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Beginning August 29, PBS is broadcasting the documentary Waging a Living by filmmaker Roger Weisberg. Shot over a three-year period in the Northeast and California, this observational documentary captures the dreams, frustrations, and accomplishments of a diverse group of people who struggle to live from paycheck to paycheck. By presenting an unvarnished look at the … Continue reading “Waging a Living, Family Resources, and More”

The Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts, in conjunction with the ACLU of Massachusetts, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of homeless citizens against the Worcester Public Library. The library restricts borrowing privileges for homeless residents, limiting them to two books—versus 40 books for everyone else. The Boston Globe reports (7/9/06), [T]hree homeless patrons of … Continue reading “Homeless Citizens Seek Equal Access at Worcester PL”

A letter to the editor submitted on behalf of the HHPTF… James Kelly’s “Barefoot in Columbus”—published in Public Libraries, May/June 2006—is a useful and well-written contribution to the literature on library risk management. Library directors can now sleep more easily at night. But not so the nine million low-income working families who struggle to get … Continue reading “It's a Matter of Power: Appearance and Hygiene Policies”

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law offers two important new tools for advocates of low-income people. “Rebuilding America’s Lower Ninth” is a campaign to frame a national dialogue on poverty in late summer: When Katrina devastated the Gulf States last year, the hurricane alerted the nation to a state without borders, a state … Continue reading “Shriver Center Offers New Tools to End Poverty”

The House of Representatives recently passed a pay raise for itself but just killed a bill to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour. CNN’s Lou Dobbs today offers some choice criticism of these actions: Raising the minimum wage … would positively affect the lives of more than 8 million workers, including … Continue reading “Congress Stiffs Low-Income Workers”

The National Institute for Literacy is one of four partners that sponsor America’s Literacy Directory, a searchable database of literacy programs available nationwide. [ALD] is a web site that allows users to find local literacy providers in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The ALD includes literacy programs for adults, children, and families. You … Continue reading “America's Literacy Directory”

On April 23rd, The Daily Times of Salisbury, Maryland, published a piece by Monique Lewis titled “Homeless Are Welcome at Public Libraries.” The article profiles the relationships between homeless patrons and library staff in Salisbury, Glen Burnie, Pocomoke City, and Baltimore City. A sample: A homeless person may need help with a job interview or … Continue reading “Maryland's Homeless and Public Libraries”

The Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago offers the report “New on the Shelf: Teens in the Library – Findings from the Evaluation of Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development” This study reports on findings from the Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development (PLPYD) Initiative, a 4-year, 9-site initiative … Continue reading “Public Libraries & Teens in Low-Income Communities”

Lawyers in the Library is a program jointly sponsored by the San Jose Public Libraries and the San Jose State University Library. Patrons can obtain free 20-minute consultations with volunteer attorneys provided by the Pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley. According to the sponsors, “The sessions are designed to provide basic information on topics that … Continue reading “Lawyers in the Library: Free Legal Help”

A February 18th article written by Erik Eckholm for The New York Times details a “reignited” debate about poverty measurements in the United States: A brief report this week from the Census Bureau, highlighting how welfare programs and tax credits affect incomes among the poor, has fanned the politically charged debate on poverty in the … Continue reading “It's Time to Redefine U.S. Poverty”