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Fairfield Public Library awarded $3,000 in opioid funds for 'Read to Recovery' collection
Summary
The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors approved a $3,000 expenditure from opioid-settlement funds for a no-return recovery-literature collection at the Fairfield Public Library to improve access and destigmatize addiction; the library plans to spend the money by January 2026 and requested an invoice to process payment.
The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors on June 9 approved a $3,000 request from the Fairfield Public Library to create a "Read to Recovery" collection using opioid-settlement funds. The library representative told the board the collection would be a no-return set of addiction-prevention, recovery and mental-health materials, displayed on a mobile unit so it could be used at community events as well as in the library lobby.
The presenter said the collection is designed to increase anonymous access to recovery literature and to connect people with recovery communities such as AA and NA. He noted that some libraries across the country are adopting no-return recovery collections and that local 12-step groups had offered to contribute literature at no cost. The presenter told the board the total $3,000 would buy a commercial shelving unit and a supply of books and that funds were projected to be spent by January 2026.
Speaker 9 said the initiative was partly personal and framed it as a public-health intervention: "Even if we can save just 1 life with this new resource, the cost of this investment will be justified." Speaker 8 (ambulance director) voiced support for making resources available. The board asked for an invoice to process payment and approved the expenditure by voice vote.
Implementation details and follow-up The board directed the library to provide an invoice so county finance could process the opioid-settlement payment. Speaker 9 said the shelving unit would likely cost between $1,500 and $2,000 and that the remaining funds would be used to purchase 10–15 paperback books and maintain a small backstock.
Context The presenter noted CDC reporting that national opioid-related deaths decreased by 10 percent last year while deaths in Iowa increased; he said local addiction and overdose remain community concerns and framed the collection as a low-cost way to increase access to recovery information.
Next steps The library will submit an invoice to the county auditor/finance department for payment; the board asked that the materials purchase be tracked and reported as part of opioid-settlement spending.
