Librarians as Natural Disaster Stress Response Facilitators: Building Evidence for Trauma-Informed Library Education and Practice

Mardis, Marcia A.; Jones, Faye R.; Pickett, Scott M.; Gomez, Denise; Tenney, Curtis S.; Leonarczyk, Zoe; Nagy, Samantha

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Description

Title

Librarians as Natural Disaster Stress Response Facilitators: Building Evidence for Trauma-Informed Library Education and Practice

Author(s)

• Mardis, Marcia A.
• Jones, Faye R.
• Pickett, Scott M.
• Gomez, Denise
• Tenney, Curtis S.
• Leonarczyk, Zoe
• Nagy, Samantha

Issue Date

2020-10-13

Keyword(s)

• Disaster response
• Community resiliency
• Public librarians
• Natural disasters
• Research Stress

Abstract

Public librarians are on the front line of catastrophic events that, each year, leave millions of people with significant mental health consequences; in the midst of these tragedies, librarians are often called upon to address community needs, often while neglecting their personal hardships. In this paper, we propose research, education, and practice opportunities centered on SOLAR, a community-based therapeutic approach that will allow librarians to recognize and assist patrons with symptoms just short of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to natural disasters. This proposed therapy offers public librarians an opportunity to engage with a treatment framework to meaningfully support their patrons while benefiting from the self-care often overlooked in times of crisis. This work may be a template for contextually sensitive, community-facilitated mental health services critical for communities that lack financial and geographical access to larger health infrastructures. We include opportunities for research in librarians’ trauma response to inform public librarians’ education and practice to improve disaster preparedness and community well-being.

Series/Report Name or Number

• Continuing Education
• Community Engagement
• Community-led Services
• Curriculum
• Public Libraries

Type of Resource

text

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