TCPL Kicks Off Information Saves Lives Program with Harm Reduction Resource Fair

ITHACA — Tompkins County Public Library kicks off their Information Saves Lives program with a Harm Reduction Resource Fair from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 17th, 2024 in the Avenue of Friends at the Tompkins County Public Library located at 101 E. Green St. The resource fair aims to bring the Tompkins County community together to better understand the realities of substance use disorder and provide resources to support everyone affected. Participating organizations include The Advocacy Center, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, Finger Lakes ReUse, Ithaca Free Clinic, Mental Health Association of Tompkins County, No Mas Lagrimas, OAR of Tompkins County, Personalized Recovery Oriented Services, The REACH Project, Service in Unity, Southern Tier AIDS Program, Tompkins County Whole Health, and Truth Pharm.

Funding for the Information Saves Lives project was awarded to the Library by the Tompkins County Opioid Task Force. Tompkins County received $700,000 after New York State reached a settlement with several companies that manufactured, distributed, and sold opioids. Those funds were distributed via the Task Force through grants to several local organizations including the Library, TST BOCES, REACH Medical, and Finger Lakes ReUse. The Library received $37,500 and is required to spend the funds by the end of 2025.

“TCPL is honored and humbled to receive this grant,” said Library Director Leslie Tabor. “Public libraries are committed to reducing stigma and providing resources without judgment, and the Opioid Settlement Grant is a perfect match for our mission. TCPL staff helped save four lives in 2023 using NARCAN and we want everyone to know that they can be empowered to help people, too.”

The Information Saves Lives project will use grant funding to provide a free community NARCAN vending machine in the library, to augment the library’s collection with materials pertaining to substance use disorder, to train staff on trauma-informed library services, and to provide public programming throughout the fall and winter of 2024.

“The Library’s project team put their heart and soul into this grant,” said project manager Sasha Raffloer. “We wanted to have programs that address the realities of substance use disorder, like NARCAN trainings, but we also wanted to offer events that focus on mental health, mindfulness, and discussion for those who may not have substance use disorder but are impacted by it. Our hope is for the community to share diverse perspectives and use information to create supportive spaces – connection and information save lives.”

More information about programs and events for Information Saves Lives can be found on the Library’s website at www.tcpl.org.

Questions about the program may be directed by email to project manager Sasha Raffloer at sraffloer@tcpl.org.