This coming Movember we issue a call to Australia’s library workers: become a Mo-brarian and join the fight to change the face of men’s health.

Movember, the formerly useless and boring month of November, has been remade with the addition of a little facial hair. Now a global charity phenomenon, Movember creates much-needed awareness while raising tens of millions of dollars to help with men’s health issues—particularly prostate cancer and depression. To be a part of something grand all you have to do is discard that triple-bladed razor with aloe-vera infused moisturising strips and let your upper-lip hair grow wild and free for 30 days in November.

Males make up less than a third of the library workers in Australia but we have a unique chance to spread a very important message about men’s health. Every year 2,900 Australian men die from prostate cancer and more than 18,000 will be diagnosed. One in six men is experiencing depression, right now, and practically none of them will seek help. Men hang tough, and it’s killing them. Movember works to turn that around. What can be done to help? Set up a display in your library, promote men’s health materials within your collection, sponsor a Mo-brarian or have a Mo-Staff morning tea to raise some funds. Why not get your patrons or local community involved and find fun and informative ways to spread the word.

But we’re not in this alone. We need our Mo-Sistas – the female colleagues who embrace the life-saving message of Movember. Encourage the men you know to become mo-growing Mo-brarians, cheer them on, support them when they itch to shave and try not to laugh at them too much!

So come join us at the Movember website and register as a Mo-Bro or Mo-Sista. By pooling our resources and presenting a united (and slightly hairy) face to the world, we have a wonderful opportunity to use Movember to promote our profession and raise the profile of male workers in the library and information industry.

Library workers of Australia unite and put your money (just slightly above) where your mouth is – join us, and help change the face of men’s health.

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