Toolkit

This toolkit was created with the guidance of over fifty library workers during and after a two-day forum.

Definitions and Facts

• Basic terminology for informed library laypeople:
  • Mental health and addiction
  • Bibliotherapy
• Substances: myths and facts
• Examples of person-first language and terms to avoid

Getting Started

• Breaking the Stigma: Who, how, and why are we serving?
• Starting the conversation in your library
• Ethical Guidelines and Boundaries: working with vulnerable people
• First Steps

Planning Programs and Collections

• General guidelines for programs
• Bibliotherapy and reading groups
• Cultivating your Collection
• Examples
• Program evaluation 

Communication, policy, and legal 

• Ways to get the word out and gain traction
• Crisis Policies and Procedures
• Templates and Examples:
  • Policies: harm reduction methods and tools
  • Letter to legislators
  • Sample Library Policy on Programs in the Recovery Space
  • Marketing

Financials

• Sources of funding
• Stretching the dollar
• Leveraging the power of partnerships

Education:

• Staff Training Resources
• Educating the Board
• Educating the Public
• Creating a community of practice
• Continuing Education

Other Resources

• Organizations & recovery groups
• Recommended Reading