“Before this study, many library staff believed they were the only ones experiencing stressful or traumatic events at work. This study shows they are not alone and that we need to do something to support urban library staff experiencing workplace trauma.”

– Lauren Comito, Executive Director of Urban Libraries Unite and Neighborhood Library Supervisor at the Leonard Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library

In addition to being a place where people can discover new books, libraries are a community resource that offer a place to do homework, hold kids’ story time, access the internet, and provide individuals without homes an escape from the elements. However, the combination of these important responsibilities can mean that libraries are not always a safe place for library staff or patrons. The Urban Library Trauma Study’s survey of urban libraries found that 68.5% of staff have experienced violent or aggressive behavior at work from patrons. In trying to meet the needs of their patrons, library staff are serving as untrained social workers, while also experiencing racism, discrimination, threats, and violence in the workplace. The recently released Urban Library Trauma Study examines workplace trauma faced by library staff and explores strategies to make libraries safer for everyone. Libraries can serve as incredible community assets and can even be sources of trauma-responsive services, but more needs to happen to make this possible.

The Urban Library Trauma Study serves as both a cautionary tale and an opportunity for employers throughout the nation. Without appropriate supports in place, there is risk of losing library employees to burnout and perpetuating these traumatic and stressful experiences. Many of the library staff surveyed in the study cited the way incidents were handled by their organizations as the source of their trauma, saying that they did not feel adequately supported during or after the event or that their experiences were downplayed or ignored, leading to secondary traumatic stress and high rates of burnout.

The Trauma-Responsive Workplace

Pathways to Resilience believes all employers should consider offering job-oriented training about the impact of trauma on overall health and wellbeing, including secondary trauma. This is particularly important in industries providing services or requiring regular interaction with high-risk individuals or the general public.

Some states, including Delaware, have already started developing tools for training state employees and community partners on the impact of exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), promoting ACE awareness, and improving services and interventions for children and families exposed to trauma.

In October 2018, Governor Carney signed Executive Order 24, requiring creation of tools and training about trauma for state employees. “As state employees designing and delivering services, we cannot effectively support residents in preventing and healing from trauma unless we ourselves understand the sources and long-term impacts of trauma and toxic stress. Executive Order 24 was established for just this reason” according to Alonna Berry, Delaware’s Policy Advisor and Statewide Trauma-Informed Care Coordinator in the Office of Governor John Carney, and Pathways to Resilience Advisory Committee member. “We hope that Delaware’s work can help guide other states, but there’s so much we’re also hoping to learn through Pathways to Resilience as an employer and for our residents.”

Although the Urban Library Trauma Study is intended to build a framework for mitigating workplace trauma for library staff, study findings and examples set by the State of Delaware and others serve as an important launch pad. Stay tuned for more information about the role of employers in trauma-responsiveness at www.Pathways-US.org.