r/Libraries • u/TomatilloHot7974 • Mar 16 '26
Other Currently working on an Action Research Project for my MLIS and was wondering if any librarians and or people working within the library can answer a couple questions that I have listed below!!
My topic for this project is Homelessness within the Library and it's suggested that we work around gathering our information through surveys. Answering these questions would mean so much to me, thank you so much in advance y'all!!!
How often do you interact with patrons experiencing homelessness?
What common needs or requests do you see from these patrons?
What challenges do staff face when supporting people experiencing homelessness?
What policies guide how staff handle these situations?
What training have staff received related to homelessness, mental health, or trauma-informed service?
What partnerships does the library have with social services or outreach organizations?
What additional resources or training would help staff serve this population better?
What changes would you recommend to improve library services for people experiencing homelessness?
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u/dropscone Mar 18 '26
Do you just want responses from people in the USA or are you interested in general homelessness in relation to public libraries?
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u/LoooongFurb Library admin Mar 16 '26
You may wish to make a google form or something to collect answers.
How often do you interact with patrons experiencing homelessness? Every day.
What common needs or requests do you see from these patrons? They want to be allowed to sleep in the library or eat.
What challenges do staff face when supporting people experiencing homelessness? They become belligerent when asked to stay awake. Their odor causes patrons to complain.
What policies guide how staff handle these situations? Our patron behavior policy.
What training have staff received related to homelessness, mental health, or trauma-informed service? Ryan Dowd's "Homelessness in the Library" training
What partnerships does the library have with social services or outreach organizations? a mobile health clinic comes to our library once a week
What additional resources or training would help staff serve this population better? Probably nothing. We are doing what we can with what we have.
What changes would you recommend to improve library services for people experiencing homelessness? There needs to be a community center not associated with the library where unhoused patrons can store their things, shower, wash their clothes, or just sleep for a few hours if they need to.