Campaspe Library Service has launched a two-part podcast.
The podcast is part of a research project undertaken by Nerida Dye, the Campaspe Library’s community outreach coordinator, exploring how library services can boost residents' health and happiness through social prescribing.
Mrs Dye's study, funded by the Barrett Reid Scholarship, aimed to collect local insights, collaborating with health experts and chatting with locals helped by the library's social and fun programs.
She said the Social Prescribing Library aims to identify ways to encourage people to socialise and get involved with things that interest them.
“The program is for people who need assistance with their mental health, have social needs which affect their wellbeing or feel lonely or isolated,” she said.
“We work with these individuals to provide home or community-based services which support social, mental and emotional wellbeing.”
Campaspe Shire Council Mayor Rob Amos said the podcast will help to demonstrate how libraries are important social hubs.
“The work that our library team do out in our community by bringing the library services to residents who cannot attend in person is highly valued, as you will hear from testimonies in the podcast,” he said.
“This podcast is also a great initiative to demonstrate a different communication channel that Council as utilised to tell our residents about projects.”
For more information and to listen to the podcast, visit https://tinyurl.com/2s448rpe