The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (TNRL) is providing a new community service that will be supported by three third-year nursing students from Thompson Rivers University, who will become Community and Health Navigators connecting patrons with community resources and referrals to various agencies.
The Community and Health Navigators will be providing in-person support at the Kamloops and North Kamloops Libraries, but will also be available by phone to all patrons throughout the regional district, to provide support on health-related topics.
Personalized consultations, in-person in Kamloops or over the phone, will help patrons navigate local resources to meet their physical, mental, spiritual, cultural, and social needs.
There will be “Coffee and Conversations” drop-in sessions at the main Kamloops Library on Victoria Street, designed to foster community connections and share information about health-related topics and available resources. The sessions take place on on Tuesday, Feb. 27 and Tuesday, March 5 (10 to 11 a.m.) and Tuesday, March 19 (1 to 2 p.m.).
A Seniors’ Wellness Clinic at the North Kamloops Library on Tuesday, March 12 (10 a.m. to noon) will give participants an opportunity to have their blood pressure checked and learn some tips on improving their quality of life through areas such as sleep, diet, and social connections.
All these services are free for library patrons. The nursing students will be completing their work in the library in mid-March.
“The complex web of community, social, and health resources available in our communities can be incredibly challenging to navigate,” says Colleen Kennedy, Branch Head for the Kamloops Library.
“These Community and Health Navigators will reduce barriers to accessing resources by providing personalized referrals and information.
“As an important community hub and key source of information in our community, the TNRL is striving to reduce barriers. We are delighted to have these nursing students joining us to help make that possible.”
To book an in-person or phone consultation, and to find additional details about this program, visit www.tnrl.ca/nursing.
