Many library communities are establishing various services to cope with increasing demand for consumer health information (CHI). This study was engaged to ascertain what is currently being done by the medical libraries in the Akron-Canton-Youngstown (Ohio) region to provide this type of information, particularly what policies, practices, and future plans exist that may expand access and services to the public, rather than simply medical clientele. Fourteen responses to questionnaires distributed to 18 medical libraries in the region revealed that: (1) even though the area had no formalized CHI network in place, each of the four county regions surveyed had at least one library which could be accessed by consumers for health information, to varying degrees and by various means; (2) while many medical library professionals were in favor of expanding services to the public, concerns of building security, physician privacy, and staffing and budget priorities presented valid obstacles; (3) both proponents and opponents of consumer access generally agreed that a separate facility or section of a facility with consumer materials would be an appropriate way to meet consumer need without disrupting service to the primary clientele; (4) financial support from parent organizations like hospitals would be crucial in establishing CHI networks; and (5) public libraries and lay literature may be more convenient and familiar to the public. A literature review suggests that these survey findings are representative of circumstances and opinion in other regions. Ten tables illustrate the data, and a sample questionnaire is provided. (Contains 38 references.) (Author/BEW)