Health Equity and Small and Rural Public Libraries During COVID-19

Rural communities in the United States struggle with many health inequities that predate the COVID-19 Pandemic. This poster analyzes how public libraries responded to COVID-19 from March 2020 through March 2021 by utilizing the social media platform Facebook to continue sharing content that supports community health and wellness. It situates these responses in the context of health inequities in rural America. Although libraries in different parts of the country responded to COVID-19 in unique ways, common practices include sharing timely information about the pandemic and social services; adapting services to continue serving communities safely; and providing enriching educational content that also addresses social determinants of health. The poster concludes with a call to better understand the work small and rural public librarians do to address health inequities.