Other Duties as Assigned – Public Librarians in the Heart of the Opioid Epidemic
Opioid abuse is reaching critical levels in many cities across the country. Some public librarians have taken on the battle firsthand.
Opioid abuse is reaching critical levels in many cities across the country. Some public librarians have taken on the battle firsthand.
San Francisco Public Library is considering training staff members on how to administer Naloxone if they were to encounter someone overdosing in or around the library.
Working with teens in a public library is one big great adventure! There are the fun moments when teens from different schools become friends, the I-am-a-super-librarian moments of finding a teen the perfect book at just the right time, and the tough times when we know that a teen is not thriving because of a lack of resources, an identity crisis, or relationship issues. When these tough topics arise, public library staff are often not equipped to deal with them. Although teens may not want to talk to adults, they do want to learn.
On May 3, 2016, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced in a press release the implementation of new guidelines for transgender individuals, which allows for a welcoming and safe environment for all. “For the first time, CPS is providing clear guidance on restroom, locker room and overnight trip accessibility, and establishing support for employees and adults in addition to students.”These momentous changes came ahead of Obama’s administration’s guidance letter on transgender student’s rights sent to school districts on May 13. The language used by the federal government is similar to that of the CPS policy in that it supports the use of all facilities according to an individual’s gender identity, not to their biological sex.
In this episode, Kathleen Hughes, PL Editor, talks to Ady Huertas, Branch Manager of the Logan Branch/San Diego Public Library about the library’s program, “Out of the Shadows.” The program is designed to raise public awareness about the problem of sex trafficking in San Diego, bring to light the plight of sex trafficking victims and at-risk youth, and provide resources and support services for those in need in the San Diego area.