This opinion piece was written by a librarian in Ohio (who happens to be a FB friend though I’ve never met him in person) but it resonated with me – about some of the “social worker”-type situations library staff deal with regularly (including aggressive patrons – knock on wood, the worst I’ve got was threats and once a shoulder as a person went past as I was kicking him out), the ways that men working in libraries can model positive behaviour for young people who may not see a lot of that in their own lives, not to mention all of the many ways that patrons use libraries beyond books.
At peak times, we may see 20, 30, or more children and teens in the building, along with a dozen or more adults. Many of them walk in looking for respite from whatever crisis life is presently dealing them. Many of them walk in, unemployed or underemployed, with untreated or inadequately treated mental or general health issues. Many of them are hungry. They may come in fresh from having lost their job, or been served eviction papers, or witnessed a friend or family member overdose. They come in with burdens saddled upon them by the life of systemic poverty and oppression. The staff at Price Hill and other small urban branches are there to help in any way we can.
The one thing that I was happy didn’t really connect with my own experience in libraries is that it was written to not only give insight into the modern urban public library but also to serve as an appeal to encourage people to support a library levy during an upcoming ballot.
We are fortunate to live in Canada where, for the most part, public libraries are well-funded and well-supported.