An Ohio State University librarian has been selected as one of 10 national 2025 recipients of the "I Love My Librarian" Award.
Missy Creed works at the Library for Health Information at OSU's Wexner Medical Center. She helps people better understand health conditions and treatments.
WOSU’s Debbie Holmes spoke with Creed about her award, which will be presented in Phoenix on Jan. 24.
Debbie Holmes: You were selected from 1,300 nominees across the country. What does this award mean to you?
Missy Creed: Well, I am just so overwhelmed. I'm humbled. I'm honored. I'm just speechless. I wasn't expecting it. I enjoy the work that I do. I enjoy my outreach work as well that complements the library for health information that sits inside the Wexner Medical Center. So, this is unexpected.
Debbie Holmes: Why do you think you were selected?
Missy Creed: I think I was selected because the award looks at libraries, access to information and outreach work, which I'm so grateful to be doing (in the) central Ohio community. I have been fortunate enough to be invited back time and time again to some outreach events that are going on in the central Ohio community. To name one or two, the Healthy Community days that OSU Wexner Medical Center puts on, and then I also have gone along with (Wexner Medical Center's) community care coach, going out to the community to different events and different sites to reach the underserved population of central Ohio.
Debbie Holmes: At the library itself, at the OSU Wexner Medical Center, what do you do there?
Missy Creed: I have a library that sits in the atrium of the Rhodes Hall. And the library itself offers free, easy-to-read, easy-to-understand, reliable health information. So all those things are important. It's free. You don't have to pay to come in and get any of the information. I can make copies for you if you're interested in something reliable, because we need reliable health information to address our health concerns. You know, you need to make it simple. Sometimes we need to talk in plain language. And my material is in plain language, not in doctor speak or medical speak.
Debbie Holmes: So, you are helping regular people understand what disease their relative might have or they might have, versus helping medical students learn about these complex diseases and such.
Missy Creed: In short, yes, I'm there for the patients and their families and the community, but I'm also there for the medical students and the doctors themselves. Let's say, for example, your doctor diagnoses you with diabetes and you think you know what it means, but you're not sure. Well, my information can help you learn more about diabetes, and also help you to have a better conversation with your doctor because health care is so personalized.
Debbie Holmes: Are you concerned at all about discussions about whether vaccines are harmful or not? Is that making your work more challenging these days?
Missy Creed: No, not really. I do not have a medical background, so I don't give medical advice. My advice when somebody is talking to me about vaccines or something else is the information that I provide helps you to better understand the condition and to have a better conversation with your health care provider so you can take them your questions about that vaccine, about that condition, whatever the information is.
Debbie Holmes: What was it about books and libraries that attracted you to the field?
Missy Creed: I think I've always enjoyed helping people get the tools that they need to succeed in life. And health is so important. Your health is so important, and we all need to be aware of our health and understanding what is going on. So if you just want to eat healthy or you want to exercise or if you just want to learn more about a condition that you or your loved one might have, the library can help you do that.
The Library for Health Information is located at University Hospital, inside Rhodes Hall in the 5th floor atrium at 410 W. 10th Ave.
