Abstract Body: Background: Despite guideline endorsement, self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring remains underutilized in hypertension care. To address this gap, the American Heart Association (AHA) partnered with public libraries to establish a novel SMBP device loan program, enabling patrons to borrow blood pressure monitors free of charge, similar to books. This study was performed to describe the implementation and borrowing patterns of a library-based SMBP device loan initiative and identify characteristics of high-utilization sites.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team from an academic medical center collaborated with suburban public libraries in Suffolk County, NY. In 2021, the AHA distributed 689 SMBP kits to 53 libraries. Each kit included a validated BP monitor and AHA educational materials. One staff member per library was trained to support patrons. Kits were loaned for 28 days with renewal allowed. Libraries tracked kit checkouts monthly from December 2021 to March 2023. De-identified monthly borrowing data were summarized, and z-scores were calculated to identify libraries with significantly higher usage.

Results: Of 53 libraries, 47 provided usable data. Across 24 months, SMBP kits were checked out 1,653 times, averaging 2.26 checkouts per library per month (SD 1.69). Six libraries demonstrated higher-than-average borrowing (z-score >1), with an average of 5.49 checkouts/month (SD 1.29). These libraries often offered additional services (e.g. blood pressure screenings by nursing or physician assistant students, health education sessions, and access to social work services) that may have supported increased patron engagement.

Conclusion: A library-based SMBP loan program was successfully implemented in a diverse network of public libraries, facilitating access to hypertension self-management tools. Libraries with integrated clinical and educational services had notably higher device utilization, suggesting that pairing SMBP access with community-based support may enhance program uptake. With over 17,000 public libraries nationally, this model may offer a scalable approach to community-level hypertension control. Further research is needed to identify and replicate successful implementation strategies across varied settings.