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Library director selected for national convening on libraries, community learning and substance use
Summary
The library director was selected to attend a convening in Kansas City focused on using literature and library programs to reduce substance use; the gathering is organized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services with partner institutions and aims to produce policy and toolkit materials.
The library director said she was selected to attend a national convening in Kansas City titled Libraries Advancing Community Learning to Reduce Substance Use, sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services with partners Kansas City Public Library, Emporia State University and UNC Greensboro.
The director said the convening will bring a small cohort of librarians together to draft policies and a workbook on therapeutic uses of literature — sometimes called bibliotherapy — to help libraries work with patrons affected by substance use, staff, and family members. "It's finding a way to apply therapeutic use of literature, including reading groups and collection development to support bibliotherapy," the director said.
The director said the cohort will try to do the bulk of the work while in Kansas City over two full days, and that organizers will cover hotel and travel. She said about 25 librarians from across the country were selected and that she and a North Bend library representative will provide rural-library perspectives.
At the meeting the director said she will brief the city council about the convening before she attends and that the convening's product is expected to include policies and a workbook that could inform practice nationally and in rural libraries. No binding commitments or policy adoptions were made by the board at the meeting; the director will report back after the convening.
