Illinois libraries step into life-saving role as new law expands access to Narcan

Some Illinois public libraries will be required to stock drugs that reverse opioid overdoses and train staff members in their use starting Jan. 1, and others are seizing an opportunity to join the effort voluntarily.

Under the pending provisions of the Local Library Act, libraries governed by the statute — mainly those overseen by a municipality or township — will be required to have a supply of opioid reversal agents such as naloxone or nalmefene.

Narcan is the brand name for naloxone and how many people commonly refer to the drug.

New guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health ensures these libraries’ ability to comply with the law and allows all other public libraries to have a supply on hand if they choose.

“Medications like naloxone save lives, but only if they are readily available when needed,” Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement. “With this updated standing order, community institutions like public libraries will be able to respond quickly and effectively to an overdose emergency.”

The measure is similar to one affecting schools signed in 2024. A standing order is a pre-approved written protocol from a physician allowing the use of specific health care measures without a new, individual order for each patient.

Schaumburg Township District Library officials didn’t wait for a mandate, Marketing & Communications Director Andrea Lublink said.

“We just thought this was a really good plan to have something in place in case it was ever needed,” she added.

Cynthia Robinson, executive director of the Illinois Library Association, noted that while library districts may have begun stocking these reversal drugs, they’re not under the same mandate as municipal libraries.

“Library districts are not currently required to do this,” she said. “We're hoping it will be fixed in the next legislative session.”

About 75% of Illinois libraries are governed by library districts, she added. But because of the role public libraries play in their communities, being prepared for medical emergencies is considered vital.

Naperville Public Library is among those affected by the new law and supported by the recent IDPH guidance. Its board of trustees is appointed by the mayor rather than independently elected, making it subject to the new requirement.

“We have a dedicated ‘person in charge’ at each building at all times when the library is open, and they received training on how to administer Narcan from the DuPage County Health Department this fall,” the library’s Director of Marketing and Communications Trente Arens said. “The DuPage County Health Department also provided us with a supply of Narcan for staff use at each of our three buildings.”

Wheeling-based Indian Trails Public Library District and the Antioch Public Library District are among those voluntarily following state guidance.

Indian Trails used one of the sessions of its all-day staff training Nov. 21 to prepare everyone to take action in the event of an opioid overdose at either its main library or the Prospect Heights branch.

“They trained the entire staff on how to administer Narcan in the event that somebody visiting the library needs assistance,” Communication and Development Manager Jen Schmidt said.

Antioch Library did its staff training Nov. 19. Supervisors were required to attend, while participation was voluntary for the rest of the staff. About half the staff volunteered, Deputy Director of Public Services Amy Blue said.

She noted some staff were concerned about using Narcan on an overdosing patron, but the trainer allayed many of their fears and they were pleased with district’s proactive stance.

“We would never want our staff to feel unsafe coming to work,” Blue said. “So if somebody decided in the moment they didn't want to administer Narcan, it would be fine. Our first responders get here pretty fast, but if they could and they want to, that's great. We want to give them the tools that they need to support our community.”

· Daily Herald staff writers Jake Griffin and Matt Brady contributed to this report.