The Know Your Chances: Understanding Health Statistics Book Discussion Project evolved from a webinar held by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Region’s (NN/LM NER) on March 4, 2014. Following the webinar, Margot Malachowski, NER’s Healthy Communities COI (Community of Interest) Leader, shared a vision for a book discussion group project.

In June 2014, the NN/LM NER Healthy Communities, Community of Interest (COI) invited network members to apply to participate in a health statistics book discussion project. The nine libraries and organizations selected to participate were required to: host and lead a book discussion at least once; attend planning teleconferences, and provide a brief post-project report to share their experiences. Participants were asked to select an audience for a book discussion, ideally public libraries, high school students, health professions students, caregivers, teachers, support groups or patient educators. Project participants lead book discussions that helped consumers learn how to calculate risk, put risk in perspective, and develop a healthy skepticism.

Know Your Chances is a quick read and is freely available online on the PubMed Health bookshelf at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0050876/