Rebecca Tolley is a professor and librarian at East Tennessee State University. She coordinates the Sherrod Library’s research consultation service. She speaks and publishes on topics such as organizational culture, customer service, and cultivating empathy in library workers. She co-edited Generation X Librarian: Essays on Leadership, Technology, Pop Culture, Social Responsibility and Professional Identity (2011) and Mentoring in Librarianship: Essays on Working with Adults and Students to Further the Profession (2011). Her writing has appeared in anthologies, several library journals, and numerous reference works.
Samples
- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the Author
We are only now coming to terms with how common trauma really is; a landmark Kaiser study that surveyed patients receiving physicals found that almost two-thirds had experienced at least one form of abuse, neglect, or other trauma as a child. Though originating in the fields of health and social services, trauma-informed care is a framework that holds great promise for application to library work. Empathetic service, positive patron encounters, and a more trusting workplace are only a few of the benefits that this approach offers. In this important book Tolley, experienced in both academic and public libraries, brings these ideas into the library context. Library administrators, directors, and reference and user services staff will all benefit from learning
- the six key principles of trauma-informed care;
- characteristics of a trusting and transparent library organization, plus discussion questions to promote a sense of psychological safety among library workers;
- how certain language and labels can undermine mutuality, with suggested phrases that will help library staff demonstrate neutrality to patron ideas and views during information requests;
- delivery models that empower patrons;
- advice on balancing free speech on campus with students’ need for safety;
- how appropriate furniture arrangement can help people suffering from PTSD feel safe;
- guidance on creating safe zones for LGBTQIA+ children, teens, and adults; and
- self-assessment tools to support change toward trauma-responsive library services.
Using the trauma-informed approach outlined in this book, libraries can ensure they are empathetic community hubs where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and safe.
Preface
Part I Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed Care
Chapter 1 Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences
Chapter 2 The Trauma-Informed Approach to Service
Chapter 3 Trauma-Informed Care and Libraries
Chapter 4 The Trauma-Informed Library Environment
Part II The Six Guiding Principles of Trauma-Informed Approaches
Chapter 5 Safety
Chapter 6 Trustworthiness and Transparency
Chapter 7 Peer Support
Chapter 8 Collaboration and Mutuality
Chapter 9 Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
Chapter 10 Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues
Part III Creating a Culture of Trauma-Informed Care in Libraries
Chapter 11 Assessing Organizational Readiness
Chapter 12 The Library as Sanctuary
Chapter 13 Becoming a Trauma-Informed Library Workforce
Chapter 14 Planning for Trauma-Informed Services
Appendix: Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire
References