Hello! I’m Meave [mɛv] Gallagher, a recent graduate of the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies and certified public librarian in New York State. My primary interest is in working to strengthening public libraries’ abilities to provide reliable, understandable health information. This began with interning for the Stony Brook Medicine Healthy Libraries Program, where I worked with a multidisciplinary team to do live COVID-19 Q&As with Suffolk County Library partners, as well as presentations on medical and health issues pertinent to those libraries’ communities. I also co-presented a tutorial on basic medical reference for members of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System. This grew into a pilot study I conducted as my senior project at Queens College on how public librarians shared vital medical information with their patrons while library buildings were closed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which I am happy to share upon request.
Since graduating, I’ve earned a Level 2 Specialization in Consumer Health Information from the Medical Library Association, consulted on a pilot class through the Network of the National Library of Medicine, “Building Successful Collaborations with Communities,” pursued continuing education courses on topics on health and public libraries, and become a member of Phi Beta Mu. I have experience with programming, outreach strategies, and community partnerships, and I want use the library to make health information accessible to all community members. Lately I’ve been exploring ways public libraries help patrons navigate choosing healthcare plans, similar to existing programs such as tax preparation and the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.
Before beginning my library studies program, I helped launch Cancer Health as the senior editor. Prior to that, I served as the managing editor of the Village Voice, where I’d previously worked as the copy chief. Before that, I put in a few years as the editorial operations manager for SF Weekly. I’ve written and edited for the Village Voice, The Morning News, Cosmopolitan.com, and POZ magazine, among others. I’m proud to have co-founded Vegansaurus, an award-winning vegan lifestyle blog, though I’m no longer involved in the site.
You can find me on LinkedIn, see what’s new with my foster kittens, and participate in The Morning News’ 2024 Tournament of Books, which I’ve helped program, written for, and moderated for many years. If you need an editor, copy editor, proofreader, fact checker, or researcher, please get in touch — I love to freelance. If you’re looking for someone passionate about consumer health education through public libraries — that’s me!
contact: [meave at meavegallagher dot com]