Shelter Should Not Mean Sheltered: Creating an Information Resource Centre for Abused Women

Authors

  • Rhiannon Jones University of Calgary

Keywords:

academic librarians, Women's Shelters, women's shelter, Community Development, domestic violence, Compassion Fatigue, compassion fatigue, resource centers, volunteerism

Abstract

Imagine having to leave your house with nothing, leaving in the middle of the night balancing a suitcase while your children cling to you, crying softly. Perhaps you are new to a country and you have no idea where to turn for help. Your spouse is abusive and you fear for your life and the lives of your children. Many people do not entertain these thoughts, but it is thoughts such as these that enabled the author of this article to reach out and help those in need. Using her experience in Canada, the author chronicles the development of a library/resource centre in a local women's shelter. Born out of compassion fatigue and fear, it led to a greater sense of community both in the shelter and beyond. This article will open a dialogue about the ways in which academic librarians can be directly involved in the community beyond the walls of the library.

 

Author Biography

Rhiannon Jones, University of Calgary

EMBA/MBA Liaison Librarian. Haskayne School of Business.

Downloads

Published

2018-03-13

How to Cite

Jones, R. (2018). Shelter Should Not Mean Sheltered: Creating an Information Resource Centre for Abused Women. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 23(3), 22–27. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/1426

Issue

Section

Librarians as Helping Professionals