Health and wellbeing at local libraries

East Lothian Libraries have a variety of resources and groups to encourage and contribute to health and wellbeing within our community.

We have 12 libraries which have a variety of resources, fiction and non-fiction for a variety of age groups. We also have a healthy reading scheme which is a range of self-help books, fiction and non-fiction books for children, young people and parents to help understand and cope with a variety of health conditions and events.  These resources are aimed at tackling issues that can arise in childhood and ADHD, anger, anxiety are just some of the topics covered.  See the Special Community Services page for more information.

East Lothian libraries currently provide books to 36 book clubs within the East Lothian Area, some are based within our various libraries and some are private book clubs. East Linton and Haddington libraries also run ‘Walk and Talk’ book groups, where books are discussed whilst out walking. Aging Well and Changes groups also run walking groups that leave from Dunbar Library.

We also run and/or support a variety of community groups, some of which are to support those affected by specific health conditions, to encourage socialisation and to promote wellbeing.

There are two Cancer Support groups that currently run at North Berwick and Dunbar Libraries.

At Dunbar library, there is a Dementia Carers group which provides an opportunity for people with dementia and their carers a change to get together and meet others. There is also a Singalong group which provides uplifting music and afternoon tea for older people and their carers. Dunbar library also has dementia friendly resources.

Haddington library run a Sporting Memories group for men over 65. This was set up to promote and improve wellbeing and the lives of older men through conversation and reminiscence using sporting memories.

Other groups within our libraries include a smoking cessation group, Pans Pals for people over 60, ‘Yin’ O Oo’, a chat and social group. At Prestonpans library, midwives run an antenatal class with attendees at classes arranged though midwives and currently at Musselburgh library there is an NHS Speech and Language Therapy drop in being run for parents with concerns about their children’s listening and talking.

We also have number of craft groups and ‘Knit and Natter’ groups that run in various libraries.

Other services include the Hospitals and Homes service that provides material to sheltering housing complexes, residential homes and hospitals and we provide a Home Library Service to those that are housebound and unable to attend the library. Bags of books are made up according to their interests and delivered to recipients by volunteer drivers.  

Hearing aid batteries are also available at all our branches. Online applications for blue badges can be made in all our branches by appointment. Applications for disabled bus passes and Concessionary bus passes can also be made.

Please contact your local library to see which groups are being run or alternatively contact the Digital and Adult services at Library and Museum Headquarters.  Please also get in touch if you have any Health and Wellbeing ideas.