LIBRARIES LAB
"Sometimes I would go to the library because I could go on the internet for free. I would go and do that, because I liked to go and look at things. I was still very connected with my child care career, even though Zane didn’t allow me to work. At the library, I tried to read up on what was happening in that space, so that I wasn’t completely disconnected. But if I spent too long at the library, Zane would accuse me of meeting someone there. So more and more I just stayed at home in the one spot to minimise what I was being accused of." (Matilda - Voices of Insight)
The Libraries Lab is a self-service space that collates a selection of free (donated) insights and reflection materials to build on the understanding of and responses to violence and abuse through library spaces, services, collections and community engagement. On this page you can explore:
- Why libraries matter
- A letter to librarians
- Many victim-survivors of violence and abuse are silent or silenced
- Ideas for action using insight-informed free (donated) materials
- More materials
WHY LIBRARIES MATTER
People subjected to violence and abuse are part of every community. Many use libraries as places of learning, connection, work, reflection and access to information. This includes adults, young people and children.
Libraries are free accessible public spaces. They are important part of the ecosystem of responses to domestic, family and sexualised violence. For some victim-survivors of violence and abuse, libraries may be one of the few places where they can:
- Spend time without explanation
- Access free information in a variety of platforms
- Access information privately/discreetly
- Encounter language or experiences that reflect their own
- Participate without disclosure
- Feel seen without having to speak
Through libraries, responses to violence and abuse are possible through library staff as responders, through the library as a place and space of response, and through collections, resources and exhibitions that can contribute to understanding and engagement of lived experiences.
A LETTER TO LIBRARIANS
We invite libraries (and the local councils or institutions they map into) to read and share the 'Letter to librarians'
[Letter to Librarians & Libraries Lab Artwork: © Collaborating Artist Louise Whelan]
SILENT AND SILENCED
Many victim-survivors of violence and abuse are silent or are silenced.
SILENCE
"Less than 40 per cent of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort.”
[UN Women]
TALK
"In the majority of countries with available data on this issue, among women who do seek help, most look to family and friends and very few look to formal institutions, such as police and health services. Fewer than 10 per cent of those seeking help reported to the police.”
[UN Women]
SILENCED
Many victim-survivors are silenced by the violence and abuse used against them and by unhelpful and harmful responses in society, services and systems.
"Responses don’t ‘start’ when someone ‘tells’ us something. We have been responding all along (directly or indirectly) through our stance, our silence, our action or inaction about violence and abuse. We are responders even when nothing is told to us." [Talk]
IDEAS ABOUT ACTIONS LIBRARIES CAN TAKE
Libraries can be a vital and reliable place and space to many children, young people and adults - supporting discreet access to information, room and space to think, read, work, study, plan, reflect, talk or find stillness. Mobile and agile libraries also serve as a vital and reliable point of connection - supporting access to information and materials through regional rural and remote places and spaces.
There are many ways that libraries are already building on safety and responding to violence and abuse. Below are additional ideas for responding to victim-survivors of violence and abuse who may be silent or silenced.
Host a Voices of Insight Collection
Voices of Insight - de-identified descriptions of people’s lived experience of domestic, family and sexualised violence and other adversities. The insights highlight victim-survivor resistance and responses to violence, and the helpful, unhelpful or harmful ways people, services and systems responded.
We invite libraries to loan and exhibit the free (donated) Voices of Insight Collection within the library space.
Explore and share insight informed materials
Individually and collectively, we can listen to and be led by victim-survivors’ insights and experiences of violence and abuse. In the 'exploring' menu you can view and read free (donated) animations., lightboxes and materials informed by lived experience insights. For libraries, we suggest starting with 'My Safety Kit'.
We invite libraries to share the materials with library visitors, teams, community members, as well as partner suppliers, businesses and collaborators.
Order and share free landing cards
We invite libraries to order the free (donated) Insight Exchange landing cards. These are designed to share discreet access to the insights and materials. They are small business card size cards and have a static QR code (on side B) for quick access to the Insight Exchange website and resources.
Shipping is worldwide and delivery is direct to the address supplied in the order form. Please allow 3 weeks from the date your order is confirmed.
Share and embed free (donated) modules
We invite Libraries to view, share and embed the free (donated) Insight Exchange modules in professional development sessions and on library websites, socials or intranet systems.
The modules are: Any Responder (new 2025), Foundations (New 2025), Understanding and responding to Strangulation, An Introduction to Economic Abuse (CWES). These are also accessible via our Vimeo Channel.
Uplift workplace responses and widen support options
To build on safety and wellbeing in the workplace, we invite libraries to review and uplift workplace responses to violence and abuse using the Guide: Uplifting workplace responses.
Libraries can widen the support options made available through the library as a workplace. Explore My Support Options - a menu designed to share examples of what victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexualised violence have wished for and/or asked for from their workplace.
MORE MATERIALS TO BUILD ON THE RESPONSES OF LIBRARIES
Libraries hold personal and collective memory now and over time. They make decisions that shape what is valued, recorded and preserved.
We invite libraries to explore more about the role of libraries in holding personal and collective memory about violence and abuse – View a talk by independent Artist Louise Whelan commissioned by Insight Exchange.
(Note: Consent has been granted to Insight Exchange to embed the video on this page. Viewers can use the share link to share it forward.)
LIBRARIES LAB ENGAGEMENT
Every week there are thousands of people visiting libraries - visiting in person and using digital information and loans online. In FY24/25 we established the Libraries Lab to build on understanding of and responses to violence and abuse. We invite you to open the Libraries Lab Engagement Lightbox (below) to read about who has engaged with the Libraries Lab in FY24/25 & FY25/26. Click on the first tile to open the lightbox in full screen.
WHAT NEXT
Listening
In the 'listening' menu you can explore lived experience insights.
Exploring
In the 'exploring' menu you can view and read animations and resources informed by lived experience insights.
Learning
In the 'learning' menu you can view and read resources designed to build on understanding of violence and abuse.
Participating
In the 'participating' menu you can explore several ways to participate in Insight Exchange at your lead.