying those sometimes exorbitant prices for them on your own.
Health and Medical Research at Specialized Libraries / Academic Medical Centers or University Libraries
While an academic library may be specialized in its content, it will operate in much the same way as your public library. The biggest difference is that there are specialists in the many health and medical topics who know how to research the very specific information you seek. If you are lucky enough to have a medical school or a university-associated teaching hospital near you, there will be health, medical or science reference librarians who are trained specifically to help not just the students and professionals who work at the institution, but often the general public as well.Similar to your public library, you can get help finding the material you need on any given diagnosis or treatment option. If a medical journal or other reference is not available at that library, then one of the research librarians may be able to obtain it for you. Just ask.
