NPQ: The Organic Role of Libraries as Centers of Inclusiveness and Support

The Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) has a very interesting story on the evolving role of public libraries as community centers. As a result, librarians are increasingly finding themselves in the role of social service provision, even though that was not their primary responsibilities (and certainly not their training in graduate school!). Public libraries are forming partnerships with social workers to become more inclusive and supportive in addressing the diverse needs of marginalized populations in the community. I remember San Francisco became the first major public library system to hire a social worker on their staff. Public libraries are more than just books--librarians and paraprofessionals must be cognizant of social problems in the community like affordable housing and other adverse challenges. Below is an excerpt:

People may check out fewer books from libraries than they used to, but libraries have continued to grow as their role as community hubs deepens. Here at NPQ, we have profiled libraries that have become maker spaces, supported gardening, and rented out musical instruments. In some cities, librarians have been trained to administer Narcan to interrupt opioid overdoses. In Ferguson and in Baltimore, as those cities were in a state of unrest after the killings of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, respectively, the libraries served as sanctuaries, remaining open to the community. They have, in some cases, even been affordable housing partners.