Public Libraries and Homelessness

Reviews / Votes

This is one of those topics that's easy to oversimplify, and this book doesn't do that. It handles a complicated, often contentious issue with compassion and care. Even if you don't agree with every takeaway, you'll come away thinking more clearly about what's actually happening on our streets and in our libraries. I know this area well, and I learned something new right out of the gate! -- Ryan Dowd, author of The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness This book clearly identifies that public libraries play a unique role in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and provides well-researched guidance for preparing staff and spaces to best support this community. Grounded in real-life stories, it honours the humanity of those who rely on libraries while thoughtfully illuminating the complex, everyday dilemmas faced by library workers. -- Professor Jane Garner, Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University This book offers a compelling, research informed call to action, revealing how public libraries can become essential, inclusive spaces for people experiencing homelessness and equipping library staff with the practical skills and ethical frameworks needed to offer meaningful support. -- Maja Kralic, Associate Professor, Information Studies, Victoria University of Wellington At a time when homelessness is rising across the UK and public libraries are being asked to do more with less, Kavan Stafford has written exactly the book the profession needed to meet the needs of this often-under-served group of users. Drawing on a rich qualitative study of library staff from across the country alongside his personal experience in the sector, this is no detached academic exercise - it is a deeply human, evidence-rooted examination of one of the most pressing challenges facing public libraries today. Kavan handles the complexity of this issue with real sensitivity. Based on his sectoral experience alongside his academic work, he neither romanticises the library's role nor dismisses the very real pressures faced by overstretched staff. Instead, he explores the tensions honestly while pointing toward practical, workable solutions. This book will challenge you, inform you, and ultimately equip you. If you work in a public library, are involved in policy work related to libraries or the homeless, or simply care about what public libraries are for, it is a book you will find immensely useful. -- Dr David McMenemy, Reader in Information Studies, University of Glasgow This is a great example of research into practice. The book makes an important contribution to understanding the role of public libraries in supporting people experiencing homelessness in the UK. Drawing on the author's recent empirical research and deep engagement with library services, it offers clarity, compassion and guidance, grounding big societal questions in the everyday realities faced by both those experiencing homelessness and frontline library staff. The guidance on library policies, staff training, partnership working with social workers - informed by the author's research and expertise in this area, and challenges to existing misconceptions, will give library teams the tools they need to respond to the complex needs of those experiencing homelessness. For anyone committed to maintaining public libraries as welcoming, safe, and socially responsive spaces, this will be an invaluable resource. -- Dr Jessica Bates, Programme Director for Library and Information Management, School of Education, Ulster University