Libraries and the homeless

 Working at a public library, I am no stranger to the patrons experiencing homelessness. Often I find myself surprised to find that the general public would rather not have them in the libraries. It completely baffles me that people are so willing to refuse others their right to information just because they don't share the same living situation. 

Lilienthal brings up a great point, in his article The problem is Not the Homeless, where he states that libraries are first and foremost information spaces, whose role is to help "people find resources to end their homelessness or to prevent it" (Lilienthal 2). If we are to uphold the library's guidelines and mission statement, we cannot turn a blind eye to some of the key member's of our community.

Of course, the library can't always just make the issue a job for them to solve. However, they sure are trying to make life a little more bearable. Greensboro Public Library has a program that serves meals every Monday from December to March. These programs are in partnership with various other groups that provide the meals (Lilienthal 4).

The following are some examples of resources libraries are able to offer to patron's experiencing homelessness. 

San Francisco Resources and Services: A significant list of resources and locations easy to go to, with timeframe and directions. 

OCLA Directory of Services: A list 

including shelters, food programs, and legal assistance.

National Runaway Safeline:  A 24/7 confidential helpline that connects youth to local resources such as shelters, mental health services, and food assistance.

Works Cited

Lilienthal, Stephen M. “The Problem Is Not the Homeless.” Library Journal, vol. 136, no. 11, June 2011, pp. 30–34. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=1b073b65-e748-3845-83d9-1a9dd31ae96e.