Nashville : Solutions for the Homeless found in the Library

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Unlike the Public Library in Cincinnati, the library near my hometown in Southern California doesn’t cater to one demographic: the homeless. Though it may be small, the homeless are there. Policies were made to include the homeless by American Library Association but,  I have yet to see them implemented in my city library.  It’s not an issue as of right now, but will the homeless be accepted in libraries everywhere? What role will the homeless play within the library in the future? The Downton Nashville Library is an example of what may come to California Public Libraries. 

In the Downton Nashville Library, the librarians there have viewed the homeless not only as equal patrons but as important patrons. They are so important the library has renovated a section of the library and placed more computers and tables with ethernet connections and power outlets just so the homeless can access them. Not only does the Nashville Library provide access to the internet, but they also provide solutions to help the homeless overcome their challenges. Services like city social workers and mental health counselors. 

I think that librarians need to be trained to be empathetic in serving homeless people. It’s a reminder to be a human being in a world where prejudice exists.  It’s beneficial to the librarians and homeless to work together to make the library a space for all.  By including the demographic of the population that is ignored, libraries will be viewed as helping the community.

Works Cited

Loller, Travis. "Public libraries learn to embrace the homeless; Nashville's library takes the lead in making homeless people feel welcome and provides needed resources." Los Angeles Times, Mar 01, 2015. ProQuest, https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?auth=shibboleth&url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/public-libraries-learn-embrace-homeless/docview/1658916769/se-2. 

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