Libraries + Technology =Helping the Poor

“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 … Continue reading “Libraries + Technology =Helping the Poor”

The Shelter of the Library

This commentary was originally published by Michael McGrorty at Library Dust (November 29, 2004). It is reprinted here with his permission. In his book Tell Them Who I Am, sociologist Elliot Liebow assembles an archive of testimony, rendering homeless women in simple, natural colors that speak the harsh details of that precarious existence. The lives … Continue reading “The Shelter of the Library”

The Struggles of Low-Income Job-Seekers

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/17/09) examines the difficulties poor people face when searching for new jobs, including computer access and transportation: Transportation problems and the absence of a computer in the home, [Washington University social welfare professor Mark] Rank said, are companion obstacles standing between the poor and meaningful employment. Rank points out that it … Continue reading “The Struggles of Low-Income Job-Seekers”

Balancing Inclusion and Safety in Libraries

The University of Illinois’ News Bureau recently interviewed Barry Ackerson, associate dean and director of the master’s program in the School of Social Work. Ackerson responds to questions colored by the recent survey published in Public Libraries. The survey suggested librarians were overwhelmingly concerned about mentally ill patrons. What is your reaction to policies such … Continue reading “Balancing Inclusion and Safety in Libraries”

Do homeless people have legal privacy rights in our public libraries?

As long as we keep defining them as homeless they won’t according to two recent feature articles in Public Libraries: “Aiming High, Reaching Out, and Doing Good” and “Problems Associated with Mentally Ill Individuals in Public Libraries.” You can infer a lot about these articles given their titles. The first was written by a reference … Continue reading “Do homeless people have legal privacy rights in our public libraries?”

Same Story, New Generation?

Anna Sussman writes about Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans joining the ranks of the California homeless: More than 2,000 military personnel return home to California each month. Most have no specialized job experience, education or an easy familiarity with civilian life. And many have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), making it difficult to get along … Continue reading “Same Story, New Generation?”