The Women's Health Resource Library, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Milbridge Maine, was born out of the realization that the women of Downeast Maine, and Washington County in particular, face tremendous obstacles when it comes to accessing current, reliable health information. Moreover, the library, which is the first of its kind in Maine, is not only a place for women to gain desperately needed access to health information, but also a space in which women will want to gather together, linger, and learn.

In Washington County, 17% of the population live below the poverty level. This is the largest percentage of any county in the state. In families with a female head of household and children under 18, fifty percent live below the poverty level. These women do not have personal libraries. They do not have home computers. But women are the primary consumers of health care, making 70-90% of all healthcare decisions for themselves and their families.

Medical models that focus on treating disease work particularly poorly for women. Health promotion is a more effective delivery system; it is more responsive to women's needs. The primary causes of morbidity in women are related to lifestyle choices. In a partnership model, there is greater potential for supporting changes in unhealthy habits.

OUR MISSION is to support women and their families in making informed decisions about their healthcare and to become active partners in their care.

The WRHL was planned by a group of volunteers, mostly women, from many of the communities in Washington and Hancock counties. 

For more information, visit www.whrl.org.