Informing Health intended to form a partnership between key providers and users of health information services in Brighton through the library’s online health information. The project surveyed health information seekers using the public library service, ran participatory workshops to identify needs and produced design ideas to help the library to meet those needs.

Project Outline

The research project took place in Brighton in 2006. It was part of ongoing research into the role that information and communications technologies (ICTs) might play in enabling access to health information. It sought to develop a model for good practice in community engagement around health information, adopting an approach based on participation and knowledge exchange.

The project linked closely with, but not duplicated, a project that ran from January to August 2006 which involved a survey of health information seekers using the public library service in Brighton and Hove . That project produced useful information about individuals using the library service, their health information needs and their experiences of using different aspects of the service. The Cupp project ran alongside that project but added an important new dimension through its overall aim which was to engage local community groups more directly with library service developments designed to support health information seeking.

Project partners •Health4AllTeam •eb4U •Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust •Brighton and Hove Library Service •Brighton and Sussex Universities Hospitals Trust •School of Computing, Mathematics and Information Sciences at the University of Brighton