“Library workers are highly skilled at reaching teenagers through many kinds of programming, but many library staff find it a challenge to talk about mental health,” said Luis Gonsalez, The Seattle Public Library’s Digital Media & Learning Program Manager.
To address this gap, Luis and other SPL staff have been working with libraries across the nation to create and test tools for youth programming around teen mental health.
The result was unveiled this week. Nourishing Minds is a free, practical approach to assist library workers in creating a supportive environment for teens to explore mental health in meaningful ways. It includes a comprehensive set of free digital tools.
“We created this toolkit to give library workers around the country a practical guide to getting started,” says Luis.
The Nourishing Minds Framework was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with support from The Seattle Public Library Foundation. The comprehensive approach is designed to support teen mental health through three foundational pillars: brave spaces, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles, and co-design. These pillars create environments where teens can explore mental health topics meaningfully, discover resonant tools and feel empowered to take charge of their well-being.
The final Nourishing Minds toolkit includes:
- Quick Start Guide: A concise overview of the framework and how to get started.
- 88-Page Cookbook: A robust guide to planning and facilitating the program that includes detailed principles, mission, tools and session plans for implementation.
- Nourishing Minds Card Deck: The 103 vibrantly designed cards are the heart of the program, each with a prompt or activity for teens to discuss and reflect on.
- Card Placemat: Library staff can use the placemat to organize the cards for planning a session.
What library workers say about Nourishing Minds
SPL tested the toolkit at eight library systems over a three-year period. Here were a few of the comments we received.
“Nourishing Minds provided our small, rural library with the tools and resources necessary to build a lasting foundation of mental health awareness for our teens. This program allowed us to see teen mental health in a new light, helping us to focus on breaking the stigmas surrounding mental health discussions and providing a framework for future programming.” – Melanie Warga, Director of Ohio County Public Library, Hartford, Kentucky
“Teens got to have a space where for a lot of them it was their first time talking about these ideas in a space where they could be open about it. Seeing them enjoy the activities and learn how they apply for them has been a rewarding experience.” – SPL teen librarian Alicia G.
“Facilitating the Nourishing Minds program was a truly rewarding experience. The curriculum offered a dynamic and flexible framework that made planning and leading sessions both exciting and meaningful for the teens. I appreciated how the co-design elements and hands-on activities encouraged creativity, collaboration, and self-expression. With such a wide variety of activities, every teen was able to engage in a way that matched their personality and learning style, whether through art, group discussions, or interactive exercises.” – SPL Librarian Amy T.
The library systems that tested the toolkit included:
- City of Burlington Public Library, Wisconsin
- Charles County Public Library, Maryland
- Deschutes Public Library, Oregon
- Fort Lee Public Library, New Jersey
- Meridian Library District, Idaho
- Morton Mandan Public Library, North Dakota
- Ohio County Public Library, Kentucky
- The Seattle Public Library, Washington
Library workers can download the planning toolkit and begin planning sessions with teens using cookbook recipes. Learn more at https://nourishing-minds.org/.
Find out more
- American Library Association press release: The Seattle Public Library’s Nourishing Minds toolkit equips libraries to address youth mental health with free and innovative programs and resources
- Programming Librarian: Example of session on Persona Building is an example of a full program created using “recipes” from the cookbook and card deck.
- Download tools and find out more at www.nourishing-minds.org.