Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association
Share your story.
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“Is Fletcher Free Library becoming Burlington’s most popular homeless hangout? At least one librarian has observed that more and more itinerant people are using it as a de facto day station — a warm, safe place to pass the time.”
The Santa Cruz library board is considering changes to their patron suspension policy, allowing suspension for up to one year after a series of conduct violation warnings. Conduct violations include sleeping, unattended items, and unstated animal provisions.
Brandon Motter, a homeless teen, built a new library to help needy mothers and children at the Roswell-based Drake House.
“An early goal is to see at least 10 percent of the homeless participants find jobs in the first six months.”
”[Mr.] Mercado’s circuitous path to Philadelphia and business ownership isn’t a tale of entrepreneurship’s power to overcome homelessness, as tempting as that might be. Rather, it’s a testament to Mercado’s fortitude and Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which he took advantage of at every opportunity to lift himself up the ladder of redemption.”
The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Business Science and Industry Department is part of this crucial entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Our mission is about connecting people to all sorts of information resources, many times in non-traditional ways.”
“Upward mobility through the mechanism of a good education, which is a widely held value in this country that cuts across the political spectrum, is in serious jeopardy.”
“Most (people) think that homeless people are all criminals, on drugs, alcoholics. They think we don’t try to get out of homelessness and that we aren’t successful at anything. Some (homeless people) have college degrees and because of the economy got laid off.”—AnnMarie Walsh
“When Walsh found herself homeless, she used the computers in Chicago’s public libraries to not only look for ways of getting out of her situation but also to share thoughts and worries about her day-to-day struggle, such as finding [a] hostel bed for the night. As her following grew, she began to receive tips on shelters or even gifts of warm clothes and blankets.”
Walsh will speak at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on Jan. 29,2012.