Librarians Supporting Our Heroes – Reconnecting Through Resource Development

ABSTRACT

Our nation’s military veterans share a connection through their service, making them a distinctive community with unique information requirements. Community-based solutions are crucial to meet veterans where they are, and libraries of all types are in a position to help. In recognition of this, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a grant to Texas A&M University, which held a forum attended by 250 librarians from across the United States. The discussions covered how veterans are currently being engaged, what services and programs are working, and where improvements could be made. Toolkit committees were then formed to brainstorm service and program ideas for veterans that can be utilized in various library settings, including medical facilities. These toolkits were uploaded to a freely available repository so that librarians can use and adapt these resources to develop their own veteran-oriented programming. Results from this collaboration among librarians have led to new connections, friendships being formed, and the generation of even more creative solutions to reach veteran populations. While considerations such as respecting copyright and dealing with grant funding appropriations are present, this should not keep librarians from utilizing these resources. This project is meant to be an ongoing and evolving effort. New ideas and collaborations are not just welcomed but encouraged to best serve these veterans who have so selflessly sacrificed for their country.

KEYWORDS:

• Community-institutional relations
• databases
• education
• grants
• information literacy
• librarians
• libraries
• library collection development
• military family
• military personnel
• outreach
• program development
• social marketing
• veterans

Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, St. Cloud VA Health Care System (St. Cloud, Minnesota). The views expressed in the article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. This study was approved as a Non-Research Quality Assurance Project/Audit by members of the St. Cloud VA Research and Development Committee, which oversees the Saint Cloud VA research activities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.