The Seattle Public Library’s Nourishing Minds toolkit equips libraries to address youth mental health with free and innovative programs and resources

Since its inception in 2022, Nourishing Minds has evolved from a pioneering project into a comprehensive framework transforming how libraries support youth mental health. Initiated by The Seattle Public Library (SPL), Nourishing Minds has now unveiled a free, practical approach to assist library workers in creating a supportive environment for teens to explore mental health in meaningful ways.

Download the free digital toolkit available at https://nourishing-minds.org/

“Library workers are highly skilled at reaching teenagers through many kinds of programming, but many library staff find it a challenge to talk about mental health,” said Luis Gonsalez, The Seattle Public Library’s Digital Media & Learning Program Manager. “We created this toolkit to give our own staff, and other library workers around the country, a practical guide to getting started.”

The Nourishing Minds Framework, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and with support from The Seattle Public Library Foundation, is a comprehensive approach designed to support teen mental health through three foundational pillars: brave spaces, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles, and co-design. These pillars create environments where teens can explore mental health topics meaningfully, discover resonant tools and feel empowered to take charge of their well-being.

SPL tested the toolkit at eight library systems over a three-year period. "Nourishing Minds provided our small, rural library with the tools and resources necessary to build a lasting foundation of mental health awareness for our teens,” said Melanie Warga, Director of Ohio County Public Library in Hartford, Kentucky, one of the libraries that tested it. “This program allowed us to see teen mental health in a new light, helping us to focus on breaking the stigmas surrounding mental health discussions and providing a framework for future programming.”

Nourishing Minds’ goals align closely with the values shared by other libraries, especially when it comes to supporting teens. They include:

1. Creating brave spaces to foster creativity
2. Normalizing mental well-being conversations
3. Harnessing the power of co-design for discovery and personal growth

The final Nourishing Minds toolkit includes:

• Quick Start Guide: A concise overview of the framework and how to get started.
• 88-Page Cookbook: A robust guide to planning and facilitating the program that includes detailed principles, mission, tools and session plans for implementation.
• Nourishing Minds Card Deck: The 103 vibrantly designed cards are the heart of the program, each with a prompt or activity for teens to discuss and reflect on.
• Card Placemat: Library staff can use the placemat to organize the cards for planning a session.

A session on Persona Building is an example of a full program created using “recipes” from the cookbook and card deck. This session is a creative, co-designed program that empowers teens to explore emotional regulation by developing fictional characters that reflect diverse experiences. Through collaborative activities and guided reflection, teens build empathy, identify emotions and gain practical tools for supporting their mental health.

Create an innovative and supportive environment for teens at your library. Download the planning toolkit and begin planning sessions with teens using cookbook recipes. Learn more at https://nourishing-minds.org/.

More information:

The library systems that tested the toolkit included:

• City of Burlington Public Library, Wisconsin
• Charles County Public Library, Maryland
• Deschutes Public Library, Oregon
• Fort Lee Public Library, New Jersey
• Meridian Library District, Idaho
• Morton Mandan Public Library, North Dakota
• Ohio County Public Library, Kentucky
• The Seattle Public Library, Washington

Undergraduate interns from the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) at the University of Washington and Howard University assisted with Nourishing Minds. Dr. Elin Bjorling and Dr. Jin Ha Lee of the University of Washington were co-principal investigators on the project.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.