The oldest public lending library in the country is embracing a thoroughly modern mission: protecting the heart health of its community.
The Franklin Public Library — founded in 1790 with books donated by Benjamin Franklin — has become the first library in Massachusetts to team with the American Heart Association on a self-monitoring blood pressure station, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to preventative health care in trusted community spaces.
Located on the second floor of the library at 118 Main Street, the station features an automated blood pressure monitor available for public use, along with educational materials from the American Heart Association about how to interpret results and why managing high blood pressure is essential to preventing heart disease and stroke.
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| Franklin Library Director Felicia Oti takes her blood pressure |
The Association’s vice president of community impact in Greater Boston, Adriene Worthington, recently helped set up the station alongside library and town officials. But this isn’t just a DIY health kiosk. Franklin’s public health nurse, Alisha Sullivan, will periodically staff the station to answer questions, assist with readings, and guide residents who may need medical follow-up.
“Knowing your blood pressure is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health,” said Sullivan. “Not everyone owns a reliable monitor at home or knows how to use one. This gives people another option—one that’s free, walk-in friendly, and located in a place they already visit for other reasons.”
Library officials say the initiative aligns perfectly with their vision of the library as a “third space”—a place that isn’t home or work, but is open to everyone without any expectation to spend money.
“We still offer books and DVDs, of course,” said Allison Smith, the library’s assistant director. “But we’re also expanding the idea of what a library can be. This is a space for community connection, lifelong learning, and now even preventative health.”
The Franklin Public Library serves residents of all ages, from young families and high schoolers to older adults. Smith hopes that the sight of a blood pressure cuff nestled among the stacks will encourage people to take a quick health check, even if it wasn’t on their to-do list when they walked in.
“You might come to pick up a book or use the computer, and as you’re walking by, you think, ‘I’ve been meaning to check my blood pressure,’” she said. “It’s a subtle, accessible reminder to take care of yourself.”
For Franklin’s director of public health, Cathleen Liberty, the initiative is personal. She lost her father to heart disease and has long championed early detection and community education as pillars of prevention.
“I’ve seen programs like this in other states, and I immediately thought: We need to bring this to Massachusetts,” Liberty said. “We’re so proud to be the first town in the state to partner with the American Heart Association on a library-based station.”
Liberty said the program fills a critical gap in Massachusetts, where public health departments often operate with limited resources.
“Not everyone has easy access to a doctor, and not everyone understands what their numbers mean,” she said. “This station makes it easier to know your health status and take action if needed.”
From the American Heart Association’s perspective, the program is all about meeting people where they are.
“The path of least resistance is our strategy,” said Worthington. “We want to make it as easy as possible for someone to check their blood pressure. And where better than a library, which people already trust, already visit, and feel comfortable in?”
In addition to the in-library station, the American Heart Association is donating three portable blood pressure monitors that library patrons will be able to check out and bring home. Each monitor will come with easy-to-follow instructions, educational materials, and a multi-week blood pressure tracking log that users can keep, helping them monitor their readings over time and share results with their health care providers if needed.
The Association is supporting this initiative through a gift from a local philanthropist. Over the next year, the organization plans to expand the program to additional libraries across Massachusetts, with the next self-monitoring blood pressure station set to launch in Brockton later this summer.
The Association has used a similar model in Boston-area churches, training faith leaders and volunteers to run monthly blood pressure screenings. Worthington sees libraries as the next logical step in bringing hypertension education into the everyday lives of residents.
“Whether it’s a house of worship or a public library, it’s about building a culture of health in spaces where people feel they belong,” she said.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Shared from the American Heart Association press release -> https://newsroom.heart.org/local-news/massachusetts-library-expands-role-as-community-hub-with-blood-pressure-station
