Last month Guild celebrated the grand opening of a new library at our Community Support Program Member Center!
The CSP Member Center supports individuals living with mental illness in Dakota County, who can drop in for an array of services, classes and resources to support their recovery and improve their self-sufficiency. The center helps our clients reduce isolation, find community, gain knowledge, and solve problems related to everyday living, and this library is a welcome and exciting addition to the center’s offerings.
“We’ve always had a supply of books here at the CSP,” Alex Carr, CSP supervisor, told us. “However, we noticed that the books were often scattered, pushed to the side, written in, or otherwise overlooked. We recognized the need for a more intentional approach and decided it was time to reassess how reading could serve as a valuable resource for our community.”
Alex and the rest of the CSP team utilized feedback from members to help choose what to include in the new library. “We believe it’s important that a library built for members is built by members. Intentionally selecting books based on member interest was the most important factor when choosing our books.”
At Guild, we’re committed to sustainability and conscious consumption, and as part of that mission Alex and the CSP team sourced most of the books secondhand. In addition, some books were donated by one of our generous volunteers. (Thank you, Jim!)
This new library will give members new opportunities to explore ideas and connect through shared stories, Alex explained. One book they’re particularly excited to have included in the library is Ron Power’s No One Cares About Crazy People.
“This book is a deeply personal and powerful reflection on mental illness, both from the author’s own experiences and wider societal failures,” they shared with us. “The book shines a light on the stigma that surrounds mental illness and challenges us to rethink how we treat and support those who are struggling. It’s a call for more empathy, understanding, and real change in how we approach mental health.”
Ultimately, this new library will provide more than just books to CSP members.
“The goal of the library is to create a space where members can go to explore new ideas, find resources for personal growth, and discover stories that resonate with their experiences,” Alex said. “It’s a community space that reflects our values of learning, connection, and making resources accessible to all.”
Each month, Alex and the CSP team plan to showcase book recommendations from staff, members, and volunteers, creating an opportunity to connect, share perspectives, and discover new favorites together.
“Members can discover something new, find inspiration, or simply take a moment to unwind with a good book,” they said.
Thank you to all of the members, volunteers, and staff who helped make this new library possible!