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The empathy of librarians can be a very powerful force. It is a compassionate force used every day to serve the information needs of the community.
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In Library 2.0, we learn about user participation and how important it is to include the community when creating new library programs and services (Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L., 2007). The community’s voices are heard here. Librarians open their hearts by listening and understanding the information needs of their community. Creating library programs and services by combining empathy, inclusion, knowledge, and experience in design and management makes a community whole, healthier and stronger.
The library is a safe place that connects everyone to knowledge, peace, motivation, and healthy experiences through all kinds of free services created by the input of the community. Librarians also care and strive to connect those to the library who are not accessing services but could benefit from them if they did. This can be challenging for librarians, but it is necessary. It’s important that all voices and needs are heard and addressed, especially those who are in crisis and are at risk of falling through the cracks.
Two weeks ago, San Mateo County in Northern California declared loneliness as a public health emergency. (Bendix, 2024). 45% of the population is experiencing loneliness and isolation while the rest of the nation has seen a downward trend in loneliness from 25% in 2021 to 17% in 2023. (Witter, 2023). It’s hard to pinpoint the exact causes of loneliness and isolation but it does effect teenagers, adults and seniors. The sad news is that loneliness and isolation can lead to dementia, heart disease, anxiety, stroke and early death. The good news is that there are guidelines on how to address it.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors have looked to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for guidance. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, when addressing loneliness, “Social connection is beneficial for individual health and also improves the resilience of our communities. Evidence shows that increased connection can help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, and depression. Communities where residents are more connected with one another fare better on several measures of population health, community safety, community resilience when natural disasters strike, prosperity, and civic engagement” (HHS, 2023). As a result, the board of supervisors is trying to find ways to allocate funds into public service departments, including libraries, to connect and socially engage those who are suffering from loneliness and isolation.
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If there ever was a time to respond with empathy, this is it. This is where librarians shine and make a difference for people in the community. Even without funds or while waiting to receive funds, the opportunity is now. Empathy can be a powerful force and it allows librarians to move beyond what has worked in the past and find new ways to connect to people in crisis. Outreach services, creative marketing, connecting mental health resources through technology, finding new ways to connect people to the heart of the community is what librarians do best. “Reaching everyone means using technology to offer new ways to interact with the library, yes, but it also encompasses a wide array of channels for interaction across virtual and physical planes” (Stephens, M., 2016). The good news is that San Mateo County libraries already provide information on mental health services. See San Mateo’s Library Mental Health Services. (SMCL, 2024). Now they need to find the right kinds of bridges to connect resources to those in isolation. I have no doubt that they can do it.
References:
Bendix, A. (2024, February 2). Silicon Valley county becomes first in U.S. to declare loneliness a public health emergency. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/silicon-valley-county-loneliness-health-emergency-rcna136777
Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L. (2007). Library 2.0: a guide to participatory library service. Information Today, Inc.
Stephens, M. (2016). The heart of librarianship attentive, positive, and purposeful change. ala editions: an imprint of the American Library Association.
San Mateo County Libraries, (2024). Mental health resources. Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://smcl.org/mentalhealth/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (2023, May 3). New Sergeon General Advisor raises alarm about the devastating impact of the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in the United States. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html
Witter, D. (2023, April 4). Loneliness in U.S. subsides from pandemic high. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/473057/loneliness-subsides-pandemic-high.aspx