× Expand Public Library

by Barbara Trainin Blank

Public libraries have always been democratic, serving a cross-section of the population. After all, they are public, often easily accessible, and free.

As these populations have shifted to include more of the disadvantaged population, including people who are homeless, there is a small but growing trend for libraries to include social workers—not as patrons, but as helping professionals on staff.

It’s not surprising that libraries have become hubs for homeless people or even the equivalent of day shelters. In addition to their other assets, libraries have plenty of bathrooms and no security checks.

They are also safe, which is an important consideration. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, as of July 17, 2014, 337 homeless people have been killed in hate crimes in 15 years.

The trend toward providing social services in libraries began at the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), which hired a licensed marriage and family therapist, not an MSW.

“Many of my clients have told me that they consider the library a sanctuary, and many of them utilize and truly enjoy the library resources,” says Leah Esguerra, LMFT, hired through a partnership between the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco Department of Health/San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team.

But in addition, the library’s goal is to connect its homeless and indigent patrons to available community resources, where their basic needs for food, shelter, hygiene, and medical attention can be addressed. Esguerra spends her day roaming the library floors, keeping an eye out for regulars who might need help.

At first, Esguerra’s primary responsibilities were to provide direct services to patrons and training to the library staff on issues of homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse. But because of the interest the program has aroused among libraries and social service agencies, she also communicates with institutions that are considering hiring a social worker.

Esguerra supervises six health and safety associates and two team leaders to do further outreach at the main library and some of the branches. “The associates are formerly homeless people who have first-hand experience with San Francisco social services,” she says.

Elsewhere, the Pima County Library in Arizona became the first in the nation to hire public health nurses in its branches. The San Jose Public Library sent a caseworker to SFPL for training and consultation and now has a case manager on staff in a program entitled “Social Workers in the Library.”

Begun by Deborah Estreicher (a librarian on staff who has worked with outreach programs), Peter Lee, Glenn Thomas, and Cyndy Thomas, the program brings volunteer social workers into the library twice a month for free 20-minute referrals. Members of the National Association of Social Workers, North California Chapter, staff the program.

The social workers can help with such issues as education; emergency services (food, clothing, housing, and crisis support); employment; family matters; health improvement (including health insurance); immigration; and support groups for men, women, and teens.

The Encinitas Library in San Diego may soon have free access to social workers. It has been exploring a partnership with San Diego State University’s School of Social Work.

The Edmonton Public Library in Canada also hired a social worker, modeled after the San Francisco program. David MacMain, BSW, formerly of the Edmonton Library, was the first social worker in the program, which started in August 2011.

He called it the “brainchild” of Virginia Clavette, manager of programming at the main downtown branch, which has become “very much a hub of activity and community center, in the proximity of homeless shelters and frontline agencies.”

The Edmonton Library applied to the provisional government and won a Safer Community Initiative grant. Part of the grant was to pay for three social workers and to provide IDs for patrons. “It’s a huge barrier when they cannot pay for their own,” MacMain notes.

Edmonton aimed to serve both diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals with mental health issues who have fallen between the cracks. “Many libraries serve the middle class, but this one has a different demographic, and we decided to embrace it and make a difference in the community,” he adds. “A big part of the outreach worker’s job is to connect people with resources and do community building.”

The library social worker trend is too uncommon for the National Association of Social Workers to track—yet. Neither does the American Library Association, although the ALA provided examples of its member branches with these or similar programs.

The Denver Public Library’s Community Technology Center team pays regular visits to the area day shelter for homeless and low-income women. The women receive instruction in job interviewing techniques and technology skills, and once class is over, receive bus tokens to tour the main library and get library cards.

Even in the absence of such formal programs, librarians often feel they must help users find shelter, food, and other public services, as more and more people seem to fall between the cracks. Partly, this is because they get to know patrons, especially those who come in on a regular basis.

Sari Feldman, director of the Cuyahoga Community Public Library (Ohio) and incoming president of the ALA (as of 2015-2016), noted that today’s libraries “play a huge role in serving all people, in particular, the neediest. We have a great opportunity to create equity and to change lives.”

Some libraries work one-on-one, or help people who want to go back to school or work, through adult basic education, GED classes, and career counseling workshops. “Computers in a library make a big difference, as a lifeline to dislocated persons,” Feldman says.

Although the rate of homelessness has been growing for decades, today’s society is witnessing more homeless youth and more homeless people with mental illnesses in the community after deinstitutionalization.

“During the day, the homeless are looking for free, safe places without recrimination or discrimination. The library has always been that place, but now it embraces the role,” Feldman adds.

There would probably be more social workers in libraries, she says, except libraries have faced extreme budget cuts in recent years, and adding positions is a challenge. Staff training in dealing with homeless or mentally ill patrons is also needed.