[Publib] Talk of the Nation

[Dale McNeill]

http://aggravated.blogspot.com/2007/04/homeless-in-library.html posted about
the op-ed piece.  I commented:
.

I think it is important to note that while all urban public libraries,
almost all rural public libraries, and many suburban public libraries are
providing many services to homeless persons, mostly it's regular library
services that are being provided: a novel to pass the time, referral to a
social service agency, a website that helps answer a pressing question, a CD
to listen to. One way to think about people who are homeless is as
temporarily homeless (just lost a home in a foreclosure, but has support
network in another city or just left an abusive relationship but has a
support system in another city), as homeless & without a support
network--while striving to be back in a permanent home (this is a big group
of people--some mentally ill, some victims of abuse with no support network,
some released prisoners with no support network, and so forth), and as
service-resistant (generally homeless for a long time and not seeking
services--again, some mentally ill, some veterans, some former inmates who
have given up, and so forth). Libraries, working closely with local police,
emergency services, social services, and others, can address the very real
information and other library needs of all groups, while severely decreasing
the *abuse* of the library by some member of--usually--the service-resistant
group. It is *not* necessary for public libraries to become *de
facto*shelters, nor is it necessary for them to try to ban all
homeless people.
Libraries can find a way to provide *library* services to everyone in the
community who wants them.
I don't want to overwhelm the list with this topic, but it is one of great
importance to public libraries.

Regards,

Dale

On 4/2/07, DGunckel at ci.sierra-vista.az.us <DGunckel at ci.sierra-vista.az.us>
wrote:
>
>
> There's a geat discussion today regarding homeless in public libraries
> (NPR
> Talk of the Nation). FYI
>
> David Gunckel
> Sierra Vista Public Library
>
> _______________________________________________
> Publib mailing list
> Publib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>
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