Home: Trauma-Informed Libraries: The Trauma-Informed Library

What Does it Mean to Be Trauma-Informed?

SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), an agency in the US Department of Health and Human Services, provides resources for individuals and organizations to learn about and deal with trauma. The agency's Community Trauma Initiative defines an organization or community as trauma-informed if it:

REALIZES how widespread trauma is
RECOGNIZES the signs and symptoms of trauma
RESPONDS by integrating knowledge into practice
RESISTS doing further harm

Graphic from The Institute of Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, University at Buffalo

Trauma-Informed Care Explained by the Center for Health Care Strategies

Why Libraries?

Social services and health organizations and agencies have been at the forefront of trauma-informed initiatives. But libraries are also in a position to support these initiatives while embracing their practices.

The team behind Philadelphia's Healthy Library Initiative note that "libraries are disproportionately frequented by vulnerable populations, including those experiencing mental illness, substance use, and homelessness." [1]

Furthermore, a 2014 case study explored the public library's role as a therapeutic landscape, concluding that

[T]hree aspects of the public library as a therapeutic space were important; the familiar and welcoming environment, quiet, calm atmosphere, the empowerment associated with being able to make non-commercial, unpressured decisions about what to read all contributed to the opportunity to conduct an act of self-care by withdrawing from stressful situations into the public library space. [...] These previously hidden benefits show that the public library may help with the everyday recovery work of mental health, providing a sanctuary in the face of stress. [2]

In offering a potentially therapeutic space to their patrons, especially those who are vulnerable and affected by trauma, as well as an ongoing slate of educational, recreational, and community-building programs and services, libraries will recognize their natural role in promoting a trauma-informed approach.

References:

[1] Morgan, A. U., Dupuis, R., D’Alonzo, B., Johnson, A., Graves, A., Brooks, K. L., … Cannuscio, C. C. (2016). Beyond Books: Public Libraries As Partners For Population Health. Health Affairs, 35(11), 2030–2036. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0724

[2] Brewster, L. (2014). The public library as therapeutic landscape: A qualitative case study. Health & Place, 26, 94-99. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.12.015

Resources for Organizations

Self assessment

Libraries, library systems, and related organizatons may adapt and employ the self-assessment tools below to evaluate their current commitment to trauma-informed practice, and to chart a pathway for improvement.

TRUST
TRUST (Trauma Responsive Understanding Self-Assessment Tool; formerly called TIC-OSAT) is a strengths-based organizational self-assessment tool that provides organizations with a point in time “snapshot” of where they are in their journey towards becoming trauma-informed.
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The tool employs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 10 Implementation Domains as a framework for guiding survey participants through a sequence of questions to assess implementation of trauma-informed care practices within their organization. TRUST allows organizations to view aggregated survey results from their leadership and staff and display these results within a concise, real-time report along with recommendations for bolstering Trauma-Informed Care practices.
Developed by Coordinated Care Services, Inc. in partnership with The Institute of Trauma and Trauma Informed Care at the University of Buffalo for New York State Success, a federally funded SAMHSA grant to support broad-scale operation, expansion and integration of Systems of Care through the creation of sustainable infrastructure in all 55 Upstate New York counties.
Creating Accessible, Culturally Relevant, Domestic Violence- and Trauma-Informed Agencies: A Self-Reflection Tool
This tool is designed to guide agencies through a self-reflective process on what it might look like to be doing accessible, culturally relevant, and trauma informed (ACDVTI) work in seven different key areas, and to identify strategies for getting there.
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This tool was developed by the Accessing Safety and Recovery Initiative (ASRI), OVW Ending Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant. Its stated audience is domestic violence programs, community mental health agencies, and psychiatric hospitals, and, as such, some of its focus areas will not apply to libraries. However, its worksheets may be adapted to the library setting to allow for valuable self-reflection. Sections on Organizational Commitment, Physical and Sensory Environment, Staff Support, and External Relationships and Collaboration offer libraries a simple blueprint for their own self-assessment, as well as a means to identify potential points of connection and partnership with local human services organizations.
Tools for Transformation: Becoming Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed Organizations: An Organizational Reflection Toolkit
The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health (NCDVTMH) has designed this tool for organizations serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children. Its purpose is to support organizations in their efforts to become more accessible, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed (ACRTI) in their approach and services.
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Like the ASRI self-reflection tool presented above, this toolkit is deigned for social services agencies and health services providers. And like the tool above, it can be adapted to library use. The NCDVTMH also offers access to recorded webinars to assist in implementing its toolkit.

Organizational Change

Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Manual
The purpose of the manual is to guide organizations and systems in planning for, implementing and sustaining a trauma-informed organizational change. This manual provides a step-by-step guide with tools intended for anyone interested in implementing a trauma-informed approach.
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From the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, University at Buffalo (NY). Use the online form provided to request a free PDF copy of the guide.

The CDC provides 6 Guiding Principles for a Trauma-Informed Approach.

6 Things You Can Do to Be Trauma-Informed at Your Library

6 Things You Can Do to be Trauma-Informed
Infographic created by Emily Spinner