January 14, 2009 > New Materials Available at the Washington Community Health Resource Library New Materials Available at the Washington Community Health Resource Library Library Becomes Designated Medication Drop-Off Site Have a question about your health? Want to know more about a recent diagnosis? Visit the Washington Community Health Resource Library to find new books and DVDs. Open to the public five days a week (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday), the library located on the first floor of Washington West (2500 Mowry Avenue, Suite 100), also offers free osteoporosis screenings and blood pressure screenings. The blood pressure screening machine measures blood pressure as well as body mass index (BMI), pulse rate, weight and height. For more information you can visit the library's website www.healthlibrary.org or call (510) 494-7030. The library issues membership cards to those who want to check out books, DVDs or download medical articles into various languages through the library's subscription information service called ProQuest. You just need a valid California ID to access this service. "Many people come in looking for information about an illness or medication and to check their blood pressure or bone density," says Sumedha Shende, Operations Coordinator. "Our library is a quiet and comfortable setting for people to learn more about a disease or find out how to stay healthy." What's New at the Library The library continues to acquire new books on a variety of topics such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. There are also new DVDs on surgeries such as knee, back or hip operations and a full library of InHealth Channel 78 programs that are available to check out on DVD as well. "Diabetes cookbooks are very popular for those looking to prepare meals," Shende adds. "Our patrons are thrilled when they see that our collection provides what they are looking for." New title selections include: The Art of Aging, Diabetes and Healthy Heart Cookbook, Understanding your Moods when you are Expecting, Beat the Back Pain, Spinal Cord Injury, The Doctor's Book of Food Remedies, and other health related matters. Drop Off Your Old or Unused Medications at the Library In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of improper disposal of medication, Washington Hospital has partnered with the Union Sanitary District to offer Tri-City area residents a convenient, safe and environmentally sound option for disposing of old or leftover medications. The Community Health Resource Library is now a permanent medication drop-off site. "Pharmaceuticals that get flushed down the drain are polluting our water and has a negative impact on fish and other wildlife," says Ruth Traylor, Director of Community Outreach at Washington Hospital. "The medication drop off program is a free service that helps our environment." Promoting health and a healthy community is the main goal of the Community Health Resource Library. The library participates in a number of health fairs throughout the community and the library's outreach program is involved with various elementary schools in the community. Are You Interested in Becoming a Library Volunteer? Volunteers are a big reason why the Community Health Resource Library is a success and the library is always in need of an extra hand that would like to donate their time. If you're interested in volunteering, please call Sumedha Shende, Operations Coordinator at (510) 494-7009.