Libraries & Protective Factors: The Role of the Library in Supporting Families

Protective factors are the strengths and resources that families can draw on when life gets difficult. Taking those good characteristics and building on them is a proven way to strengthen the entire family and thus decrease the likelihood of maltreatment. Each of the protective factors is essential, but most important is what they do together to create strength and stability in families.Libraries have a unique role to play in strengthening families in their communities. By providing access to resources and information, libraries can help families build protective factors that mitigate the effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACE’s. Strong families leads to better outcomes for children, and reduced instances of child abuse and neglect.