Chesterfield Public Library announces ‘Read to Recovery’ collection

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- In recognition of National Recovery Month, Chesterfield Public Library has announced its new "Read to Recovery" collection, featuring books that support opioid addiction recovery.

September is National Recovery Month, which promotes that treatment and recovery from substance use disorder are possible, and celebrates the gains made by those in recovery.

In recognition, Chesterfield Public Library has announced its new "Read to Recovery" collection, which provides a variety of books that support opioid addiction recovery to folks without requiring a library card and without the books needing to be checked out.

Read to Recovery bookshelves can reportedly be found at the Chester Library, Meadowdale Library and Midlothian Library. The bookshelves also feature pamphlets and other materials to connect community members with recovery services, according to the library.

A spokesperson said the locations of the collections were determined based on Chester Library and Meadowdale Library being located in parts of the county that historically have had the highest overdose rates.

The following are examples of the books available in the collection:

• “The Addiction Recovery Workbook” by Paula A. Freedman
• “Assess, Rebuild, Connect: Creating a New Life Beyond Addiction” by the Adams Recovery Center
• “Narcotics Anonymous” by Anonymous
• “Unhooked: Free Yourself from Addiction Forever” by Adi Jaffe PhD
• “The Weight of Air: A Story of the Lies about Addiction and the Truth about Recovery” by David Poses

The library said no library card or staff interaction is required to take books from the Read to Recovery collection. The library will reportedly restock the collection as books are removed.

Books in the collection can be identified by a Read to Recovery sticker found on the books' front covers.

"This collection uses the power of reading to help support people on their recovery journeys,” said Chesterfield Public Library director of library services Michael R. Mabe. "I’m grateful to our staff for bringing this idea forward and to the VOAA for helping make it possible. It is a step in the right direction toward encouraging and sustaining long-term recovery.”

The book collection comes alongside other free harm reduction community services that the library provides, including Naloxone opioid overdose medication, test strips to detect fentanyl, xylazine or benzodiazepine contamination in illicit drugs, medication deactivation kits and home medication lock bags.

The collection is funded by a $20,000 grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (VOAA).

For more information on the collection, including the complete list of books and harm reduction supplies, visit Chesterfield Public Library community services or call the library at 804-751-2275.

For more information on Mobile Outreach services, email hope@chesterfieldva.org or call 804-717-6169.