The New York Public Library to Provide Programs on Coping in a Time of Traumatic Stress, Loss, and Uncertainty

New York, October 16, 2001 -- All of us are suffering, to a greater or lesser degree, as a result of the horrifying attacks of September 11th. Some of us have lost friends or loved ones. Others know neighbors, relatives, friends, or co-workers who have experienced such loss. Some have lost jobs; others fear such loss. While the emotional impact varies from person to person, everyone is stressed.

On Wednesday, November 14 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, November 17 at 2 p.m., the Library will hold programs in 16 different branches on how to deal with stress, fear, and grief following September 11. Teams of two mental health professionals, (psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers who work with adults and children), will be present at each program to discuss the current crisis and its effect upon our capacity to cope. They will provide information and take questions from the audience. The aim of these informational sessions is to help us to understand and differentiate between normal, expectable responses to stress, loss and grief and those responses that require and would benefit from medical and/or psychological intervention. The Library will provide a list of local mental health and medical resources for those in  attendance.

The program will be held at the following locations and times:

Wednesday, November 14 at 6 p.m.:
Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Avenue at 40th Street, 6th Floor Conference Room
Fordham Library Center, (Bronx), 2556 Bainbridge Avenue near Fordham Road

Saturday, November 17 at 2 p.m.:
Manhattan:
Tompkins Square Branch Library, 331 East 10th Street, between Avenues A and B
Epiphany Branch Library, 228 East 23rd Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
96th Street Regional Library, 112 East 96th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues
Bloomingdale Regional Library, 150 West 100 Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues
Countee Cullen Regional Library, 104 West 136th Street, between Lenox and 7th Avenues
Inwood Regional Library, 4790 Broadway, near Dyckman Street

Bronx:
Clason’s Point Branch Library, 1215 Morrison Avenue, near Westchester Avenue
Parkchester Regional Library, 1985 Westchester Avenue, at Pugsley Avenue
Francis Martin Regional Library, 2150 University Avenue, at West 181st Street
Kingsbridge Regional Library, 280 West 231 Street, at Corlear Avenue
Mosholu Branch Library, 285 East 205th Street near Perry Avenue
Baychester Regional Library, 2049 Asch Loop North at Bartow Avenue

Staten Island:
New Dorp Regional Library, 309 New Dorp Lane
Todt Hill-Westerleigh Regional Library, 2250 Victory Boulevard

NYPL Responds website
Since September 11, the Library has been working to provide patrons with enhanced services, both on our Internet site and in our libraries. These services include an extensive listing of emergency information; book lists and recommended reading on topics related to the tragedy; special resources and programs for small business owners including business counseling services; new programs focusing on how to handle grief and loss, strategies for parents and teachers assisting children in coping with their fears; and new storytelling hours for children focused on healing. In addition to new programs, NYPL is also continuing its strong tradition of community building with ongoing classes, workshops, and book discussion groups.

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