Social Work in Libraries is Complicated, But Vital
This National Social Work Month, champion those who are there for us all
I’m excited to bring a guest post here for the first time. When Katie Johnson, Downers Grove Public Library Foundation Vice President (IL), reached out, I did not know whether or not guest posts were even something I’d consider. But then I read this piece and knew that there was absolutely a space for it and future pieces like it.
I recently left a clinical mental health counseling master’s program. One of the things I had thought I wanted to do with the degree was go back into libraries but in a mental health capacity (a lot of social worker jobs will take a clinical degree and vice versa–the degrees and designations are different though also very similar). So this popping into my inbox was a timely read and one that really surprised me. They pay their interns, which is pretty unheard of–but that payment isn’t coming from the library via taxpayers who have access to those services.
After the piece, I’ll share more about the Downers Grove Public Library Foundation, as well as a bit about what National Social Work Month means.
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Libraries are at their core about accessibility. Over the years, libraries have transformed from mere buildings that house collections of books, and have become repositories for everything from umbrellas to hand mixers, museum discounts and notarization services, to community centers in areas where other public services are shrinking. Especially in the wake of a global pandemic, when many social services have been severely cut or rendered less accessible to those who benefit most, libraries are bridging the gaps that remain. And while having someone pick up the mantle is ultimately better than the alternative, it demands the proper level of expertise and support: therein lies the social worker.
Social work in the library makes sense on many levels: Librarians are ultimately resource connectors; they offer a less formal, more approachable environment; and are often more centrally located to their communities than many individual social service providers. But because of the nuances and sensitivities that often go hand in hand with connecting individuals to such resources, it’s important this work isn’t added to the ever-growing duties of library workers - which in many communities (yes, even around Chicagoland) can include simply fighting for the right to exist. Which is why more and more libraries have sought to employ a dedicated social worker on-site. Adding personnel in a time of great library scrutiny is an investment, but it’s one many are choosing to make for the health and future of all of their community members. Because our communities are strongest when all individuals are cared for.
In Downers Grove, the library has provided social work interns in partnership with Aurora University since early 2020 to address the rising needs of patrons seeking referrals to vital services and resources that can often be cumbersome to identify and navigate without knowledgeable assistance. In a past 3 month period alone (Oct. 2023 - Jan. 2024), these social workers interacted with 130 patrons, of which over 33% indicated they were seniors. In a snapshot of a week in January, they connected a dozen individuals with temporary housing and a few weeks later, two patrons were placed in permanent housing.
Along with connecting unhoused patrons with shelter, they have also assisted seniors in receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits; enabled families to receive financial and medical assistance through the WIC mobile clinic helping women, infants and children; worked with individuals on updating resumes, increasing computer skills, job search and interview preparation, and navigating the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) website; connected individuals with emergency resources like temporary shelter, shower opportunities, gas gift cards, food, clothing and blankets; and even conducted one-on-one counseling sessions.
The program also manages The Cupboard at the Library, a take-what-you-need pantry of nonperishable food and toiletry items for those who are housing or food insecure. The social work interns frequently participate in community outreach to educate about food insecurity, and connect with community partners such as the DuPage County Health Department, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) DuPage and 211 DuPage. Additionally, they create a variety of social service resources which are made free and available to the public via the library website.
Like many programs that start outside the library’s operating budget (which in Downers Grove is approved by the Village Council), the library sought the support of the Downers Grove Public Library Foundation to keep the program going for the past two years (with financial support being provided since 2022, when the program began offering a paid stipend), funding two part-time interns and a clinical supervisor committing up to 300 hours per semester. That is no small lift, with collective costs amounting to roughly $30,000 annually (for context, the DGPL Foundation’s 2023 fundraiser, which took 6 months to plan and pulled in the support of several community partners, netted $20,000). As social work becomes more of a full-time program for our area libraries, they require and deserve a full-time solution.
An important thing to remember is that these services benefit us all. Much like the principles of universal design, when we consider everyone, we all benefit. Not only does having these services accessible at the library make these services more easily attained, but the entire library-going population (and wider community) benefit. The individuals who use these services are our neighbors, or the person standing next to you at the store, or perhaps, yourself. What a comfort to know the library is there for each one of us, when we need it.
Libraries have continued to show up for their communities time and time again, and now our communities need to show up for our libraries. Short of adopting the social work program into the Downers Grove Public Library’s operating budget, it’s up to community members and area businesses to ensure the support of our library social workers and to invest in the future of everyone in our community, just as the library has continually done for us.
For more information about the Downers Grove Library’s Social Work Intern program and to make a donation, visit: https://www.dgplfoundation.org/social-work-program/
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Downers Grove Public Library Foundation
The Downers Grove Public Library Foundation funds extraordinary gifts beyond taxpayer support to inspire and engage ideas and strengthen the library as a cornerstone in our community. Gifts have included additions to the Library's public art collection and Anything Emporium, Satellite Stacks at area senior living centers, Korean language books, Book Club bags, expanded online
offerings, a children's play wall, financial support for Youth Services' Summer Reading Program and participation in Illinois Libraries Present, a stipend for social work interns, and other support for greater community impact, access and outreach. For more, visit dgplfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Downers Grove Public Library’s Social Work Intern Program
Each semester (Spring, Fall, Summer), the Downers Grove Public Library employs two social work interns who host drop-in office hours at the library as well as engage in programming and outreach. In 2022, thanks to a generous donation from the Downers Grove Public Library Foundation, the program became a paid internship offering a fair hourly wage of $15/hour with the hope of attracting a more qualified candidate pool while also eliminating barriers for low-income and underrepresented individuals. With this diversified candidate pool, the library is staffed with interns who are invested in serving the growing needs of the Downers Grove community. In the Library’s 2023 Annual Report, library patrons engaged in 85 one-on-one sessions with the social work interns.