Social Work in the Stacks: Transforming Public Libraries into Systems of Care

Background and Purpose: Public libraries increasingly serve as frontline service providers, meeting the needs of vulnerable customers. From October 2018 to December 2024, LA County libraries reported 19,628 security incidents involving the unhoused and/or individuals in mental health crisis, underscoring the need for support services (LA County Board of Supervisors, 2024). While not traditionally seen as intervention sites, libraries often act as “third places”—community-centered environments fostering belonging and informal support (Oldenburg, 1999). In this context, they function as mutual aid spaces, offering low-barrier assistance rooted in dignity, solidarity, and trust (Spade, 2020). This study explores integrating social work within an urban public library system. The guiding research question is: What community needs arise in public libraries that exceed traditional library services, and how are these unmet needs currently being navigated?

Methods: To explore the impact, challenges, and potential of library-based social work, this study used a phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of 12 participants from three groups—librarians, licensed social workers, and community members—ensuring data source triangulation. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted on Zoom in March and April 2025. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed through inductive coding using NVivo12, highlighting converging and diverging perspectives across groups.

Results: Two areas of convergence and one point of divergence emerged: 1) Converging: Each group described the library as a “trusted, low-barrier site of care.” Participants valued being able to walk in without appointments and often named the library the only public place where they felt safe or acknowledged, reinforcing its identity as a “third place” that fosters belonging and communal trust. 2) Diverging: Role confusion and boundary strain emerged among staff. While librarians expressed deep care for those they serve, they also shared frustration and burnout. One librarian noted they would hesitate to refer a customer to a social worker, citing unclear limits on support. 3) Converging: All participants viewed licensed social workers as a positive and necessary presence. These professionals were seen as bridge-builders who offered judgment-free help, navigated systems, and modeled care. Participants emphasized the importance of defining the social workers’ role to ensure sustainability.

Conclusions and Implications: This study highlights how mutual aid not only exists but flourishes in an unexpected public setting–libraries. As one of the few remaining public places of trust and belonging, libraries' evolving nature and role call for integrating social workers into these spaces. Social workers in libraries are uniquely positioned to support underserved communities (especially those facing marginalization) through trauma-informed, relational care. Also, the library’s public setting places social workers at the heart of community building, aligning with this year’s theme of transformative change via science, policy, and practice.

References:
LA County Board of Supervisors. (2024). Motion by Supervisors Mitchell and Horvath: Embedding Social Workers in County Libraries. https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/200310.pdf

Oldenburg, R. (1999). The great good place: Cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community. Marlowe & Company.

Spade, D. (2020). Mutual aid: Building solidarity during this crisis (and the next). Verso Books.