Full Description
Whole Person Librarianship guides librarians through the practical process of facilitating connections among libraries, social workers, and social services; explains why those connections are important; and puts them in the context of a national movement.
Collaboration between libraries and social workers is an exploding trend that will continue to be relevant to the future of public and academic libraries. Whole Person Librarianship incorporates practical examples with insights from librarians and social workers. The result is a new vision of library services.
The authors provide multiple examples of how public and academic librarians are connecting their patrons with social services. They explore skills and techniques librarians can learn from social workers, such as how to set healthy boundaries and work with patrons experiencing homelessness; they also offer ideas for how librarians can self-educate on these topics.
The book additionally provides insights for social work partners on how they can benefit from working with librarians. While librarians and social workers share social justice motivations, their methods are complementary and yet still distinct—librarians do not have to become social workers. Librarian readers will come away with many practical ideas for collaboration as well as the ability to explain why collaboration with social workers is important for the future of librarianship.
Contents
Preface
Terminology
United States Perspective
Appendixes and Online Resources
Introduction Sister Professions
A Little Bit of History
Current Statistics
Shared Ethics
Service
Privacy and Confidentiality
Access to Information
Respect for Rights
Professional Skills and Integrity
Social Justice
Growth of Library-Social Work Collaboration
Online Resources
Chapter 1 Relationships Are the New Reference Collection
Overview
Sara's Story
Building the Relationship-Based Reference Collection
What Do Social Workers Do?
"I'm Not a Social Worker, but I Know Where to Find One"
The Living Relationship
Social Work Concepts for Patron Services
Person-in-Environment
PIE in Action
Online Resources
Chapter 2 Partners in the Library
Overview
Harrison's Story
Inspiration into Justification
Justification into Action
Types of Partnerships
Action into Sustainability
Space in the Library
Data Collection and Sharing
Benefits to Community Partners
Adaptations for Academic Libraries
Online Resources
Chapter 3 Social Work Students: "Living the Dream" in the Library
Overview
Jason's Story
Social Work Education: The Basics
Collaborating with the School of Social Work
Internship Purpose and Requirements
Examples of Internship Projects
Academic Librarians and Social Work Students
Online Resources
Chapter 4 Full-Time Library Social Workers
Overview
Ashley's Story
The Classic Model: San Francisco Public Library
Micro: Outreach and Crisis Management
Mezzo: Community Connections and Case Referrals
Macro: Systematic Change
Logistics of the Hire
Host Organizations and Funding
Data Collection and Documentation
Social Service Data Collection
Collaboration and Data Sharing
Onboarding
Roles and Communication
Special Considerations for Working with Youth
Boundary Setting
Supporting the Social Worker
Quick-and-Dirty Library Education
Supervision and Professional Connection
Online Resources
Chapter 5 Advocating for Change
Overview
Leslie's Story
Advocacy through a Social Work Lens
Internal and External Advocacy
Internal Advocacy
External Advocacy
Online Resources
Chapter 6 Sustainable Practice
Overview
Karen's Story
Self-Care vs. Sustainable Practice
Cultural Humility
Lifelong Learning and Critical Self-Reflection
Challenge Power Imbalances
Institutional Accountability
Reflective Practice and Reflective Supervision
Online Resources
Conclusion Future Directions
Libraries as Social Work Host Sites
Social Work Education for Library School Students
Multiple Social Workers in a Library System
Whole Person Library Management
Professional Involvement and Professional Organizations
Online Resources
Appendix A: PIE Chart Worksheet
Appendix B: Community Needs Assessment
Appendix C: Learning Contract Template
Appendix D: Sample Intake Form
Appendix E: Sample Staff Survey
Appendix F: Reflective Practice Worksheet
References
Index
