IN THE LIBRARY

What does a library social worker do?

BY SHEENA JAMIESON, BSW, RSW

“A palace for the people” and “the community’s living room” are sometimes phrases used to describe the function and purpose of a public library. If you haven’t been inside one lately, you might not know how much they’ve changed. They aren’t muted stacks with shushing staff; they are lively and vibrant hubs of the community. There are books, yes, those are a constant. But there are also creative labs, cooking programs, performances, e-books, streaming services, light therapy lamps, musical instruments, and free snacks.

You can eat there now.

You can sleep at the library too, if you need to.

Free and accessible social infrastructure is key to community participation and inclusion, and a public library is one of the few public spaces you can be in for free.

Especially important for those whose lives are impacted by poverty, addiction, mental health struggles, homelessness, discrimination, oppression, and isolation. Removing barriers to information and meeting the relevant needs of the community is work libraries do every day.

Does this sound familiar? Social work and public library service are complementary professions, and are starting to work together more closely. Starting in 2009, the San Francisco Public Library was the first to include a social worker among its staff, with more libraries in the US and Canada to follow. This evolution stems from the recognition that as more vulnerable people came to the library, there is an increased need to understand and respond to the issues they face.

Much like social work values, there is a code of library values that guides the work of public libraries. Among them is democratic access to information and service: the library is for everyone. For those whose lives have been shaped by trauma, substance use, mental health challenges, and other systemic inequities, they may face additional barriers that need consideration and a willingness to adapt, to meet them where they are.

Library students are not given much education or training on, for example, the impact of trauma throughout the lifespan, and how that may influence behaviour. They are aces at information management, but not offered much about the “public” part of a public library, even if they want it. They may also not be introduced to topics like vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue, or how to care for yourself when you work in these areas. It can be difficult to know the best way to help, even when customers come to library staff because they trust them.

Enter social work.

I have been the Community Navigator at Halifax Central Library since 2019, and a social work lens is what my position brings. What does a library social worker do? I get that question a lot. I asked that question a lot, in the beginning. There are approximately 15 roles like mine across Canada, and we’ve all had to carve out a unique practice for ourselves. My job is partly working with staff to feel better prepared to help vulnerable customers, and partly working on the floor directly with customers. I’ve had the opportunity to talk about boundarysetting, self care, and the intersections of trauma, substance use, mental health and behaviour. I have trained our staff in overdose recognition and naloxone response. We also focus on verbal de-escalation strategies and interventions. Part of that overall approach means fostering compassion for our most vulnerable, understanding the ways systemic inequities have structured their (and our) experiences, and how we practice or respond in that reality.

This role also directly supervises security staff, and works with them to ensure the library is safe and accessible. My security colleagues at Central are library staff, and not an outside company. They work hard to be welcoming and build rapport with customers, instead of being a punitive or policing presence. We recognize seeing a security guard is not a positive experience for many, and try to change that. They are also the eyes and ears of the library. They can see when someone might need a check-in, a referral to another service, or work with them to change a challenging behaviour. As we say in social work: the relationship is the resource, and the daily relationship-building we do helps us support the thousands of people who come through the doors.

Halifax libraries & COVID-19 response

The pandemic-related shutdowns highlighted the barriers to access for many in Nova Scotia. No access to the internet or phone meant for many there was no way to file things with government agencies, communicate with friends and family, or find reliable information. In response, staff at Halifax Central Library boosted our wifi signal range and loaned wifi kits out to transitional homes and shelters. Public washroom use was gone, a serious public health concern. In response, we partnered with HRM and set up fully accessible portable washrooms, a hand-wash station, and menstrual supplies, staffed by Security so it could be safely accessed. Our food programs were on hold, so we donated food to local agencies and created safely-packed snack packs that community members could take. We offered curbside pick-up for materials and take-home activities/crafts. While not a replacement for face-to-face interactions, our virtual programs could offer some connection. For others, our Ask The Library phone line kept them connected to reliable information and library materials. We also started a weekly lunch program.

Could we help your clients?

Food and drink are temporarily disallowed in the library due to pandemic precautions, but patrons can still pick up a free snack pack to go.

Photo from Halifax Public Libraries.

What’s amazing about all 14 branches of Halifax Public Libraries is the amount of programs and services on the go. I want to highlight some of the things Halifax Public Libraries offers the public social workers should know.

• We have gone fine free! This means we no longer accrue late fees. Anyone with outstanding materials can return them to have these fines wiped.

• Everyone with a library card gets $5.00 in free printing every month.

• At the central branch you can book a media studio, with instruments and tech, to record your own music, podcasts, or whatever you like.

• Need a safe place to catch some z’s? You can fall asleep in the branch and we won’t disturb you. We might wake someone up to check on their health, or maybe if there’s some loud snoring going on.

• Free snacks and a once-a-week lunch program are for everyone in the library. No registration or sign-up is required.

• To sign up for a library card, we require 2 pieces of identification, or for a limited account, 1 piece of ID. This can be anything with your name or information on it. Or you can sign up for a temporary digital library card to access online materials and services.

• We have a musical instrument lending library.

• We believe in fresh starts. If someone has fines on their account for lost or stolen items but would benefit from access to the library, they are encouraged to get in touch with me. My message is, “We’d rather have you back.”

• We have in-branch light therapy lamps, and also some you can borrow to take home.

• We offer conversation groups for learning English as an additional language.

• Our e-library offers e-books, streaming services, magazines and newspapers, learning tools. They include car repair instructions, cookbooks, language learning, and more.

• There are free menstrual supplies in all washrooms.

While COVID-19 does have us adapting quickly between shutdowns and different levels of restriction, it’s worth checking out what your local library branch has to offer.

SHEENA JAMIESON, BSW, RSW, is the Community Navigator with Halifax Public Libraries. She has a gender studies degree from the University of King’s College, and a social work degree from Dalhousie University. She can often be found in the sci-fi & mystery sections on the library’s 5th floor.

To connect with Sheena or learn more about how the library can support your work, contact her at jamiess@halifax.ca or 902-478-9927.

Security officer Dayton Goree welcomes visitors to the central branch of the Halifax library.

Photo from Halifax Public Libraries.