University of Maryland, College Park

As the American population ages, the need for trusted sources of health-related information and services increases. In this Early Career Development project, Bo Xie of the University of Maryland's College of Information Studies will design a public-library-based program to provide high-quality, Internet-based health information to seniors from diverse backgrounds. Key to the project will be the incorporation of a cadre of committed, older adult volunteers who will help design the curriculum and then serve as peer trainers, teaching other senior volunteers how to access, assess, and use a broad range of quality online resources. This research project, grounded in participatory design methodology, will develop curricula, procedures, and other guides, which will be made available to public libraries nationwide.