Genetic Literacy and Public Libraries

Here’s a post from Lisa Chow and Alice Dontanville:

What does genetics literacy have to do with the public library?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

It has been only 13 years since a team of international scientists succeeded in determining the sequence of the human genome. This momentous—and well-publicized–event was the culmination of The Human Genome Project, an international scientific effort coordinated by the U.S. Dept of Energy and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

But what do the tremendous recent leaps forward in genetic science mean for ordinary people? These discoveries, as yet dimly understood by most of us, have broad implications for society. And there is an increasing need on the part of individuals and communities, especially minority communities and low-income groups, to understand the possible implications of genomic research.

Why? For one example, consider New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg’s recent call for taking DNA samples from every person arrested in New York City, no matter how serious the crime. Since more minorities are arrested in New York City than whites, this means that the city is essentially proposing to create a database of, largely, minority DNA – not the DNA of every citizen – for law enforcement purposes. Are we willing, as a society, to give our consent to this? (Would we be willing to give our consent if the database were to include everyone?) And how will we know whether we should object, unless we pay attention to issues surrounding genetic science—and understand at least the basics of the science itself?

Other issues raised by recent advances in genetic science include:

• privacy of information
• genetic non-discrimination
• fairness in use of genetic information
• education of health providers, people with genetic conditions, and the general public
• genetic technologies and testing
• relationship of genes and environment to common complex diseases like heart disease and diabetes
• legal issues
• concepts of free will versus genetic determination

In order to consider these issues, as a community–and ultimately, in order to do something about them–the public, and especially minority communities, need to be informed about recent advances in genetic science and they need a forum to talk about the social implications of these advances.

It’s a tall order–but libraries, as highly trusted and accessible centers for information and education, are the ideal place to start.

To do just that, Brooklyn Public Library partnered with Libraries for the Future (LFF) and WE ACT for Environmental Justice on an initiative called The Human Genome Project: Community Conversations, funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Libraries for the Future (LFF) and WE ACT for Environmental Justice worked independently with the three public library systems in New York City to increase the genetic literacy of the public by providing information about the Human Genome Project and the implications of genomics research.

As part of this grant project, Brooklyn Public Library, the fifth largest library system in the nation, celebrated National DNA Day to educate and engage the public about the Human Genome and genetics.

Explore our ALA Virtual Poster, “Celebrating National DNA Day at a Public Library: Reaching Out to the Community to Increase Awareness and Knowledge about the Human Genome and Genetics,” to see what we did and how the day turned out!