You might be overwhelmed, thinking, “How will we finance any new programs? We are already stretched to our limits!” Stretching the dollar is often framed as a matter of individual discipline or sacrifice. A scarcity mindset, however, can increase stress, reduce decision-making capacity, and isolate people from shared resources. This page focuses on ways to meet needs by creating a collective infrastructure, especially by leveraging partnerships.
First off, don’t feel guilty about asking for help. In other pages, we have discussed both forging community partnerships and creating a community of practice. See – those are two communities that you already have who share the same goals, and who likely have some of the same problems (e.g., a distinct need and lack of funding to meet goals): one made up of people with geographic affinity, one made up of other professionals.
Plan around existing resources:
Consider your technology, non-traditional collections, streaming media, educational materials, and interlibrary loan. What do you have that you can use?
Libraries already pool resources so that individual libraries don’t have to purchase everything themselves. Using these services regularly is how libraries are designed to work!
Space: Libraries offer free meeting rooms, quiet workspaces, and climate-controlled environments, all of which are attractive to partners and individuals who require our services. How can you utilize the available space to meet the needs of individuals seeking information about recovery options?
Libraries as Community Hubs:
Partnerships reduce duplication of efforts, making it easier for people to access the resources that they need. Become a one-stop shop by coordinating efforts across your area.
You likely already have health and wellness resources. Can you start by adding a few important resources to your webpage and collections that are specifically devoted to recovery?
Highlight to other groups the spaces and collections that your library has or can build. Ask them what is needed, and employ them as co-creators in programs.
Reduce friction: why fewer decisions matter
Instead of trying to create programs and materials from scratch, reuse those that have worked for others. This toolkit is a great place to start – don’t let your mental load be used for unnecessary work. Look for pre-curated resource lists, programs that bundle multiple supports (like housing and substance abuse support), and repeatable routines (e.g., offering a program at a set time each week or month).