title: Community perceptions and utilization of a consumer health center.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand factors that may affect the usage of a consumer health center located in a public library. More specifically, the authors wanted to know what health resources are of interest to the community, what patrons' perceptions of their experience at the center are, and finally, how staff can increase utilization of the center. In general, perceptions of the center were positive. The findings support that participants appreciate efforts to provide health information in the public library setting and that utilization could be improved through marketing and outreach.
authors.affiliation: kaports@ vcu.edu , Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; aayers@vcu.edu , Community Health Educator, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center G-127, 401 College Street P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298; wcrocker@ppls.org , Library Director, Petersburg Public Library, 201 West Washington Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; Alton.Hart@vdh.virginia.gov , Public Health Director, Crater Health District, Virginia Department of Health, 301 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; mmosavel@vcu.edu , Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; crafie@vcu.edu , James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 11th Floor, Room 11-204, 1201 East Marshall Street P.O. Box 980070, Richmond, VA 23298-0070.
authors.forename: Katie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ports
authors.affiliation: kaports@ vcu.edu , Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; aayers@vcu.edu , Community Health Educator, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center G-127, 401 College Street P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298; wcrocker@ppls.org , Library Director, Petersburg Public Library, 201 West Washington Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; Alton.Hart@vdh.virginia.gov , Public Health Director, Crater Health District, Virginia Department of Health, 301 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; mmosavel@vcu.edu , Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; crafie@vcu.edu , James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 11th Floor, Room 11-204, 1201 East Marshall Street P.O. Box 980070, Richmond, VA 23298-0070.
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.affiliation: kaports@ vcu.edu , Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; aayers@vcu.edu , Community Health Educator, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center G-127, 401 College Street P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298; wcrocker@ppls.org , Library Director, Petersburg Public Library, 201 West Washington Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; Alton.Hart@vdh.virginia.gov , Public Health Director, Crater Health District, Virginia Department of Health, 301 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; mmosavel@vcu.edu , Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; crafie@vcu.edu , James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 11th Floor, Room 11-204, 1201 East Marshall Street P.O. Box 980070, Richmond, VA 23298-0070.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.affiliation: kaports@ vcu.edu , Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; aayers@vcu.edu , Community Health Educator, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center G-127, 401 College Street P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298; wcrocker@ppls.org , Library Director, Petersburg Public Library, 201 West Washington Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; Alton.Hart@vdh.virginia.gov , Public Health Director, Crater Health District, Virginia Department of Health, 301 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; mmosavel@vcu.edu , Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; crafie@vcu.edu , James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 11th Floor, Room 11-204, 1201 East Marshall Street P.O. Box 980070, Richmond, VA 23298-0070.
authors.forename: Alton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: kaports@ vcu.edu , Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; aayers@vcu.edu , Community Health Educator, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center G-127, 401 College Street P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298; wcrocker@ppls.org , Library Director, Petersburg Public Library, 201 West Washington Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; Alton.Hart@vdh.virginia.gov , Public Health Director, Crater Health District, Virginia Department of Health, 301 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; mmosavel@vcu.edu , Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; crafie@vcu.edu , James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 11th Floor, Room 11-204, 1201 East Marshall Street P.O. Box 980070, Richmond, VA 23298-0070.
authors.forename: Maghboeba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosavel
authors.affiliation: kaports@ vcu.edu , Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; aayers@vcu.edu , Community Health Educator, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center G-127, 401 College Street P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298; wcrocker@ppls.org , Library Director, Petersburg Public Library, 201 West Washington Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; Alton.Hart@vdh.virginia.gov , Public Health Director, Crater Health District, Virginia Department of Health, 301 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803; mmosavel@vcu.edu , Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23219; crafie@vcu.edu , James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 11th Floor, Room 11-204, 1201 East Marshall Street P.O. Box 980070, Richmond, VA 23298-0070.
authors.forename: Carlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rafie
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007999:Library Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014768:Virginia