At Evanston Public Library, we believe that health literacy is an essential part of a thriving, informed, and resilient community. Our commitment to community wellness includes a wide range of ongoing programs and services that support mental, emotional, and physical health for people of all ages.
Ongoing Health & Wellness Services
EPL has a long-standing history of offering free and accessible health-related programming, including:
- Free HIV and STI screening, in partnership with Howard Brown Health
- Brain health programs for older adults through our Ageless Grace and Active Healthy Aging classes
- Health and nutrition education through series like Wellness Wednesdays, with a rotating focus on topics such as healthy eating and chronic disease prevention
These services aim to empower individuals with practical knowledge and tools to make informed health decisions in their daily lives.
Mental Health Support and Community Resources
EPL also provides a wide variety of mental health-focused programs, many of which are offered on a recurring basis:
- Entrenamiento Gratuito – Primeros Auxilios de Salud Mental de Jóvenes (Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in Spanish)
- Issues in Medical Ethics – A thoughtful series exploring the complex intersections of healthcare and ethics
- Death Café – A monthly community gathering that provides a safe, respectful space to talk openly about death, dying, and grief
- Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group – Monthly peer support facilitated by trained volunteers from the Alzheimer’s Association
- Impact Behavioral Health – Staff host a monthly drop-in table at the Main Library to share mental health resources and connect with patrons one-on-one
Partnership Spotlight: Turning Point Behavioral Health
One of the key ways EPL supports community mental health is through our partnership with Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center, an outpatient mental health provider that offers compassionate, trauma-informed care regardless of personal circumstances.
A standout feature of this partnership is the Living Room model—welcoming, walk-in spaces for adults in crisis to find calm, clarity, and next steps with the help of trained recovery support specialists. These services are now offered both at Turning Point’s Skokie headquarters and at a new Evanston location on the St. Francis Hospital campus.
In late 2024, the partnership expanded to include the Mobile Living Room (MLR)—a mobile extension of Turning Point’s services that visits the library regularly. Through scheduled weekly visits to both the Main Library and the Robert Crown Branch, the MLR offers in-person mental health support to adults seeking connection and care.
In addition to the MLR, Turning Point’s Mobile Crisis Response Team now hosts a table inside the Main Library twice a week, offering information and services to patrons of all ages. In just the first three months of this partnership, the Turning Point teams connected with more than 100 individuals—many of whom encountered the support simply by walking into the library or passing by on Church Street.
A Library That Cares
Whether you’re navigating personal challenges, looking to support a loved one, or simply interested in learning more about health and wellness, the library is here for you. EPL is more than a place to check out books—it’s a vital community space where people can access trusted resources, find compassionate support, and discover new paths to wellness.
Your health matters. Your story matters. And your library is here to help—today, and every day.