Nice article

about efforts of librarians to work with agencies and other professionals to serve the needs of the homeless in their communities.

Homeless People Need Libraries, and Libraries Need Them, Too

"I think there are still a lot of punitive policies and a lot of barriers ... rules about the size of baggage you can bring in or policies about odor or no-sleeping policies," said librarian Julie Ann Winklestein, who co-wrote an ALA pamphlet to help librarians better serve people who have already been turned away by other institutions.

The single most important thing libraries can help people do online is find a job, the ALA found. Even fast food restaurants require online applications now. But many libraries still require patrons to have an address and photo identification to get a library card, and then limit the time patrons can spend online.

Librarian Liz Coleman, who serves on a new Homelessness Advisory Committee at the Nashville Public Library, says her co-workers are frustrated they can't help everyone. One regular patron died of exposure; another was hit by a car and died shortly before he was to receive housing.

"It was a feeling of kind of helplessness," she said. "You see these folks every day, so you can't help but care about them. But what are you going to do? You can't take them home with you."

But this is my absolute favourite quote, by Julie Ann Winklestein:

Librarians can't solve people's problems, but we can provide them the resources to solve their own problems.

I recently had an interview at the local public library and asked about how they approached the homeless. I was interested in services and outreach, but instead I think they thought I was afraid for my security, as the adjacent park is full of people on any given day who have no home. I guess I took them aback, or maybe I didn't ask specifically enough to elicit the answer I was looking for. I know the subject is a tricky one for public libraries, as they balance the needs of all patrons and want to provide a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, and some people are afraid of those who live on the streets. But those who are homeless--for whatever reason--are actually much more vulnerable of a population, and if we can partner with agencies and work together to provide the resources needed--whether it's getting a job, getting help applying for affordable housing, getting mental health treatment, or any of the other things that can transform a person's life, then I say, more power to the librarians.