Nearly half of all Americans live with high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke. In response, a new community-based effort is aiming to make prevention and monitoring more accessible.
The Libraries with Heart initiative, launched through a partnership between K-State Extension, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the American Heart Association and six area libraries, is designed to increase access to blood pressure monitoring and education. The program is funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas and supported by the Southwind Extension Education Foundation.
Participating libraries in Iola, Chanute, Fort Scott, Moran, Toronto and Erie are now offering blood pressure monitoring kits for public checkout, giving residents a free and convenient way to track their health at home.
Each kit includes a blood pressure monitor (available in multiple cuff sizes) and a take-home packet with educational materials.
MELISSA SITLER, Public Services Librarian at Iola Public Library, said the process is simple. “You can check it out just like you would any other item,” she said, noting that kits are currently available for a two-week period.
Beyond the equipment itself, the program promotes education and long-term health awareness. Each kit contains materials explaining how to properly use the monitor, interpret readings and take steps toward improving heart health. Users also receive a log to track their readings over time, which can be shared with their healthcare provider.
Tara Solomon-Smith, K-State Extension Southwind District Family and Community Wellness Agent and Healthy Heart Ambassador, said the initiative grew out of an effort to improve participation in existing hypertension prevention programs.
“K-State Extension, in partnership with KDHE, already has a hypertension awareness and prevention program,” Solomon-Smith said. After struggling to engage participants, she began exploring alternative approaches and found a model that placed resources directly in libraries.
That shift proved effective, leveraging libraries’ role as trusted community spaces. “They’re a community hub anyway, and so to then put in this resource was natural,” she said.
IN ADDITION to monitoring and education, the program connects users with local healthcare resources. Each kit includes a referral sheet with contact information for providers in the user’s area.
Funding was a key factor in launching the program. With each kit costing about $100, the grant — totaling just over $1,000 — made it possible to place multiple kits into circulation across participating communities.
Library staff also received training to ensure they could confidently assist patrons.
Sitler said staff at Iola Public Library were trained directly by Solomon-Smith, allowing them to guide users in getting started with the monitors and materials.
Solomon-Smith noted that the initiative not only increases access to equipment but also empowers individuals to take a more active role in managing their health.
By offering free, convenient tools alongside educational support, Libraries with Heart lowers barriers that often prevent early detection and consistent monitoring.
LOOKING AHEAD, Solomon-Smith hopes to build on the program’s success by expanding partnerships and introducing additional health-focused services.
