Join us for our monthly Social Work Connections and Reflections session, led by New York State Library Excelsior Service Fellow Antonia Bruno. The September session will be a continuation of the first webinar that will recap steps library workers can take when interacting with patrons and distress and provide more time for engagement. This session will be interactive, using Zoom’s whiteboard feature to facilitate community conversations and the option to unmute microphones. 

This session is a continuation of last month's discussion, but there is not an expectation or requirement to have attended that session. This webinar will begin with a summary of the content provided in Part 1, and then the rest of the focus will be to foster dialogue around these experiences. Participants can expect to learn from other library workers in the state through the experience-sharing discussion questions. Antonia will summarize responses and provide answers to questions throughout the process.

Discussion Questions

1. What emotions flare up for you when you’re interacting with a patron in distress?

2. How do you interact with patrons in distress?

3. Are these interactions with patrons in distress rare or cyclical in your library?

4. Does your library have protocol or policy when interacting with patrons in distress?

5. Do you feel prepared to serve patrons in distress? If not, what would be helpful to you?

The webinars in this series are guided conversations on various topics related to interactions with patrons and prioritizing safety and inclusion for all. Perspective sharing among participants is encouraged to foster rich conversations about the various circumstances library workers face.  

Antonia will incorporate social work perspectives into the conversations to shape the manner that participants process their experiences and how it will impact their behaviors in the library moving forward. This space will be a collaborative environment where participants and the host will hear and learn from one another.    

Please be advised that this series is not being recorded to foster a safe space where participants can freely share their experiences.  

This public program is made possible by federal Library Service and Technology Act funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which enable the New York State Library to champion lifelong learning. 

Antonia Bruno is a social worker with previous employment as a social services advocate at a public library on Long Island. At the NYS Library, she aims to reach library staff across the state with a webinar series that supports libraries serving vulnerable and often marginalized populations. Stay in the loop by subscribing to her Social Work Perspectives blog or connect with her by emailing antonia.bruno@nysed.gov