Libraries in suburban communities are seeing a rise in homelessness, and many staff are unprepared to handle the needs of this population. We look at situations that have occurred at Mid-Continent (Missouri) Public Library and steps that we took to train staff in ways to serve the needs of this demographic, from locating social servicesContinue reading "Training Staff to Serve Patrons Experiencing Homelessness in the Suburbs"

What could be wrong with traditional middle class principles such as hard work, achievement, self-sufficiency, and planning? The reality is that these dearly held values alienate many library customers and impede our ability to truly meet their needs. Pima County (Arizona) Public Library is successfully offering programs utilizing restorative practices for youth, community conversations forContinue reading "Intentional Inclusion: Disrupting Middle Class Bias in Library Programming"