Public libraries as partners in confronting the overdose crisis: A qualitative analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Library Science
• Sociology

Background:

• The overdose crisis impacts public libraries, with many librarians reporting patron support needs and on-site overdoses.
• Public libraries serve 1.4 billion patrons annually, making them crucial community touchpoints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand how public libraries currently assist with substance use and overdose.
• To identify how libraries can further address these public health issues.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews with 44 public library staff across the U.S.
• Thematic content analysis guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Main Results:

• 14% of libraries in the sample reported on-site overdoses; 7% stocked naloxone.
• Staff expressed willingness to help but lacked preparation, resources, and institutional support.
• Interest in providing referrals to people who use drugs (PWUD) was high, but hindered by inadequate community resources.

Conclusions:

• Public library staff frequently interact with PWUD.
• Libraries are vital in addressing the opioid epidemic and require enhanced partnerships and resources.
• Further research is needed to optimize library roles in community-based overdose prevention and response.