Libraries And The Homeless

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 Libraries and the homeless 

For thousands of people in California, and many more in the United states, a safe environment away from the intense heat of the summer or the intense rains and cold weather of the winter is not a privilege they have. There is an increasing number of unhoused individuals in the world right now. One place that can provide a respite from the toils of the weather is the Public Library. In the broadcast “Dallas library Embraces Role as Haven for the Homeless,” it mentions that not only are libraries a safe place to rest and be out of the weather, but some libraries are also offering classes and other opportunities for the unhoused. The Dallas library offers a keyboarding class that allows homeless individuals to feel seen as a part of something that can help with the unrelenting loneliness of homelessness. They even serve hot coffee in the mornings! Some libraries like the Hedberg Public Library in Ohio team up with local shelters to be able to best serve the homeless population. One local shelter has their own library card so patrons of the shelter can use the books once they have been checked out of the library. The library also issues an Internet only library card for individuals who are without an address so they can also use the computers to research and stay in touch with loved ones. With libraries like these there's a fantastic opportunity to serve people just like us that are experiencing homelessness and can make such a difference in someone's day or life. 

Work Cited 

“Out of the cold: Hedberg Public Library is daytime haven for homeless.” Janesville Gazette [Janesville, WI], 8 Jan. 2015. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A396579991/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=38bf9d44. Accessed 16 May 2023 

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