Access under pressure: Organizational capacity, resistance, and harm reduction services in U.S. public libraries

Oh, Sein; Sullivan, Margaret

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132990 Copy

Description

Title

Access under pressure: Organizational capacity, resistance, and harm reduction services in U.S. public libraries

Author(s)

• Oh, Sein
• Sullivan, Margaret

Issue Date

2026-03-12

Keyword(s)

• Public libraries
• Harm reduction
• Health information
• Community resistance
• Information access

Abstract

The role of public libraries as active partners in local responses to the opioid crisis is becoming more visible; however, library-led efforts sometimes encounter resistance, both from community members and within the library staff (MacEwan et al. 2024). We completed a mixed‑methods survey of public library directors from U.S. counties with the highest levels of overdose mortality. The research team reached out to 50 public library directors in the 25 rural and 25 urban counties with the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths per population in the United States and received 35 survey responses. We assessed external (community) resistance, internal (staff) resistance, categories of harm‑reduction and treatment resources, and indicators of organizational capacity (e.g., dedicated outreach staff, mental‑health supports). Quantitative analyses utilized descriptive statistics, group comparisons (t‑tests), and regression models; qualitative open‑ended responses were coded using a structured codebook. According to the results, resistance (community and staff) was higher in urban than rural libraries. Resistance was not associated with fewer services, but rather some organizational capacity (e.g., outreach staff, staff-care infrastructure) appeared to support a larger array of service provision. Internal consistency of the resource indices was satisfactory (α = 0.789); convergent validity was also maintained (r =. 661, p <. 001). Implications are to reframe the issue from public sentiment predicts services to capacity and partnership shields permit access despite resistance. We highlight implications for the institutional dynamics of information access, staff well-being, and cross-sector partnerships.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2026 Proceedings

Type of Resource

Other

Genre of Resource

Conference Poster

Language

eng

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132990

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2026 is held by Sein Oh and Margaret Sullivan. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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