New York Library Association

THE NEW YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH URBAN LIBRARIANS UNITE, WILL PILOT THE LIBRARY WORKER SUPPORT NETWORK, A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL PEER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR LIBRARY WORKERS ACROSS THE US TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF TRAUMA IN LIBRARY WORK SURFACED BY THE 2022 URBAN LIBRARY TRAUMA STUDY. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: 1) RESEARCHING BEST PRACTICES FOR SETTING UP PEER SUPPORT GROUPS; 2) HOLDING A PARTICIPATORY DESIGN CONVENING WITH LIBRARY WORKERS TO DEVELOP THE CORE PRACTICES AND STRUCTURE OF THE SUPPORT NETWORK; 3) CREATING A PROTOTYPE OF THE ONLINE SUPPORT NETWORK; AND 4) TESTING AND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN A TRAINING GUIDE FOR PEER LEADERS, A PROJECT WEBSITE WITH BEST PRACTICES FOR IMPLEMENTING SUPPORT GROUPS, AND A COHORT OF TRAINED PEER LEADERS WHO ARE PREPARED TO CONTINUE FACILITATING SUPPORT GROUPS. PROJECT BENEFICIARIES ARE LIBRARY WORKERS WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A PEER-DRIVEN, ONLINE SUPPORT NETWORK.

NEW YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH URBAN LIBRARIANS UNITE AND ST JOHN?S UNIVERSITY, WILL EXPLORE HOW PUBLIC LIBRARIANS IN URBAN CENTERS EXPERIENCE TRAUMA WHILE PROVIDING LIBRARY SERVICES. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL RESEARCH AND CREATE A FRAMEWORK FOR ADDRESSING THE CAUSES OF, AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR, LIBRARY STAFF TRAUMA. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE A LITERATURE REVIEW, NATIONWIDE STAFF SURVEY, A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS, AND A HACKATHON WHERE 30 STAFF FROM URBAN LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. THIS NATIONAL FORUM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT HOW LIBRARY STAFF CAN BE PREPARED FOR, AND BETTER RESPOND TO, NATIONAL CRISES SUCH AS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.