Disclaimer: This story contains discussions of self-harm.
One Tulsa veteran and regular library customer found a lifeline at Hardesty Regional Library when circumstances left him unhoused at 51 years old. During the time spent living in his car, access to essentials like phone service, food, and hygiene supplies often depended on whether he could afford gas. At one point, his car died in the library parking lot, pulling him into such a dark place that he was thinking of harming himself. Library staff stayed with him through the moment of crisis; they helped jump his car and connected him with support through the Tulsa City-County Library System (TCCL).
With funding generously provided by the Anne & Henry Zarrow Family Foundation, TCCL has partnered with Family & Children’s Services since 2021—helping library customers obtain safe housing and advocate for themselves. TCCL Case Manager, Karen Knapp, met with this 51-year-old veteran and helped him secure basic needs as well as a consultation with a nurse. Karen also connected him with veteran support organizations that provided food, phone service, and car repairs. When asked about the experience, he said:
"Karen's assistance through the library system was genuinely a life-saving moment that I'm deeply grateful for. She and the library staff had a lot to do with my mental well-being these past six months... living in my car with no safe place to go.”He has since moved into an apartment, enrolled in an online Bachelor’s degree program, and scheduled several job interviews.
He has since moved into an apartment, enrolled in an online Bachelor’s degree program, and scheduled several job interviews.
This moving story reveals how a local library is a hub in the broader mental health network.
Libraries like Hardesty Regional serve as anchors for those navigating difficult life chapters, offering not only practical help but also a personal connection. It is a powerful reminder that libraries play a vital role in promoting mental well-being and helping each customer build their best future.
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