PrairieCat PUG Days: Approaching Patrons Who Have Experienced Trauma

Program Description

Even before the events of 2020 and 2021, most of us had experienced trauma. Today, we are only beginning to understand the impact of recent events on the mental and emotional health of our communities. However, research is indicating widespread trauma responses in our society including increased cigarette sales, rising opioid overdoses, and other societal ills. How can libraries continue to meet the needs of our communities given these escalating challenges? This session will provide a brief overview of trauma and its subsequent behavioral responses in the library. We will focus on physically and verbally approaching patrons in a compassionate, trauma-informed manner with the goals of increasing felt safety in our libraries and mitigating confrontation.

90 Minute Session   |   Session will be recorded and available by October 1, 2022. 

Learning Objectives

-Define and understand trauma
-Understand trauma’s potential effects on health and behavior
-Explore how those effects may manifest in the library
-Understand the importance of establishing trust from the outset of a relationship with patrons who have trauma histories
-Take away tips for approaching patrons who have experienced trauma