If you are looking to improve your health and wellbeing, your local library is a great place to start.
Our libraries help people help themselves by providing access to:
- accredited health information
- health signposting
- social and recreational activities
- volunteering opportunities that keep people active
Self-care toolkits
The toolkits are a portable collection of items, books and activities to encourage young people, aged 11 and over, to practise self-care and enhance mental wellbeing.
They can be reserved and borrowed from any of the libraries in North Yorkshire by individuals and groups, for use at home, in the library or out in the community. Contents include books from the shelf help reading well collection, sketch pads, colouring pencils, fidget toys, origami and information on support organisations.
Self-care toolkits can be borrowed free of charge for three weeks using a North Yorkshire library card.
Wellbeing bags
Wellbeing bags are a portable collection of items, books and activities to encourage people to practise self-care and enhance mental wellbeing. They can be reserved and borrowed from any North Yorkshire library by individuals and groups, for use at home, in the library or out in the community.
Contents include resources and information such as colouring, puzzles, self-help books and health information and advice.
Wellbeing bags can be borrowed free of charge for three weeks using a North Yorkshire library card.
Memory bags
The bags are a portable collection of items, books and activities to encourage conversations between people with memory loss and their family and friends.
They can be reserved from any of the libraries in North Yorkshire by individuals and groups, for use at home, in the library or out in the community. There are five bags on the themes of countryside, garden, home, seaside, and sport. Each bag is slightly different but contents include books from the Reading Well for Dementia collection, fidget toys, memory activities, painting, games, and information on support organisations.
Memory Bags can be borrowed free of charge for three weeks using a North Yorkshire library card.
Blood pressure monitors
Several of our libraries offer free blood pressure monitors which can be used either in branch or loaned for longer periods to allow you to check your blood pressure if you have concerns or have been asked to do so by a doctor.
They can be reserved from any of the libraries in North Yorkshire and borrowed free of charge for three weeks using a North Yorkshire library card.
NHS App support
IT buddies are available in most libraries to provide support with downloading the NHS App and signing up for an NHS account. The NHS App can help you manage your healthcare using a phone, tablet or computer. For more information or to book a session, contact your local library.
Reading Well collections
This scheme supports you to manage your own health and wellbeing through recommended self-help books. Reading Well books are recommended by health experts, and people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered and their relatives and carers. You can be recommended a title by a health professional, or you can visit your local library and take a book out yourself. The titles can be searched using our library catalogue or you can ask at your local library to request them free of charge.
Five book lists are available from the Reading Well website:
- books on Reading Well for mental health
- books on Reading Well for teenagers
- books on Reading Well for children
- books on Reading Well for families
- books on Reading Well for dementia
Dementia support
The library service aims to support the health and wellbeing of those living with dementia, raise awareness and understanding, promote self-help and provide information and signposting to enable people to access support.
All North Yorkshire libraries are dementia friendly and we provide training for staff and volunteers in dementia awareness. We work with partners to host memory cafes and other reminiscence sessions, and loan reminiscence collections to carers and groups supporting people with dementia.
Our libraries are also Playlist for Life help points, able to provide information and support to bring the power of personal music to people living with dementia.
Social and recreational activities
There are a wide range of regular activities taking place in libraries from poetry and reading groups, to knit and natter, deaf café and coffee and chat. Our libraries also host a number of health and wellbeing activities and roadshows throughout the year, linking with local and national initiatives. Ask at your local library or keep up to date with your local library’s Facebook page to find out what is happening in your area.
Home library service
We can select and deliver books, audiobooks, and information to the homes of people or families who find it difficult to get to their local library. Find out more about the home library service.