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  • Public Libraries and Homelessness: A Practical Guide by Kavan P. Stafford book cover
  • Public Libraries and Homelessness: A Practical Guide by Kavan P. Stafford book cover
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Public Libraries and Homelessness: A Practical Guide

by Kavan P. Stafford

Balancing welcome and practical pressures in public libraries

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AlbakiReads Editorial

Balancing welcome and practical pressures in public libraries

Kavan P. Stafford examines the role of UK public libraries as places where people can spend time without being expected to pay, and the tensions that can arise when homeless visitors’ needs meet staff workloads and limited budgets. Drawing on a qualitative study involving public library staff across the UK, the guide brings together historical context, the needs of homeless library users, and barriers created within libraries and wider society. It also considers public-library policies, collaboration with social workers and outside organizations, and ways of addressing staff and societal attitudes. The subject is approached as both a question of access and a matter of how institutions support users while recognizing staff concerns.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Public library staff and managers considering services for homeless users.
  • Social workers and organizations collaborating with libraries.
  • Library and information science readers interested in access, policy, and homelessness.

Themes

Public libraries and homelessnessAccess to public spaceStaff capacity and user needsLibrary policy and external partnershipsInstitutional and societal attitudes

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

As homelessness increases across the UK and in other parts of the world, public libraries, as one of the only places in society in which one can exist without the expectation of paying for the privilege, have become a key safe space for homeless individuals. This has, however, led to growing tensions between library users and increasingly overworked and overstretched staff, who are expected to do more with ever-tightening budgets. This much needed, agenda-setting book examines the topic of public libraries and homelessness, and explores how public libraries can remain welcoming towards homeless users while also dealing with staff concerns. Drawing on an in-depth qualitative study completed by public library staff from across the UK, this book covers

  • the history and state of homelessness in libraries;
  • the needs of homeless library users;
  • barriers facing homeless library users from library staff and wider society;
  • the value of social workers and external organizations;
  • public library policies; and
  • approaches to changing staff and societal attitudes to homeless library users.
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