Supporting harm reduction at the library
On the shores of the Garden State, staff at the Atlantic City Free Public Library (ACFPL) started a program to provide harm reduction resources and support on a range of health-related needs, including opioid misuse. The project was led by Melissa McGeary, the Assistant Director at the library, and aims to support harm reduction within the community, including the prevention of overdose-related deaths, as well as to bridge social inequities by providing information and resources at no cost.
In an interview with WebJunction, McGeary shared that she and ACFPL’s social worker/outreach coordinator, Kristen Reid-Ortiz, had been interested in establishing harm reduction resources for patrons in the library for some time. McGeary was one of the beta-testers who reviewed WebJunction’s Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries, and provided feedback on how to improve the support kit for other library staff. During the beta-testing phase for the support kit, McGeary reached out to the South Jersey AIDS Alliance, which provides harm reduction services through their Oasis program. The staff at the Oasis facility noted that community members are sometimes hesitant to come into their building because of the stigma associated with the services that they provide. Through these conversations, McGeary and Reid-Ortiz decided to move ahead with a plan to provide the public with access to harm reduction resources in the library.
One of the biggest areas of consideration was where to place the station in the library. Staff didn’t want patrons to feel watched or judged when they needed materials, but they also wanted it to be easily findable. The Harm Reduction Station found a home on the first floor of the library, between the circulation desk and the help desk. The station is housed on a bookshelf and includes informational flyers and brochures from various substance use support organizations, along with basic wound care and hygiene items. The harm reduction station also supplies patrons with period products, pregnancy tests, condoms, hand sanitizers, foil blankets, fentanyl testing strips, and naloxone/Narcan. All items were purchased by the library or donated by community partners including the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services.
The reception and response to the Harm Reduction Station from the staff and the public was generally favorable. However, there were a few questions about why the station was necessary, which McGeary and Reid-Ortiz were able to address. They appealed to their audience’s sense of community when explaining the “why” behind this need. McGeary pointed out that Reid-Ortiz may have had the best response when engaging curious patrons. Reid-Ortiz points out that opioid users, their friends and family, are members of the community – “they are our neighbors” – and that offering what they need helps keep the library a safe space.
“Providing harm reduction resources aligns with the library’s role as a community resource. We offer Narcan for the same reason we offer computer access or ESL classes -because there is a need. We serve a diverse community and I want everyone to feel welcome, seen, and not judged.”
Melissa McGeary, Assistant Director of the Atlantic City Free Public Library
A key success the library found through this initiative was aiding patrons in getting needed resources and information, while also minimizing the stigma surrounding opioid use and seeking help. The library’s relationship with Oasis also expanded when their staff provided library staff with training on how to use naloxone during a staff development day
You can learn more about the harm reduction approach, along with other resources in WebJunction’s Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries. The kit is freely available and includes information about the opioid crisis, how to work with community partners, and ideas for programs and resources. Explore this new tool and learn about the difference you can make to support the community your library serves in leading a healthy and productive life.
Harm reduction definition
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) describes harm reduction as “an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs and equipping them with life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives.” The Cleveland Clinic also notes that through harm reduction, the “goal is to reduce the harm that individuals with substance abuse disorder experience.”