Do you believe in the healing power of reading? Do you feel that your library could do more to help people in recovery from substance abuse? Is your library an innovator in these domains? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we want to hear from you!

We invite applications from library staff for in-person or online participation in a two-day national forum that will bring together library staff and experts working in the interdisciplinary recovery field. The forum will include five thematic units:

• facilitating social connections in public libraries
• expanding public libraries’ role in SUD/AUD recovery through stronger bonds with social workers and outside experts
• applying therapeutic use of literature, including reading groups and collection development to support bibliotherapy
• supporting for library staff suffering from AUD/SUD
• exploring how to use marketing and outreach to ensure programming reaches those who may need social connections and support.

Each unit will be kicked off by an expert speaker followed by facilitated small-group discussions and brainstorming sessions.

YOU can make a difference by participating! You will be able to access workshop recordings and a freely available toolkit with program ideas and materials, marketing materials, resources for reading groups based on recovery or substance abuse disorder, and ethical guidelines and professional boundaries after the forum takes place.