Mental Health Resources in Libraries

Materials from ALA Library collection and ALA publications that detail how to promote mental health for patrons and staff in libraries.

From ALA Collection

The Library Workplace Idea Book: Proactive Steps for Positive Change by Heather L Seibert, Amanda Vinogradov and Amanda H McLellan (2020). Only Available as Print Copy, Call Number Z682.2.U5 L545 2020.

From Services-Centered to Student-Centered: A "Wellness-Wheel" Approach to developing the Library as an Interactive Learning Commons by Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe and Melissa Autumn Wong in College and Undergraduate Libraries Vol 17 no 2-3 (2010).

Studying for Exams Just Got More Relaxing-Animal-Assisted Activities at the University of Connecticut Library by Jo Ann Reynolds and Laurel Rabschultz in College and Undergraduate Libraries Vol 18 no 4 (2011).

American Libraries Online

Mental Health in the Library: Resources to Support Patrons and Staff by Anna Gooding-Call. January 3, 2022.

Mental Health First Aid: Training Librarians to Help Patrons in Crisis by Kaitlin Throgmorton. March 1, 2017.

YALSA Symposium: Wellness and Community. November 4, 2019.

Immerse Yourself in Wellness: Mindfulness Practices have Intangible Benefits for Library Workers by Loida Garcia-Febo. January 2, 2019.

WIC, Wellness, and Libraries: Presentations on Health Literacy and Outreach at PLA by Amanda Davis. March 26, 2018.

Making Time to Check In: Give Students Way to Assess How They're Doing by Jennifer Casa-Todd. January 4, 2021.

Moving the Needle: Empowering our Association, Profession, Libraries, Communities by Loida Garcia-Febo. June 3, 2019.

The Struggle is Real: Session at Annual Focuses on Combating Compassion Fatigue by Sallyann Price. June 29, 2021.

The Weight We Carry: Creating a Trauma-Informed Library Workforce by Rebecca Tolley. November 2, 2020.

Caring for the Caretakers: Strategies for Coping with Distress by Carrie Smith. January 24, 2021.

Children and Libraries

The Power of a Mindful Moment by Betsy Diamant-Cohen and Katie Scherer. Vol 17 no 3 (2019).

Choice 360

Raising Awareness about Mental Health Must Supersede Divisive Punditry. August 5, 2021.

Living and Viewing Curated Lifestyles on Social Media is Damaging our Wellbeing. October 6, 2021.

College and Research Libraries

An Investigation of Factors Impacting the Wellness of Academic Library Employees by Leo S. Lo and Bethany Herman. Vol 78 no 6 (2017).

Academic Librarians' Experiences and Perceptions on Mental Illness Stigma and the Workplace by Erin Burns and Kristin E.C. Green. Vol 80 no 5 (2019).

Library Teaching Anxiety: Understanding and Supporting a Persistent Issue in Librarianship by Kacy Lundstrom, Britt Fagerheim and Stephen Van Geem. Vol 82 no 3 (2021).

College and Research Library News

Mental Health Awareness: Resources for Everyone by Emily Underwood. Vol 80 no 10 (2019).

Providing Care and Community in Times of Crisis: The BIOPC in LIS Mental Health Summits by Kaetrena Davis, Amanda M. Leftwich and Twanna Hoge. Vol 82 no 8 (2021).

Combining Efforts: Libraries as Mental Health Safe Spaces by Sabrina Thomas and Kacy Lovelace. Vol 80 no 10 (2019).

Keeping Workplace Burnout at Bay: Online Coping and Prevention Resources by Darcy Del Bosque and Susie Skarl. Vol 77 no 7 (2016).

Knowledge Quest

Minding Mental Health During Covid-19 by Brandi Hartsell. March 31, 2020.

Unpacking Mental Health Issues in Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature by Daniella Smith. November 7, 2015.

Supporting Students by Collaborating with Counselors by Rachel Grover. May 5, 2021.

Take Care of Yourself First by Brandi Hartsell. February 10, 2020.

Mindfulness in the Library by Megan Shulman. September 24, 2015.

Public Libraries Online

Prioritizing Staff Mental Health when Reopening. June 5, 2020.

Sacramento Library Workers Learn Mental Health First Aid by Alyson Iuchs. May 4, 2018.

Mental Health Training in Public Libraries by Josh Berk. January 5, 2015.

Combating Stress During Times of Crisis by Michelle J. Fernandez. March 20, 2020.

Health Hazards of Librarianship: Not Just Paper Cuts by Suzanne LaPierre. February 15, 2021.

Reference and User Services Quarterly

Who Says There's a Problem: A New Way to Approach the Issue of "Problem Patrons" by Shelley Ferrell. Vol 50 no 2 (2010).