Libraries as Social Hubs-Sophia Valdivia

 How public libraries help build healthy communities

It is very crucial and important to take care of our dear community and to help provide an environment of peace and calmness. Being a librarian is a much bigger role than we all may think, it goes beyong lending books or assisting those looking for books. They are also social workers, aiding those through the health system and through housing needs. 

Even the National Library of Medicine hosts training sessions to help local librarians on how to provide better social services as well as assistance for mental health, welfare, health care, and education. 

Most librarians are not trained to handle these issues and are not able to assist their users. In result to this, many librarians have hired social workers to help with these issues. Even the San Francisco Public Library, their librarians help assist with case management and housing for their visitors that are homeless. 

There has even been some research done over at the University of Pennsylvania, discussing how they have partnered with Philadelphia's libraries to discuss the importance of health. They have even created programs to help train librarians to become "community health specialists" and to help the people of their community. 

Citation: 

Cabello, Marcela, and Stuart M Butler. “How Public Libraries Help Build Healthy Communities.” Brookings, Brookings, 9 Mar. 2022, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2017/03/30/how-public-libraries-help-build-healthy-communities/.