Libraries and the Homeless

While many families with children utilize their local libraries for story times, reading clubs and other engagement activities, homeless families are a growing sub-population. From offering a safe space to be during the day, free internet access, outreach programs and assistance enrolling in public services the library is a lifeline for these families. During summer families can find meals being served to their children who would otherwise go hungry without free school lunches. The Los Angeles Public Library was able to fund a summer camp for local homeless kids. This program exposed the children to the library, the resources available to them and of course, books. “The kids quickly learned that the library is filled with "treasures" and that access is free of charge.”1  Without this program, many of these children would not have had the opportunity to access the library. These kinds of programs not only help keep kids off the streets and out of bad weather. They also develop literacy skills and help kids maintain reading levels while bouncing from school to school.  Another librarian, Colbert Nembhard2 of New York has created an outreach program to bring the library to the children of a local homeless shelter. Something these children would otherwise not have access to. By bringing the library to the children he is exposing them to books, literacy a love of reading and normalcy.

Works cited:

1) Abramson, Ilene. “A Haven for Homeless Kids.” School Library Journal, vol. 49, no. 1, Jan. 2003, p. 41. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=8858901&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

2) https://highered-nbclearn-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/portal/site/HigherEd/browse?cuecard=109581