Rural School Libraries Anchoring Community Mental Health Literacy

Authors

  • Denice Adkins School of Information Science & Learning Technologies, University of Missouri
  • Beth Brendler School of Information Science & Learning Technologies, University of Missouri
  • Kerry Townsend Columbia Public Schools, Missouri, USA
  • Melissa Maras College of Education, University of Missouri

Keywords:

school libraries, mental health, rural areas

Abstract

Across the United States, one in five children has or will have a serious mental illness. This project intended 1) to determine current efforts among rural school libraries and communities to promote mental health literacy, and 2) to determine rural school libraries’ capacity to promote community health literacy. This project used a mixed method design, including activities such as a quantitative survey of mental health support administered to rural school librarians, counselors, and administrators; qualitative interviews and focus groups with rural school librarians, counselors, and administrators; environmental analyses of school libraries where best practices are happening.

Author Biographies

  • Denice Adkins, School of Information Science & Learning Technologies, University of Missouri

    Associate Professor, School of Information Science & Learning Technologies

  • Beth Brendler, School of Information Science & Learning Technologies, University of Missouri

    Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Information Science & Learning Technologies

  • Kerry Townsend, Columbia Public Schools, Missouri, USA

    Library Media Coordinator, Columbia Public Schools

  • Melissa Maras, College of Education, University of Missouri

    Research Consultant, Assessment Resource Center, College of Education, University of Missouri

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Published

2019-12-23

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 4 (2019): December 2019 Issue

Section

Articles