How do I handle the crises that walk into the library?

You can help most patrons well now. What overwhelms you are the crises the library quietly absorbs, the people who arrive in real distress because there is nowhere else for them to go. You were trained for books and questions, and instead you are catching human emergencies you never signed up for. So be clear about what your job actually is here. You are not a therapist, a nurse, or a social worker, and you cannot be. Your role is to respond with basic kindness, keep the space safe, and connect people to those who can truly help. Trying to personally solve every crisis is what pulls you under. Learn the handful of resources and referral numbers for your area, and keep them close. When a crisis walks in, meet the person with calm and dignity, then point them toward the right help. You hold the moment steady and pass the deeper problem to those equipped for it. That is not failing them. That is doing your part without drowning in theirs.