The IU East Campus Library, in collaboration with the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM), will host a health literacy event featuring physician and author Dr. William Cooke on Monday, March 25th. The event will take place at Whitewater Hall on the Indiana University East campus.

Dr. Cooke, author of the book “Canary in the Coal Mine,” will discuss critical issues such as socioeconomic and racial disparities in health, needle exchange programs, and managing public health crises.

The theme of the event is “Health, Hope, & Healing through Community.”

The author presentation will commence at 10 a.m., followed by an open dialogue with Dr. Cooke at 11 a.m.

All members of the community are welcome to attend this free event. For those unable to attend in person, the presentation can be viewed via a livestream at the IU East Facebook page, and after the event a recording will be made available online by Whitewater Community Television.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., a Recovery and Resilience Resource Fair will be held in Whitewater Hall. More than 20 community organizations will participate, offering valuable information on mental and physical health, substance use treatment programs, and various support services for individuals and families.

Attendees will also receive complimentary access to a new educational version of the documentary “The Addict’s Wake,” courtesy of the documentary producer and in collaboration with the IU East Campus Library.

Also at the event, the Wayne County Health Department and the local Public Health Americorps program will provide HIV and Hep C testing from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the IU East Center for Health Promotion, located in Hayes Hall.

Dr. Cooke will be available for book signings from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering attendees an opportunity to discuss compassionate care, community solutions for substance misuse, and other pertinent public health issues.

IU East librarians have produced an online resource guide, free and publicly accessible, featuring information about the author, reliable resources about substance use, and health and wellness service providers.

The guide highlights MedlinePlus, a free online health information source offering trustworthy and up-to-date information on diseases, health conditions, and wellness topics.

The program underscores the NNLM’s commitment to health literacy and ensuring equitable access to quality health information. NNLM Region 6, served by Community Coordinator Darlene Kaskie, includes Indiana and Ohio.

Kaskie explained the purpose of the book and author outreach programs with libraries.

“Our mission is health literacy. We want all people to have access to quality health information so they can make informed decisions about their health.”

Frances Yates, Campus Library director and event coordinator, emphasized the significance of such initiatives, stating, “As a library, we strive to provide access to reliable health information for all individuals. This event is an opportunity to showcase the diverse range of services available to support our community’s health needs.”

Dr. Cooke’s presentation and the purchase of books for free distribution were made possible through a grant from the NNLM, with additional support from the Indiana University East Campus Library, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Refreshments for the event were generously funded by Reid Health Community Benefit.

For more information about health resources, please email iueref@iu.edu or visit east.iu.edu/library.