Previous articleNext article No AccessEditorialThe Light, of Course, in the Library: Pandemic, Protests, and Being What the Community Most NeedsPaul T. Jaeger, Natalie Greene Taylor, Ursula Gorham, and Karen KettnichPaul T. Jaeger Search for more articles by this author , Natalie Greene Taylor Search for more articles by this author , Ursula Gorham Search for more articles by this author , and Karen Kettnich Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Library Quarterly Volume 91, Number 1January 2021 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/711629 Views: 1517Total views on this site Citations: 1Citations are reported from Crossref © 2021 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Francesca Bolla Tripodi, Jade Angelique Stevenson, Rachel Slama, and Justin Reich Libraries Combating Disinformation: From the Front Line to the Long Game, The Library Quarterly 93, no.11 (Dec 2022): 48–71.https://doi.org/10.1086/722551

At times, public library staff are overwhelmed with the needs of patrons experiencing homelessness that may go beyond the scope of their training. As a response, some libraries are hiring social workers. However, little is known about the role of the public library social worker. To address this gap, open-ended interviews and brief quantitative surveys of five public library social workers were conducted to explore the role of the public library social worker in its broad context as well as the specific context of patrons experiencing homelessness. Using a holistic and multiple case study design, a cross-case analysis was conducted. Findings include the conditions of social work practice within a library, the social worker's tools of engagement, the types of social work practice within a library, and their role in equipping library staff to have increasingly humanizing interactions with patrons experiencing homelessness.

Abstract Third-party or patron-perpetrated sexual harassment is often experienced by frontline public library workers by the very patrons they endeavor to support. This article reports on the result...

Abstract The publication of Libraries and Democracy came during a precipitous time in our nation’s democracy. This article revisits its findings and asks how this relationship was understood then an...

Abstract Employed at the Library of Congress for more than a half century (1871–1923), Daniel Alexander Payne Murray (1852–1925) was the institution’s first African American professional. His life a...

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the opportunities and desired outcomes of makerspaces in libraries from young people's perspectives. A total of 21 young people at two library makerspaces were recruited. Data collection methods included field observations, individual interviews, photovoice, and focus groups. Findings showed that young people were driven to participate in makerspace activities for the opportunities to make, to learn, to hang out, and to engage in personal interests. Through makerspace participation, desired outcomes included producing tangible objects, developing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) knowledge, gaining real-life skills, preparing for careers, having fun, working in teams, developing friendships, and generating new interests. This study provides a youth-centered understanding of makerspace participation. Practical implications for information professionals working in library makerspaces are included.

Next article FreeFront MatterPDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Library Quarterly Volume 89, Number 4October 2019 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/706631 Views: 199Total views on this site © 2019 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.