Public Libraries and Homelessness: Connecting Vulnerable Patrons to Needed Resources

dc.contributor.advisor Irvin, Vanesaa
dc.contributor.author Vega, Holiday
dc.contributor.department Library and Information Science
dc.date.accessioned 2019-07-02T17:54:26Z
dc.date.available 2019-07-02T17:54:26Z
dc.date.issued 2019
dc.description.degree M.L.I.Sc.
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10125/63202
dc.subject Library science
dc.subject compassion
dc.subject homelessness needs
dc.subject public librarians
dc.subject reflective research
dc.subject social work and libraries
dc.title Public Libraries and Homelessness: Connecting Vulnerable Patrons to Needed Resources
dc.type Thesis
dcterms.abstract This thesis describes ethnographic and exploratory research conducted to learn more about ways in which public librarians work with vulnerable patrons, particularly homeless patrons, for the purpose of connecting library patrons with resources and services in the community. The literature on the intersection between librarians and social services is presented and discussed. The methodologies employed included semi-structured interviews with librarians and social workers, field observations, reflective research journaling, and autoethnographic (self-study) methods. The data analysis explores my interest in gaining an understanding of the information needs of patrons experiencing homelessness and the information needs of librarians to best serve such a vulnerable population. A significant outcome of this work is a pilot program involving one student intern from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Social Work Department conducting their internship with the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System (HSPLS). The efficacy of this internship program is a question for further research. Limitations of this study are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.
dcterms.description M.L.I.Sc. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2019
dcterms.extent 76 pages
dcterms.language eng
dcterms.publisher University of Hawai'i at Manoa
dcterms.rights All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dcterms.type Text
local.identifier.alturi http://dissertations.umi.com/hawii:10127
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