(Re)Introducing the Essential Resources Brochure

Submitted by Brianna Schantz

As library employees, we wear many hats. We are teachers, readers, shelvers, computer helpers, and friends to our patronage. For some patrons, we are their first stop when they need help with finding their next read or printing a document. For others, we are their lifeline.

Picture this: A patron approaches you with a need you cannot readily fill. This individual needs a safe place to stay for the night. They need food for their family, or perhaps they need access to free medical care. They need financial assistance to get back on their feet. I am sure you have encountered this scenario already. What if instead of scrambling (and, if you are like me, stressing) to pull up hotlines and the addresses of shelters, you could hand them a brochure with the contact information of organizations that can readily fill their need?

The Essential Resources brochure provides contact information for organizations in Forsyth and surrounding counties, as well as the requirements for patrons to receive assistance from these programs. On the front page, there is a QR code with access to our Community Resource Guide, provided by United Way. Inside, patrons will find help hotlines, transportation means, food banks, job help, housing, temporary shelters, long term shelters, divorce and grief share, financial aid, and clothing resources. If patrons inquire for more information, I have an additional document with the organizations’ addresses, as well as servicing hours, which are always subject to change.

These organizations are run by people who also wear many hats, just like us. We may not be able to provide beds for patrons in need like they can, but we can provide our patronage with the information to get in touch with the passionate individuals behind these programs. With the introduction of our new Courtesy Cards, we can also provide our patronage experiencing housing instability with access to our digital and physical resources. Patrons are eligible to receive a Courtesy Card with a valid picture ID and a letter from a community partner, such as The Place. When signing a patron up for a Courtesy Card, that is a wonderful opportunity to connect them with the Essential Resources brochure as well.

So now picture this: A patron approaches you with a need you cannot readily fill, and you confidently put on one more hat. Hero.