Public Libraries for Public Health: COVID-19 Response Efforts in Prince George’s County, Maryland

Abstract

Public libraries—trusted institutions with broad population reach—are well positioned to partner with public health departments to advance community health. In 2020 through 2022, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System assumed increasing responsibility in the local COVID-19 pandemic response by providing information and expanded services to county residents. With additional private funding, staffing, and public health resources, this library system codeveloped interventions to address information gaps, improve language access, and connect residents to more than 120 500 KN95 masks, more than 124 300 self-test kits, and more than 2400 vaccines. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(6):623–626. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307246 )