Hillside staff have a new resource – a Family Therapy Library in Ely Cottage on Hillside Children’s Center’s Monroe Avenue campus. Director of Family Therapy Training Sybil Baldwin decided to create the library when she looked around her office one day and thought, “I’m probably not going to read all those books again. Why not pass them on for others to enjoy?” Sybil donated several hundred books to Hillside and Carl Christensen, her partner in private practice, donated some of his books to get the Family Therapy Library started.

Ken Lewter, Director of Residential Services at Hillside Children’s Center, graciously donated space in Ely Cottage for the new library. Sybil and Robin Mock from the Family Therapy Training group soon realized that cataloging the books and setting up a lending system would be a big project.

Fortunately, 15-year-old Brenna expressed an interest in the project. Helping to set up the library allowed her to fulfill eight hours of required service to Hillside and the project was a perfect fit for her. “I love reading and I’m really good on the computer,” she says. “And I love helping people.”

Sybil, Robin, and Brenna soon set up a “production line” to glue card pockets into each book, create a lending card, and enter each title in an Excel database. Brenna soon completed her required service hours, but continued to work with Sybil and Robin to complete the project until the time of her discharge from services. “I wouldn’t leave them to do this alone,” Brenna says. “To have her stay after completing her community service hours speaks to Brenna’s commitment,” Sybil says. “We couldn’t have done this without her.”

Once the books have been catalogued, Sybil will send a list of available volumes to staff who work with families across all Hillside locations. Clinicians will be able to request books by email and orders will be fulfilled through Hillside’s interoffice mail system. “I’m already getting requests for books,” Sybil says. She believes the Family Therapy Library will be a tremendous resource for staff. “Family-driven, youth-guided care is becoming so important at Hillside. This library will help clinicians provide better care.”

Sybil plans to expand the library as resources allow. “I’m compiling a list of books to add,” she says. She welcomes donations of family therapy books from other therapists and will be happy to arrange pick-up of donated volumes. If you are interested in donating books to the Hillside Family Therapy Library, please email Sybil at sbaldwin@hillside.com.