Envisioning Libraries as Collaborative Community Anchors for Social Service Provision to Vulnerable Populations

Abstract

The authors envision libraries as collaborative centres blending information provision, opportunities through Local Authority and human services in partnership with members of vulnerable populations. The authors offer a rationale for local public libraries as community anchors, offer a dual focus guiding interprofessional collaboration, identify five roles librarians working with social workers can serve to strengthen libraries as community anchors and suggest intersections among libraries and Local Authorities. They conclude the paper by offering blended strategies to enact libraries as community anchors for assisting people who either are reluctant to access formal assistance or who find that assistance too limiting or stigmatising.