Public Libraries: More Than Just Books
Public libraries: More than just books
Growing up in a community where substance use disorder shaped my everyday life, I understand how libraries can be more than just a place for books. They can be a safe haven, a classroom, a resource hub, and even a lifeline for those in need. The opioid epidemic has affected every aspect of life in my neighborhood, including our public library. At the McPherson Square Library, located in Kensington, one of the lowest-income communities in Philadelphia, we are in direct contact with the drug trade and use on a daily basis.
It’s routine for me to see people visibly intoxicated on opioids, and I have to remind them to leave if they can’t keep their eyes open. Our volunteer, Teddy, picks up dozens of discarded needles on our property and throughout the park every day. It’s normal for kids to come into the library to tell us that someone is using drugs outside, which typically means finding someone injecting on our front steps, benches, or near the building.
Despite the harsh realities of opioid addiction, public libraries continue to respond to the needs of their communities. At McPherson, we understand the importance of providing whatever help we can in hopes of keeping our community safe and healthy. It’s not just about those living with opioid use disorder and their families, but it impacts the entire community. Kensington was a community in crisis even before the epidemic, due to structural racism, urban segregation, the cyclical nature of poverty, and trauma.
Public libraries have always been about community support, with all kinds of services and programs from assisting with job seeking efforts to locating resources for voter rights to providing free meals to kids and teens. And with the opioid crisis, this community support takes on new urgency. At McPherson, we have received training in administering Narcan and have utilized it to save lives. It’s a lifeline that we cannot afford to not have in our toolkit.
In the face of crisis, libraries play a crucial role in supporting their communities. Despite the challenges and harsh realities, we will continue to do what we can with the resources we have to make a difference. Because public libraries are more than just books; they are a reflection of the communities they serve and a symbol of hope in times of crisis.
Public libraries: More than just books
Libraries have always been known as a hub for books, but they are so much more than that. They are often a community’s safe haven, classroom, and resource hub. In my case, working at the McPherson Square Library in Kensington, one of the lowest-income communities in Philadelphia, means that we serve as a lifeline to the community. Unfortunately, it also means that we are in direct contact with the drug trade and use on a daily basis.
Opioid addiction has impacted every aspect of life in Kensington, and it is routine for me to see people visibly intoxicated on opioids while working at the library. It’s not uncommon to see people buying and selling, and to see people act and react violently. It’s a catastrophic normal that we are forced to confront every day.
Our library is located in a park that has unfortunately garnered a reputation for being a place to find and use drugs, especially heroin. As a result, it’s not unusual for our volunteer, Teddy, to pick up dozens of discarded needles on our property and throughout the park. The opioid epidemic has only increased the stress on our community, and as librarians, we have an important role to play in keeping our community safe and healthy.
At McPherson, we are committed to supporting our community in every way we can. We offer all kinds of services and programs, from assisting with job seeking efforts to locating resources for voter rights to providing free meals to kids and teens. We also offer Narcan training, and we have utilized it to save lives. Administering Narcan is a crucial tool that we need to have in our toolkit to ensure that we can help those in need.
The opioid epidemic affects not only those living with opioid use disorder and their families but also the entire community. Kensington was a community in crisis even before the epidemic, and our library is at the forefront of responding to the needs of our community. We will continue to do what we can with the resources we have to make a difference. Because public libraries are more than just books; they are a symbol of hope and a reflection of the communities they serve.
The Opioid Epidemic: A Community in Crisis
The opioid epidemic has impacted every aspect of life in Kensington, a community in Philadelphia where I work at the McPherson Square Library. It’s a low-income area that has been isolated from resources and opportunity for decades, and unfortunately, it has also been at the center of the city’s drug trade and drug use.
The library is located in a park that is known as a place to find and use drugs, particularly heroin. As a result, it is not uncommon for us to see people visibly intoxicated on opioids or to find discarded needles on our property and throughout the park. We are in direct contact with the drug trade and use on a daily basis, and it’s a catastrophic normal that we are forced to confront every day.
This epidemic has only increased the stress on our community, which already struggles due to factors like structural racism, urban segregation, poverty, and trauma. The community has inequitable access to education, healthcare, employment, and other resources. Public libraries, including ours, have always been about community support, but what we think of as community support takes on new urgency when you’re in the middle of an opioid and overdose crisis.
As librarians, we are committed to providing support to our community. We offer all kinds of services and programs, from assisting with job seeking efforts to locating resources for voter rights to providing free meals to kids and teens. But our work goes beyond that. We have learned how to administer Narcan, a crucial tool that we need to have in our toolkit to ensure that we can help those in need.
Administering Narcan is not something that I ever thought I would have to do, but it’s a reality that we face every day. We have had to develop an overdose drill, just like we have fire drills or tornado drills. It’s something that we never want to have to use, but we need to be prepared in case we do. It’s a reminder of the importance of having access to lifesaving tools and the responsibility we have as librarians to use them when necessary.
The opioid epidemic is not just about those living with opioid use disorder and their families, but it affects the entire community. At McPherson, we are doing everything we can to respond to the needs of our community and to keep our community safe and healthy. Because public libraries are more than just books; they are a symbol of hope and a reflection of the communities they serve.
Public Libraries: More than just books
Public libraries have always been more than just a place to borrow books. They are a place of community support, offering a range of services and programs to their patrons. This is especially true in low-income communities that are isolated from resources and opportunity. As a result, they become centers of the city’s drug trade and drug use.
One such example is the McPherson Square Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia. It’s located in Kensington, one of the lowest income communities in Philadelphia, and the library is nestled inside of a park that has unfortunately garnered a reputation for being a place to find and use drugs. This puts the library and the community in direct contact with the drug trade and use on a daily basis.
The opioid epidemic has only made things worse, and the library staff is now constantly responding to overdoses and people visibly intoxicated on opioids. It has become routine to see people swaying slowly, to ask them if they are okay, and remind them if they can’t keep their eyes open, they have to go. Discarded needles have become a common sight on library property and throughout the park.
Unfortunately, the opioid epidemic is not just about those living with opioid use disorder and their families. It impacts the entire community. Kensington was already in crisis due to factors like structural racism, urban segregation, the cyclical nature of poverty, and trauma. The lack of equitable access to education, health care, and employment only exacerbated the situation.
Public libraries like McPherson Square Library respond to the needs of their communities. Learning how to administer Narcan was a necessary step to be able to provide support to the community in times of crisis. The library staff has become a lifeline for those struggling with addiction, and they continue to provide whatever help they can to keep their community safe and healthy.
Public libraries have always been a physical shelter, a classroom, a safe haven, a lunchroom, a resource hub, and even a lifeline. It is more important than ever to recognize this and support our libraries as they continue to support our communities.
Public Libraries: More Than Just Books
Public libraries have always been a hub for community support and resources. They provide all kinds of services and programs such as assisting with job-seeking efforts, locating resources for voter rights, and even providing free meals to kids and teens. However, in the midst of an opioid and overdose crisis, what we think of as community support takes on new urgency.
As someone who works at a public library in one of the lowest-income communities in Philadelphia, I have witnessed the impact of the opioid epidemic firsthand. Our library is nestled inside of a park that has unfortunately garnered a reputation for being a place to find and use drugs, especially heroin, out in the open. As a result, it’s routine to see people visibly intoxicated on opioids and for our volunteer to pick up dozens of discarded needles on our property and throughout the park.
This reality is a result of structural racism, urban segregation, the cyclical nature of poverty, and trauma. Communities like Kensington have inequitable access to education, healthcare, employment, and more. The opioid epidemic has only increased that stress.
When I was hired by the Free Library in 2013, I specifically chose to work at McPherson because I understood what it’s like to grow up in an environment where substance use disorder shapes everyday life. Before I started, we began to take notice of IDs we were seeing: addresses from nearby and upstate counties, and then slowly out-of-state ones. People from Arkansas, Ohio, South Carolina, Alabama, and beyond came to Philadelphia for cheap heroin.
The epidemic brought a new challenge to our library. We had to learn how to administer Narcan, a lifesaving tool for someone experiencing an opioid overdose. We were on the frontlines and desperately needed access to this tool. After much advocating, we finally received training and about a month later, I utilized Narcan for the first time to save someone’s life.
Public libraries have always been more than just books. We are a physical shelter, a classroom, a safe haven, a lunchroom, a resource hub, and even a lifeline. We will continue to do what we can with the resources we have to support our community out of crisis. The opioid epidemic is not just about those living with opioid use disorder but impacts the entire community. At McPherson, we will continue to provide whatever help we can in hopes of keeping our community safe and healthy.
Supporting Communities in Crisis: The Role of Public Libraries
Public libraries have always been known as a place to borrow books, read, and study. But they offer so much more than that. They serve as community hubs that provide various services, resources, and programs, especially in neighborhoods facing poverty, lack of resources, and other challenges. This is the case in Kensington, a low-income community in Philadelphia, where I work at the McPherson Square Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Our library is located in a park that has unfortunately gained a reputation for drug use, particularly heroin. As a result, we are constantly exposed to drug trade and use on a daily basis. It is routine for us to see people visibly intoxicated on opioids inside the library, which can be a difficult and uncomfortable situation to navigate. However, as public librarians, it is our job to support the community and provide assistance in any way we can.
The opioid epidemic has had a profound impact on the Kensington community, exacerbating the issues that have long plagued the area, such as structural racism and urban segregation. It has also put a strain on the resources of the library, which is trying to respond to the crisis and provide support to the community.
As someone who has personal experience with substance use disorder, I chose to work at McPherson because I wanted to use my experiences to guide my work and provide support to others. This includes learning how to administer Narcan, a lifesaving tool that can reverse an opioid overdose. Our library received training on how to utilize Narcan and, in 2017, I administered it for the first time to save someone’s life.
However, the epidemic goes beyond those living with opioid use disorder and affects the entire community. It is our job as public librarians to respond to the needs of the community and provide whatever help we can in hopes of keeping our community safe and healthy. Public libraries are physical shelters, classrooms, safe havens, lunchrooms, resource hubs, and even lifelines. We will continue to do what we can with the resources we have to support our community in crisis.
Libraries as a Lifeline: Supporting Communities in Crisis
Public libraries have always been more than just a place to check out books. They serve as community support centers, offering a wide range of services and programs to those in need. In the midst of an opioid and overdose crisis, this community support takes on a new level of urgency.
As someone who works at a library in a low-income community with a long history of drug trade and drug use, I witness the effects of the crisis firsthand. It is routine to see people visibly intoxicated on opioids, and for our volunteer to pick up dozens of discarded needles on our property and throughout the park. Children often come to us for help when they see someone outside using drugs, and we do what we can to keep them safe.
This crisis is not just about those living with opioid use disorder and their families; it affects the entire community. In Kensington, the crisis is exacerbated by factors such as structural racism, urban segregation, poverty, and trauma. These issues create inequitable access to education, healthcare, and employment, among other things.
At our library, we strive to provide support to the community by learning how to administer Narcan, a lifesaving tool for opioid overdoses. We are physical shelters, classrooms, safe havens, resource hubs, and yes, even lifelines. Our purpose is to help those in need and provide a safe and healthy environment for our community.
While the opioid epidemic has brought more attention to Kensington and communities like it, there is still much work to be done to address the systemic issues that perpetuate the crisis. As public libraries, we will continue to do what we can with the resources we have to support our communities in crisis.
Discovering the world through public libraries
Public libraries are much more than just books. They are an incredible resource for learning and discovery, and have played a significant role in shaping my understanding of the world. I remember visiting my local library as a child and feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of books available. I would spend hours browsing through the shelves, picking up books on a variety of topics that piqued my curiosity.
What I loved about the library was that I could explore topics that I wouldn’t necessarily have access to in my everyday life. For example, I remember being fascinated by books about ancient civilizations, space exploration, and other cultures. These were topics that I had never been exposed to in school or at home, but the library gave me the opportunity to learn about them.
The library also provided access to resources that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. For instance, I could use the library’s computers to do research for school projects, or borrow music CDs to listen to new artists. I even attended events at the library, such as storytime and author readings, which opened up my imagination and helped me develop a love for reading.
Looking back, I realize that my experiences at the library were essential in shaping who I am today. They broadened my horizons, exposed me to new ideas, and encouraged me to keep learning. I believe that public libraries are an essential resource for anyone who wants to learn and grow, regardless of their age, background, or interests.
So if you haven’t visited your local library lately, I encourage you to do so. You never know what you might discover!
Conclusion
Public libraries are much more than just places to borrow books. They are community hubs that provide access to resources and knowledge for all. From free Wi-Fi and computer access to job search assistance and educational programs, public libraries offer a wide range of services that benefit people of all ages and backgrounds.
In addition to the practical services, libraries also provide a space for social connection and engagement. They offer a safe and welcoming environment for people to gather, learn, and explore new ideas. Whether it’s attending a book club, participating in a workshop, or simply browsing the shelves, public libraries provide opportunities for individuals to connect with others and build relationships within their communities.
Overall, public libraries are invaluable resources that play a vital role in supporting the education, well-being, and growth of individuals and communities. They are places of discovery and possibility, where anyone can come to learn, explore, and be inspired. So next time you’re looking for something to do or seeking information, consider visiting your local public library – you might be surprised by all it has to offer.
