Collection Development "Men's Health": Taking Men's Health Public

Men have typically avoided seeking medical care and information, often leaving the responsibility to the women in their lives. Yet since the first version of this article was published ten years ago (see James Swanton's “An Rx for Men's Health Collections,” LJ 1/96, p. 53–56), men have taken a more active role in managing their health, thanks to the likes of former Sen. Bob Dole, who went public with his erectile dysfunction and use of “the little blue pill”; Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who shared his struggles with prostate cancer; and the Internet, which allows users to surf in private and often at no cost. There is even a National Men's Health Week (June 12–18, 2006), which encourages males young and old to take care of themselves.

This is good news that could be better. Healthy People 2010, a federal health initiative, reported that men continue to experience higher death rates for the ten leading causes of death, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, suicide, and chronic liver disease. However, men have also started to address the underlying causes of these and other killers (along with cardiovascular disease, cancer afflicts men the most, with prostate cancer being the most common). Chronic or excess stress, for example, has been implicated in reducing immunity and in causing cardiovascular disease. Its management is routinely used to treat heart disease, anxiety, cancer, fibromyalgia, HIV/AIDS, and psoriasis.

As a result, current men's health collections need to go beyond the heart and prostate to reflect a growing interest in stress management, diet and exercise, and sexuality. The taboo of depression is dissipating as scientific research validates the condition as a bonfide condition, but the broad nature of the topic falls out of this article's scope. [For an overview of depression resources, including materials for men, see Roberta S. Johnson's “Bibliotherapy: Battling Depression,” LJ 6/1/98, p. 73-76.] Although a serious health issue for men, alcoholism is also not covered. And while hair loss and baldness has wounded many a male ego, the issue is excluded due to the lack of good current materials and patron interest.

Despite the popularity of the web as a free source of medical information, patrons are demanding higher collection standards, and many libraries' collection criteria now include statements that consumer health materials must be scientifically based or draw on evidence-based medical data. Single-topic consumer health books rank as the most requested items and provide frazzled patrons with the easiest access to the desired information, that is, overviews and definitions of a disease or condition and/or (all) the treatment options. Yet it should be noted that patrons who suffer from a chronic condition—even cancers can linger for over a decade—often become well-versed in the basics and want research-level, clinical material on underlying causes. Consumer health encyclopedias like those published by Facts On File provide nice overviews, though not always the proper depth.

Speaking of publishers, commerical and specialized houses continue to excel in men's health. Among the notable university presses are Harvard University (www.hup.harvard.edu) and Johns Hopkins University Press (www.press.jhu.edu)—although the latter's popular “White Papers” are published by Medletter Associates. Jones & Bartlett Publishers (www.jbpub.com/company/) is certainly a leader in both clinical and consumer health information. The go-to publisher for African American consumer health (for men and women) is Hilton Publishing (www.hiltonpub.com).

As for dealing with the flood of sometimes dicey fitness and nutrition guides—most feature authors who drone on about celebrity clients or are too difficult for out-of-shape baby boomers to incorporate into their daily routines—start with Human Kinetics Press (www.humankinetics.com), whose fitness titles are honest about the time and commitment it takes to get in shape. Hatherleigh Press (store.yahoo.com/hatherleighpress/) also offers a number of fitness and diet titles aimed at men.

Other Media

In this writer's experience, health videos for men aren't a draw, much less a market. Popular magazines like Men's Health seem like a no-brainer, but they pale in comparison to several excellent consumer health newsletters that address issues relevant to men. The leader of the pack? Harvard Men's Health Watch (see bibliography below). As for web resources, we've have come to rely on them to research just about every topic, and they can certainly supplement a print collection.

Patrons, even some clinicians, don't have patience with consumer health materials that are a few years old, much less completely dated, so weed freely and fret not—many topics, owing to their breadth and/or higher rate of occurrence or popularity (fitness, cancer, cardiovascular health) generate new titles annually. Don't be so hasty with titles dealing with narrower topics that have a smaller readership. Also books written at a lower reading level tend to have a longer shelf life.

Because of space considerations, clinical titles and references have been posted on www.libraryjournal.com as an addendum to this article. Starred [] titles are essential for all collections.

Overviews

Heart Health

Arnot, Bob, M.D. Seven Steps To Stop a Heart Attack. S. & S. 2005. 288p. index. ISBN 0-7432-2557-0. $25; pap. ISBN 0-7432-2559-7. $14.

Casey, Aggie & Herbert Benson, M.D. Mind Your Heart: A Mind/Body Approach to Stress Management, Exercise and Nutrition for Heart Health. Free Pr: S. & S. 2004. 338p. index. ISBN 0-7432-3702-1. pap. $12.

Reaven, Gerald, M.D. & others. Syndrome X: Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack. S. & S. 2001. 288p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-684-86863-6. pap. $13.

Cancer

American Cancer Society's Complete Guide to Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. 2005. 394p. ed. by David Bostwick, M.D. & others. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-944235-54-9. pap. $19.95.

Scardino, Peter T., M.D. & Judith Kelman. Dr. Peter Scardino's Prostate Book: The Complete Guide to Overcoming Prostate Cancer, Prostatitis, and BPH. Avery: Penguin Group (USA). 2005. 481p. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-58333-220-0. $27.95.

Sexuality

Goldstone, Stephen E., M.D. The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex: A Medical Handbook for Men. Dell. 1999. 288p. ISBN 0-440-50846-0. pap. $13.95.

Stress

Sapolsky, Robert M. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: An Updated Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping. 3d ed. Owl Bks: Holt. 2004. 539p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8050-7369-8. pap. $16.

Fitness/Nutrition

Newsletters

Web Sites