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Rethinking Information Technology

Harm Reduction and Outreach Tools & Techniques

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Jeff Cupo, Elizabeth Public Library

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Ally Blumenfeld, Hoboken Public Library

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  • Head of Information and Adult Services at Elizabeth Public Library
  • Past-President of the Diversity and Outreach Section
  • Contact: jcupo@elizpl.org

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  • Outreach Coordinator at Hoboken Public Library
  • Past-President of the Diversity and Outreach Section
  • Contact: outreach@hoboken.bccls.org

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Information Technology

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What is an information technology?

  • Ancient Postal Systems
    • Horses
    • Roads
    • Written Language
    • Relay Systems

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What is an information technology?

  • Information technology is anything that delivers or provides access to information. As librarians, we provide information technology as a public service to improve lives. Sometimes, this looks like preserving lives.
  • Libraries provide access to information. Books are just one avenue to accessing information.
  • Harm reduction tools, health monitoring tools

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What is Harm Reduction?

Harm reduction, or harm minimization, refers to a range of public health policies designed to lessen the negative social and/or physical consequences associated with various human behaviors, both legal and illegal.

It recognizes people’s agency and dignity and offers them opportunities to connect with resources without judgment or stigma.

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Why Libraries?

"When someone needs help, the library is one of the few places where they feel comfortable. Going to a treatment center may be a much scarier step."

-Barbara Gay, Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center

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Why Libraries?

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  • We provide information
    • Any service we offer is an opportunity to provide information on safety and treatment.
  • We teach people to use information technology
    • Fentanyl Test Strips and Pregnancy Tests are just as much an information technology as computers or books.
    • Surely there is no more vital piece of information that libraries can provide than whether the substance our patron is about to ingest is a deadly poison or not.
  • We are public servants
    • We help people. People who use drugs are people.
    • Public service means serving all of the public.

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How can libraries help?

  • Harm reduction and health monitoring tools give people agency, empower them to make safer choices, and provide them with the information and tools to survive and better their situations.
  • Not only have harm reduction services been shown to not increase drug use, they can result in increases in the seeking of treatment and other supportive services by their participants.

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Library Services to Offer

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Health & Wellness Station

  • Freely accessible harm reduction �and other life-preserving tools �(information technologies!)
  • Location
  • “Honor system”
  • Barrier-free
  • Intersectional
  • Usage-driven

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Hygiene Kits, Period Kits, and Life-Saving Kits

  • Freely accessible harm reduction and other �life-preserving tools
  • Pre-assembled kits
  • Location
  • Barrier-free

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Fentanyl Test Strips

  • Fentanyl is responsible for a massive increase in overdose deaths
    • Extremely potent
    • Undetectable to any of our senses
    • Taint significant percentages of every drug supply in varying quantities.
  • They can be offered by libraries for people to take home and test their supplies. They do not contain drugs.
  • Research shows that FTS help people to be better informed, which can lead to behavior changes and adoption of harm reduction measures. Further, PWUD from one study appreciated FTS so much, they began sharing their allotted supply with others.
  • In short, they're free, people like them, and they work.

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Naloxone

  • Libraries can have naloxone available for staff to administer in the event of an overdose, or can freely provide it to patrons.
  • Syringes are decriminalized in NJ, and there is a standing order allowing anyone to carry and use all FDA-approved forms of naloxone, including intramuscular (IM) naloxone, which is the fastest acting in a fentanyl overdose.
  • Further, the large syringe for delivery of IM naloxone is similar to a syringe used to administer hormone treatment and vaccinations, and so it would be useless for injecting drugs directly into one’s veins.
  • If distributing naloxone, consider attaching magnets and/or �clips so they can be placed somewhere easy to see and �access.

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Pregnancy Tests

  • A urine pregnancy test kit can detect the HCG hormone about one week after a missed period, but some manufacturers claim even earlier detection.
  • Most manufacturers will claim that home pregnancy tests are 97-99% accurate when used correctly.
  • 1 week after a missed period is only ~3 weeks after conception, but already ~5 weeks pregnant.

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Free Testing

  • HIV
    • Iris House
    • Planned Parenthood
    • Hyacinth
  • Covid
    • Test kits
    • Regional testing

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Health Monitoring

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  • Blood Pressure Monitoring
    • Lending Kits
    • Stations
  • Pulse Oximeters
  • Glucose Monitors
  • Lyme Disease Test Kits

Photo source

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Other Materials

  • Condoms
  • Rain Ponchos
  • Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
  • Pads, Tampons, Menstrual Cups
  • First Aid Kits
  • Bathing Wipes and Flushable Wipes
  • Face Masks and Hand Sanitizer
  • Reflective Vests, Bags, Wrist/Ankle Bands
  • Hothands
  • Socks
  • Chapstick
  • Deodorant
  • Soap
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Body lotion
  • Diapers

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Outreach

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Mobile Libraries as Information Technology

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  • Bookbike, Bookmobile
  • Pop-Up Library (a table)
  • How much of the “library” are we bringing with us?
    • Books, library cards, flyers…
    • Reference assistance, programs
    • Partners, resources
    • Social work

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Planning outreach visits

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  • Where to visit?
    • Shelters
    • Soup Kitchens
    • Food Pantries
    • Community Centers
    • Parks
    • Assisted/Affordable Housing
    • Other community spaces?
  • How often?
    • Capacity v. consistency

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Outreach goes both ways

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  • Feedback, surveys
    • Official/unofficial
  • Policy/practice assessment
    • Temporary card policy
  • Responsive services and programs
    • Project ID
    • Social Service Drop-In
    • Assistance by appointment

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Social Work

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  • There are two FT social workers in NJ �libraries, but more social work interns
  • Intern v. staff
  • Macro social work
  • Social work v. Reference work

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Other Ideas

  • Overdose Prevention Training (for staff and patrons)
  • Anonymous Suggestion Box
  • Install Defibrillators
  • Provide Sharps Disposal Bins
  • Offer Drug Deactivation Bags (like Deterra)
  • Posting Info for Never Use Alone Hotline 1-800-997-2280 and the Brave App
  • Safe Use Kits: Can be obtained at a Harm Reduction Center
  • Post Fentanyl Tainting/Overdose Alerts
  • Join Local Overdose Fatality Review Team (OFRT)

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What ideas can

you think of?

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Funding

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Funding

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  • Budget
  • Challenges

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Conclusion

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The Broadest Idea of Information Technology

  • R David Lankes: If a person is starving, or freezing to death, they’re not going to be able to read a book.

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Want to discuss more?