A Trauma-Informed Approach to Library Services

This was a good primer and introduction to the idea of trauma-informed care to librarians. I wished there was more time spent on the more practical aspects of applying this to libraries but I found it interesting.

Chapter 10 “Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues” should be required reading for most librarians, specifically white, straight, cisgender librarians. It talks about historical traumas endured by Black patrons, Indigenous patrons, and queer patrons. With the profession being like 90% white women it is paramount that we keep things like microaggressions, the history of segregated libraries, and the harm of white supremacy always in our minds when serving our communities.

I also appreciated the points about so-called “problem patrons” and how dehumanizing that term can be and to ask, “What is this person's history/what have they experienced?” instead of “What is wrong with them?”