A Multi‐Methodological Assessment to Further the Role of Alabama's Public Libraries in Addressing the Opioid Crises

ABSTRACT This poster highlights the use of a multi‐methodological approach to assess the role of Alabama's public libraries in addressing the opioid crises. Select findings/results from mixed research methods are reported to document the experiences of Alabama's library staff about their information offerings, activities, and community engagement and analyze web representation of their relevant services. The following research objectives were achieved over a two‐year time‐period (2019–2021): 1) We implemented a quantitative online survey to collect feedback from 36 Alabama's librarians about their community engagement experiences and what past and current role public libraries play in community health building processes. 2) We conducted qualitative interviews and focus groups with fifteen state librarians about their role as community hubs to address the opioid crises. From this dataset we developed a programming taxonomy and engagement prototype to identify preliminary activities, partners, challenges, outcomes, potential actions, resources, and best practices. 3) We conducted content analysis on websites of Alabama's 230 public libraries about availability, engagement, and representation of health information support services to overcome the opioid crises. This poster provides a glimpse of select activities conducted in this regard, reports select findings and results from the various methods used and highlights methodological implications and issues.