In this webinar you will learn how:

• Boston Public Library (BPL) designs scalable health literacy programs rooted in community needs.
• BPL’s Nutrition Lab supports community health education and food literacy.
• Public libraries can advance health literacy through strategic partnerships and innovative programming.

Boston Public Library (BPL) didn’t start with a prepackaged model. Their team began by listening. In this webinar, you’ll hear how BPL:

• Identified gaps in health knowledge and access across neighborhoods
• Aligned programming with expressed community priorities
• Built partnerships that strengthened credibility and reach
• Developed offerings that can be adapted across branches and audiences

Whether your library is just beginning to explore health literacy or looking to expand existing efforts, you’ll gain insight into how to move from idea to implementation. 

A highlight of BPL’s approach is the Nutrition Lab at the Shaw Roxbury Branch in Nubian Square. More than a demonstration kitchen, the Nutrition Lab is a hands-on learning space where food literacy comes alive. Programs have included:

• Cooking classes focused on affordable, culturally relevant meals
• Workshops on reading nutrition labels and understanding ingredients
• Community conversations that connect food, memory and culture
• Skill-building sessions that support long-term wellness

By combining culinary skills with health education and storytelling, BPL has created an environment where learning feels accessible and empowering. The Nutrition Lab model shows how libraries can address health literacy through experience, not just information.

This session covers:

• The evolving role of public libraries in advancing community health literacy 
• Approaches to fitness, mindfulness and holistic wellness programming 
• Ways to integrate digital health resources into programs and reference services 
• Strategies for building and sustaining community partnerships