Women's Health Information Centre

The Marion Powell Women's Health Information Centre is a lending library open to patients, visitors, staff and the general public.

The Centre opened in 1988 as the Women's Health Resource Centre. As part of the Regional Women's Health Centre, our mandate was to offer a central access point for women's health information, and to offer a wide range of written and audio-visual materials on different aspects of reproductive health.

In 1989, with a collection of 130 titles, the Resource Centre began to offer basic service. Throughout the 1990s, our collection and services expanded. In April 2004, the Resource Centre moved to room 916 of Women's College Hospital and was renamed the Marion Powell Women's Health Information Centre in honour of Dr. Marion Powell, a leader and activist in the field of women's health.

With the move to the main building of the hospital, the collection is expanding to cover more topics. There are now over 4,000 titles in our catalogue. Services have expanded to meet the needs of our growing client base. Over 4,000 people use our services each year.

Services Provided:
Our goal is to help women learn about the health matters that concern them. We offer one-on-one service and accessibility to current, authoritative and consumer-friendly health information. Some of the topics we have information on include:

* Alternative medicine
* Body image
* Diabetes
* Midlife/Menopause
* Parenting
* Reproductive health
* Women and aging
* Women and violence

Our collection includes a wide variety of books, magazines, videos, DVDs and online resources.

New Book Titles
The Centre gets in a wide variety of new book titles regularly. These are open to the public to reserve and borrow. See the lists of new titles here.

Library Catalogue
Our catalogue of library materials is now searchable online.

If you do not wish to borrow material you can take advantage of our wide variety of free information pamphlets. We do not circulate magazines, but they may be photocopied for a minimal charge. You are also welcome to print from our computers for a minimal charge.

Our other services include:

* Reference Services
* Photocopying
* Local Fax-Sending Service
* Information Sessions
* Book Launches

If you are unable to visit the Information Centre in person, we will be happy to mail or e-mail information to you.

Resource Finders
Our Resource Finders are brochures listing key books and websites on specific information including menopause, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart health and stress management. Please contact us to see if we have a Resource Finder on a particular topic and to have one mailed to you.

Events and Displays
Once a month (excluding the summer months) we run Lunch-and-Learn Sessions on health-related topics of interest to women. These are free information sessions that are open to all.

In addition to the resources listed above, we also have a display in the hospital lobby once a month, which includes fact sheets on different health topics.

All of our services are confidential, accessible, and tailored to our clients' individual needs.

Requirements
You must complete a membership form in order to borrow materials from the library. Please bring a valid identification that shows your name and address (e.g. driver's licence).

Location and Contact Info
Women's College Hospital, Main Building
76 Grenville Street (view map)
9th Floor, Room 916
Toronto, ON M5S 1B2

Phone: (416) 323-6045

Fax: (416) 323-6431

e-Mail: askus.whic@wchospital.ca

Hours of Service
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Accessibility
We are wheelchair-accessible

- Iris