Largo, Maryland –

A newly created partnership between the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will provide much-needed health resources to the community, while providing a critical clinical experience for nursing students.The initiative — Talk Health with the University of Maryland School of Nursing — places entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students from UMSON at the Universities at Shady Grove in the Greenbelt Branch Library on Mondays this fall.

“The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is able to provide access to health information and resources to the public with key services such as blood pressure screenings, medication education, and primary care referrals,” said PGCMLS Central Area Director Quemar Rhoden, who worked closely with UMSON to help launch the partnership. “The University of Maryland School of Nursing is an amazing organization, and we are truly grateful for their entire team that makes such a meaningful impact in the lives, and health, of our customers.”

By partnering with UMSON for the Talk Health series, PGCMLS continues a long tradition of offering health resources to Prince George’s County residents, Rhoden said.

“PGCMLS is committed to supporting the well-being of our community. Some examples from the past few years include our COVID-19 Vaccine Hunter Hotline, ‘Get Active: Ride & Read’ stationary bikes in library branches, and our ‘Caseworker in the Library’ series with Maryland Department of Human Services,” he added.

For nursing student Bukola Oladipuo, working directly with the community is extremely fulfilling, especially when it comes to educating them about the importance of managing their health.

“A lot of people — after checking them, we realize that they didn’t take their blood pressure medication that morning,” Oladipuo said. “Letting them know how important it is to be compliant with the medication regimen — it’s something rewarding for me.”

Each week, under the supervision of clinical faculty, the students will conduct free health screenings, referrals, health education and classes on a variety of topics, including stress reduction, healthy eating and nutrition, managing chronic illness, and low-impact exercises.

NOTE: Students cannot assist with first aid, wound care, emergency services, diagnosis of illness or vaccinations.

“Public libraries and public health are a natural combination,” said Karin Russ, JD, MS ’09, BSN ’89 RN, assistant professor. “Libraries are one of the last free spaces and provide the public with access to information and technology. And now, they will provide the ability to talk with health professionals one-on-one.”  

Russ, who coordinates clinical experiences for the BSN Community and Public Health nursing course, has been teaching public health and environmental health classes at UMSON since 2009, said the School looks forward to being able to help improve health equity in Prince George’s County.

“This new partnership is a cost-effective way to build healthier communities,” she added.

The collaboration between UMSON and the library system expands work that began last year. In spring 2023, UMSON BSN students were placed in multiple branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library throughout Baltimore in a partnership that was the first of its kind in Maryland.

For more information about the partnership, and to see the full schedule, visit:  https://tinyurl.com/d9c3zvmb.

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About the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) helps customers discover and define opportunities that shape their lives. The Library serves the 967,000+ residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland through 19 branch libraries, a 24/7 online library, and pop-up services throughout the community. PGCMLS is a responsive and trusted community-driven organization. Programs, services, and outreach activities serve book lovers, immigrants and refugees, job seekers, children, young professionals, seniors, and families alike. PGCMLS is the recipient of the 2021 Urban Libraries Council Top Innovator Award for Workforce and Economic Development. Learn more at pgcmls.info/about-us.

About the University of Maryland School of Nursing

The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling more than 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

About the University of Maryland, Baltimore

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) was founded in 1807 as the Maryland College of Medicine, which now stands as the nation’s oldest public medical school. In response to growing social and cultural needs, UMB’s mission has evolved and grown tremendously. Widely recognized as a preeminent institution, UMB serves as the academic health, law, and social work university of the University System of Maryland, and is guided by a mission of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service.

UMB is a thriving academic health center combining cutting-edge biomedical research, exceptional patient care, and nationally ranked academic programs. With extramural funding totaling $654 million in Fiscal Year 2022, each tenured/tenure-track faculty member generates an average of $1.5 million in research grants each year. More than 3,100 faculty members conduct leading-edge research and develop solutions and technologies that impact human health locally and around the world. World-class facilities and cores, as well as interprofessional centers and institutes, allow faculty to investigate pressing questions in a highly collaborative fashion. As a result, the more than 7,000 students, postdocs, and trainees directly benefit from working and learning alongside leading experts as they push the boundaries of their fields. For a listing of the organized research centers and institutes, visit: https://www.umaryland.edu/research/umb- research-profile/research-centers-and-institutions/.