Library staff are known for their resourcefulness and commitment to adapting to help community members in need. But as the scope of library services has expanded to address complex social needs that aren’t being met elsewhere, it can feel overwhelming. Increasing natural disasters, social program budget cutbacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis, housing and food insecurity—these are all issues that have deeply affected our community members and brought them through the doors of our libraries in search of resources.

To address these changing needs, many libraries are seeking the help of social work and are partnering with social workers... Read more

What do document replacement, contractor scams, and lease terminations have in common? They are all examples of civil legal issues that can stem from a natural disaster, and questions about these could show up at your library’s reference desk. Patrons facing legal issues after a natural disaster can often feel overwhelmed, confused, and uncertain of what to do next. But time is of the utmost importance with legal issues.

In collaboration with the Legal Services Corporation, we’ve been focusing on training for library staff to be better equipped to answer civil legal questions. Legal issues resulting from a natural disaster... Read more

The opioid crisis in the US continues to take a toll on lives in every class, age group, race, and ethnicity. According to the CDC, overdose from opioids claims 221 lives a day, and many more are dealing with daily struggles related to substance misuse and abuse. Whether the impacts of this crisis in a library’s community is obvious or hidden in stigma, the crisis can be overwhelming. Libraries can play an important role in education, providing access to prevention tools and helpful—possibly life-saving—information. By taking steps to identify achievable actions, libraries may begin to make a difference in addressing... Read more

Libraries are central to our communities, as places where anyone is welcome to gather, connect, and learn, but for some members of our community, they represent much more than that. For many people experiencing homelessness, the library might be the only place where they can seek shelter during daylight hours. Access to technology that allows people to stay in touch with family and friends, apply for jobs, and seek online support for social services, can all be powerful lifelines. Along with safe restrooms and drinking water, a comfortable place to sit, or a chance to escape the heat or cold... Read more