Trauma-Informed Library Transformation: The Next Step in Library Social Work
by Anna M. Scheyett, Ph.D., MSW
Social workers often practice in community settings, but how often do they actually transform community settings? The University of Georgia School of Social Work (UGASSW) and the Athens Clarke County Library are partnering for a big and innovative transformation—they are working together to create a trauma-informed library, and to train social workers in this novel intervention.
What is a trauma-informed library? People come to the library for many reasons beyond taking out a book—they may be looking for housing, a job, information on health services, or a safe and warm place to sit for a while. Many of the library patrons have experienced trauma in their lives. A trauma-informed library is a place where people who have been affected by trauma are welcomed, respected, and helped to find the resources they need, where library staff are supported to understand the challenges of patrons who have experienced trauma and to respond in a positive and non-judgmental way, and where the space of the library itself conveys a message of safety and caring.
The Trauma-Informed Library Transformation (TILT) project, funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services, is an initiative and learning track at UGASSW, bringing together MSW students, social work faculty, and library staff and leadership. TILT has three parts. First, students in the TILT track have their field placement within the library, where they provide information and case management to library patrons, receive intensive supervision and training from an experienced clinical social worker, and will participate in a specialized seminar on establishing trauma-informed community spaces.
The second part of TILT focuses on the library staff, helping them grow in their capacity to engage with patrons in a trauma-informed way. Social work faculty survey the staff about challenging situations in the library, to identify areas where staff want to learn more effective ways to interact with patrons. Then faculty provide training to the staff that introduces the concepts of trauma, trauma-informed interaction, and pragmatic ways to interact with patrons who are struggling with trauma-related issues.
The final aspect of TILT is transformation of the library context. TILT students and faculty assess the library environment to identify ways to make it feel more welcoming and safe to patrons. They also assess all library policies, to see if these support trauma-informed principles. After these assessments, the TILT team makes recommendations for ways to make the library context more trauma-informed.
The TILT project is an example of a next step blending library social work, trauma-informed social work, and social work education. TILT is not simply providing social work services in a library setting. It transforms the library, the place that people trust and where they can get help without stigma, into a place of guaranteed respect, help, and healing. Through its educational track, it ensures that future generations of social workers will have the opportunity to learn about transformative trauma-informed practice in an innovative and interdisciplinary setting.
Resources
Blank, B. (2014). Public libraries add social workers and social programs. The New Social Worker. Found at https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/practice/public-libraries-add-social-workers-and-social-programs/
Lloyd, P. (2018). The public library as a protective factor. Public Libraries Online. Found at http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2018/12/the-public-library-as-a-protective-factor/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Trauma-informed approach and trauma-specific interventions. Found at https://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/trauma-interventions
TILT team members from UGA are: Anna Scheyett, Jennifer Elkins, Mary Caplan, Zoe Johnson, Caroline Sharkey.
TILT team members from the Athens Clarke County Library are: Valerie Bell, Donna Brumby, Trudi Green.
Anna Scheyett is Dean and Professor at University of Georgia School of Social Work. She received her Ph.D. from Memorial University, MSW from the University of North Carolina, and Master’s in Science and Philosophy from Yale University. Dr. Scheyett’s research examines community integration of vulnerable populations, particularly individuals experiencing mental illnesses or involved in the criminal justice system.