Program
As communities across the country experience the impact of the opioid epidemic, public library staff are finding themselves on the front line of this public health crisis. How should libraries respond? Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Epidemic with Their Community is an IMLS-funded project led by PLA and OCLC to expand libraries’ capacity to support their communities during this public health crisis. The project studied a diverse set of communities where the library is an active partner in response to the opioid epidemic and facilitated discussions with library leaders and a range of government, public health, and community organizations. In this session, panelists will share insights gained from the case studies and cross-sector discussions about emerging practices, opportunities, and challenges, and identify resources to help library staff guide their libraries’ response to the opioid crisis. This presentation will preview a forthcoming white paper that synthesizes the research, information, and resources generated by the project.
ALA Unit/Subunit: PLA
Meeting Type: Program
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Lynn Connaway
Director of Library Trends and User Research
OCLC
Michelle Jeske
City Librarian
Denver Public Library
Marion Rorke, MPH
Substance Use Resource Coordinator
Denver Dept of Public Health and Environment
Sharon Streams
Director, WebJunction
OCLC