Blog

As you know, COVID-19 remains a part of the fabric of our lives. It's been that way for a while now. Months that may feel like years.

But did you know there's a wealth of credible consumer health information on the Des Plaines Public Library's health subject page about many, many, many other medical conditions, too?

Let's say that you, or your loved one, or someone you know, has just been diagnosed with a particular disease. Where do you go to start to learn about it?

That's right... the library's health page.

Or maybe you'd like to read up on nutrition, to start eating and cooking and feeling better. Where can you do some homework?

That's right. The library's health page.

Come take a look.

Go to the library's home page at dppl.org

Look for Resources--in the upper right of the page.

Under Subjects, choose Health.

My two "go to" websites for health and medical questions that come to the library's Reference desk are:

• MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Mayo Clinic

They are listed as "bullets" near the bottom of the health page, under the section Try These Websites, Too.

MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic are two solid, credible places to begin researching a disease or to expand your knowledge.

There's plenty of other valuable information on the health page, as well.

Get up-to-date with what's going on regarding such high-profile medical topics as vaping, suicide prevention, and the opioid crisis.

If you have been thinking about pursuing a career in healthcare, the health page has a link to Oakton Community College's list of informational sessions. There's also a link to continuing education at Oakton for health professionals.

And, you can access several databases from the health page, including:

• COVID-19 Resources from Gale
• Medigap from Weiss Ratings
• Health & Medicine Collection (ebooks on health and medicine)
• ReferenceUSA Health Care 

If I can help guide you to information on the health page, let me know by emailing askalibrarian@dppl.org.

Spend a little time getting acquainted with the library's health subject page. I don't think you'll be disappointed.