[Libs-Or] Patrons in abusive relationships

Wed Feb 15 15:47:59 PST 2017

If you're posting signs in bathrooms, put them in the men's bathrooms too!
Intimate violence can happen to anyone.

 -- Emily-Jane

*Emily-Jane Dawson*
*Reference Librarian*
Multnomah County Library
Central Library
Sunday-Thursday
503.988.5728
multcolib.org

*my preferred pronouns: she/her*

On Tue, Feb 14, 2017 at 12:21 PM, Victoria Mitchell <vmitch at uoregon.edu>
wrote:

> Another thing you can do is put signs on the insides of stall doors in
> women's bathrooms that have information about how to get help (hotlines,
> etc.) I have seen these in bathrooms at PeaceHealth medical facilities and
> thought it was a great idea, although I don't know if there's any way to
> know how effective they are.
> -Victoria
>
> Victoria Mitchell
> Government Information Librarian
> Knight Library, University of Oregon
> 1501 Kincaid St.
> Eugene, OR 97403-1299
>
> vmitch at uoregon.edu
> 541-346-3076
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:53:44 -0800
> From: Emily-Jane Dawson <ejd at multco.us>
> To: Sue Ludington <Sue_Ludington at co.washington.or.us>
> Cc: Taylor Worley <taylorlgkw at gmail.com>,
>         "libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us"
>         <libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
> Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Patrons in abusive relationships
> Message-ID:
>         <CADwDqf02wtiGwMrb7ug0=q464+YxY=fMTfNoSskFCBHYO5fKiA at mail.
> gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Taylor,
> I heartily endorse the options that  Sue mentioned.  And I think you're
> right that if your patron is over 18, there probably isn't anything that
> you can/should do to force intervention onto your patron.  (I mean, so long
> as you are not witnessing illegal harmful behavior yourself.)
>
> But I think it's also worth mentioning that the relationship that you have
> with your patron can be a powerful thing.  If you are friendly with her,
> and if you have regular interactions however brief they may be, you have
> created an opening, an invitation of sorts that is rooted in something more
> than just your card and your offer to assist her.
>
> She may never take you up on that offer, but it might matter very much to
> her that you have made it.  And, if other patrons witnessed you taking this
> kind step, they may reach out to you, or to other library staff, for help
> when they need it too.
>
> I think that what you have done so far is not actually as modest as it may
> seem.  And it is a good reminder to the rest of us that the kindness we
> offer our patrons can be very important, even if we never see the fruit
> that it bears.
>
>
>
>
> *Emily-Jane Dawson*
> *Reference Librarian*
> Multnomah County Library
> Central Library
> Sunday-Thursday
> 503.988.5728
> multcolib.org
>
>
>
> *my preferred pronouns: she/her*
>
> On Tue, Feb 7, 2017 at 4:31 PM, Sue Ludington <
> Sue_Ludington at co.washington.or.us> wrote:
>
> > Hi Taylor,
> >
> > This can truly be a disheartening position to be in. I for one
> > definitely feel your pain and commend you for reaching out to see how
> > others might respond.
> >
> >
> >
> > Here in the Law Library, we have a brochure display that includes one
> > for the Domestic Violence Resource Center located here in Hillsboro.
> > In addition, in our building of 3 county departments (including
> > Housing), we regularly post flyers (English and Spanish) advertising
> > the DVRC with phone numbers on pull-off tabs in the women?s restroom
> stalls.
> >
> >
> >
> > Might your library have similar brochures? Perhaps you could find a
> > way to share it with her?
> >
> >
> >
> > If you don?t have brochures, maybe you could inquire at your local DV
> > center. From the State?s website [https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/
> > ABUSE/DOMESTIC/Pages/index.aspx], I found the WomenSpace organization
> > [ http://womenspaceinc.org/] located in Eugene. You might contact them
> > to see if they have brochures they?d send for your library.
> > Alternatively or maybe in addition, you could consider creating a
> > flyer like I describe above. I?ve seen similar postings in other public
> women?s restrooms.
> >
> >
> >
> > And while I don?t know that the Lane County Law Library would have
> > anything specifically helpful, I?d be remiss if I didn?t encourage you
> > to reach out to them as needed. The Law Librarian, Neil Miller, has
> > been in the community a while and might know of other contacts or
> > resources. He can be reached at (541) 682-4337 or via email at
> neil.miller at co.lane.or.us.
> >
> >
> >
> > Hope this offers a little something that you/the library can do that
> > might prove helpful. Thanks for being such a kind and caring human!!!
> > We can?t have too many these days. J
> >
> >
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Sue
> >
> >
> >
> > *Sue Ludington*
> >
> > Assistant Law Librarian
> >
> > Washington County Law Library
> >
> > 111 NE Lincoln St., MS #45
> >
> > Hillsboro, OR 97124
> >
> >
> >
> > 503.846.8880 <(503)%20846-8880> | sue_ludington at co.washington.or.us
> >
> >
> >
> > *From:* Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] *On
> > Behalf Of *Taylor Worley
> > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 07, 2017 3:50 PM
> > *To:* libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
> > *Subject:* [Libs-Or] Patrons in abusive relationships
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> >
> >
> > I am curious about how people handle suspicions of patrons being in
> > abusive relationships. While I have no concrete proof, there is one
> > patron in particular I'm very concerned about based on the patterns I
> > observe at the library.
> >
> >
> >
> > I realize that this person is an adult and that I have very few
> > options, but I do try to check on her, ask her how she is doing, and
> > today I gave her my card and let her know again "if you every need
> > anything, we're here to help".
> >
> >
> >
> > I think that is the extent of what I can do, however I'm curious if
> > anyone has had experience with patrons in similar situations and what
> > you did/can do/didn't do.
> >
> >
> >
> > Again, I have no proof, just observations and a very bad gut feeling.
> > Thank you!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *Taylor Worley                                                  *Youth
> > Services Librarian
> >
> > Springfield Public Library
> >
> > 225 5th Street
> >
> > Springfield, OR 97422
> >
> > 541.726.2243 <(541)%20726-2243> (direct)
> >
> > taylorlgkw at gmail.com
> >
> > tworley at springfield-or.gov
> >
> > *"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe,
> > and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." -A. A. Milne*
> >
> >
> > _____________________________________________________
>
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