Reference Librarian II, Health & Human Services Specialist Boston Public Library
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of patron needs. Boston Public Library prioritized mental health by adding the Headspace application in 2020. After the successful reception of this online resource, the Health & Human Services Specialist wanted to build on the momentum in the community and expand mental health offerings with an equitable physical resource so that patrons without smartphones or computers could access as well. In August 2022, BPL launched two different brands of therapy card decks into our collection, "My Therapy Cards" and "Therapy Toolkit." We are the first public library to provide these types of resources and we think that any library can offer them in their collection. In this session, you will learn about these decks (why they are awesome) and how we program with them. We will also delve into how this initiative is being applied across the system: as one of the largest, and most diverse library systems in the country, BPL currently has a total of 26 locations. Each neighborhood is different and we chose these mental resources with care to meet the needs of our diverse communities.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participant will be able to describe mental health effects of covid-19 pandemic on community public health.
Upon completion, participant will be able to compare the two different therapy deck brands and describe the benefits for offering two options in a library collection.
Upon completion, participant will be able to evaluate the Headspace application and the therapy cards in relation to their community needs to determine if they would be beneficial their collections.