By Heather Rose Artushin, LISW-CP

Now more than ever, libraries are much more than book depositories. They are living, breathing community centers, filled with people who have psychosocial needs – people who could benefit from the support of a social worker.

“After the pandemic, libraries saw a huge increase in people with poverty, housing needs, food insecurity, and mental and behavioral health problems who needed extra support,” explained Beth Wahler, Ph.D., MSW, a consultant who runs Social Work Consulting Services for Libraries. There has also been a notable increase in the number of incidents of harassment and protests that occur at libraries, whether it be in opposition to library events or collections, and many libraries have begun collaborating with other professionals to be prepared to respond to situations as they arise.

The library is an important place where social workers can connect with people in the community in need of support.

The first library social worker assumed the role in 2009, and for the next decade the field remained primarily limited to large, urban libraries focused on supporting unhoused patrons. Then, in 2020, the libraries shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the doors finally re-opened, the need for library social workers became increasingly apparent to library staff across the country and around the world.

Just as the psychosocial needs of library patrons have rapidly increased since the pandemic, funding has been simultaneously cut from many of the organizations that would help address those needs, leaving libraries as one of the only remaining free, public places where people can go to access resources that might help their situation.

“Libraries are a community hub,” Dr. Wahler shared. “They have been front and center of their communities, and people feel comfortable at the library – there’s no stigma associated with visiting the library as there would be visiting a mental health or substance use facility.” Patrons who come to the library with complex needs might otherwise be falling through the cracks, making the library an important place where social workers can connect with people in the community in need of support.

What is unique about library social work is that it is neither macro nor micro – it is a generalist role where social workers can fluidly move between both ways of working with people. What a library social worker does daily varies greatly depending on placement and community context. “Most of the time their role is to help connect people with existing resources or to be part of the community conversation about what resources are missing, or if there are gaps,” said Dr. Wahler. “They are working with individuals who have lots of needs and using their micro level skills to assess people’s needs and connect them to resources, as well as macro skills to work collaboratively in the community.”

While a small percentage of library social workers provide clinical mental health services, most provide resource connection and service coordination. In some libraries, social workers have been recruited to provide internal support to staff who are dealing with increased job-related stress and responsibility. “Training [offered by social workers] can increase staff capacity to de-escalate situations that arise, or work with people who are in crisis,” offered Dr. Wahler. “Some social workers do library policy analysis, looking at how different groups might be disproportionately impacted by policies, to make it as equitable as possible for everybody. Some do group programming, host housing clinics, or conduct mental health sessions to reduce stigma. Their duties reflect the biggest unmet needs in the surrounding community.”

Social work programs are beginning to offer some specialized training in library social work, and Dr. Wahler believes universities will continue to grow library social work offerings as the field expands. A former professor and director of a university social work program, Dr. Wahler was approached by an urban library about nine years ago, asking for practicum students. “My previous work had been with people who were unhoused, faced substance use problems, and mental health problems, which were the same things the library needed help with,” she shared. After conducting a needs assessment with staff and patrons, she piloted a program with social work students in the library and gathered data to help justify creating a full-time social work position.

Soon, libraries started approaching Dr. Wahler from all over the world, and a little over two years ago she ventured out on her own to lead a consulting business where she helps libraries build social work programs of their own.

Her book, “Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons (Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited; 2023),” which she co-authored with Sarah Johnson, MLIS, LMSW, Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois, offers strategies for libraries to better support high-needs patrons, including organizational and leadership strategies to support staff.

Social workers can advocate for funding for an in-house social worker in their local library, negotiate a collaboration between their agency and their library where social workers can visit regularly to meet potential clients where they’re at, or even offer to supervise a social work practicum student placed in a library where funding is limited. Libraries are the ultimate gateways to accessing care, strengthening communities, and meeting people where they are.

Ways Social Workers Can Collaborate with their Local Library

• Assisting with a needs assessment to identify staff and patron needs
• Facilitating programming for patrons on common psychosocial needs and community resources (for example, a public program about how to recognize if you or someone you love might have a mental health problem and what to do/where to contact if you need help)
• Providing staff training on working with people in crisis, community resources for specific populations served at that library, setting healthy boundaries, self-care strategies, preventing escalation, or de-escalation
• Offering to help build connections between the library and other relevant community partners who might use space at the library for outreach or to provide services.
• Hosting a resource fair to bring in community partners to meet with the public and provide information about their services
• Looking for potential funding sources for new programming/services
• Holding office hours at the library on behalf of their agency
• Supervising a social work student intern at the library
• Assisting patrons with applying for public benefits, creating resumes, or applying for jobs
• Developing resource lists or guides for your local community
• Advocating with local legislators on behalf of the library (for adequate funding and protecting the right to intellectual/information freedom)

Learn more about Dr. Beth Wahler’s work by visiting her website http://swinthelibrary.com/.

Heather Rose Artushin

Heather Rose Artushin, LISW-CP is on a mission to make a difference, one word at a time. Learn more at https://heatherrosewriter.com.

March is recognized as Women’s History Month, with the 2024 United Nations theme being “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.” Women worldwide face numerous challenges, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive actions to empower them. Investing in women is the pivotal first step to drive change and accelerate the transition towards a just, safe, and more egalitarian society for all.

Women’s History Month. Women of different ages, nationalities and religions come together.

Women’s History Month offers a dedicated time to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of women throughout history and in contemporary society. It highlights the often-overlooked roles that women have played in various fields, including politics, science, literature, arts, and more. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to educate people about the struggles, challenges, and triumphs that women have faced in their pursuit of equality and recognition. It helps raise awareness about issues such as gender equality, women’s rights, and the need for diversity and inclusion.

By showcasing the accomplishments of women from diverse backgrounds and experiences, Women’s History Month inspires and empowers individuals, especially female identifying people, to pursue their goals and dreams without limitations based on gender. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality and encourages individuals and organizations to take action to address gender inequities or discrimination and promote inclusivity in all areas of society. Overall, Women’s History Month is significant as it amplifies women’s perspective, recognizes their achievements, and promotes gender equality and inclusivity.

The observance of International Women’s Day began in Europe in 1911 amidst fervent discussions on women’s rights. However, attention to women’s rights waned during the economic depression of the 1930s. The modern celebration of women’s history traces its roots back to the 1970s, driven by a growing recognition among women that mainstream history education marginalized their stories. The call for inclusivity in history education, alongside efforts to elevate the histories of African Americans and Native Americans, underscored the absence of women in historical narratives. Consequently, many universities started offering courses in women’s history and women’s studies.

In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in California initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The positive response led schools to organize their own Women’s History Week programs. Subsequently, in 1982, the United States Congress established National Women’s History Week, later expanding it to a month-long observance.

In 1998, Congresswoman and social worker Barbara Lee, representing California’s 9th Congressional District began advocating powerfully for women’s issues in Congress. Her dedication to addressing national and global women’s issues, including health, equal rights, and economic equality, garnered international recognition.

In 2005, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the international project, 1000 Women for Peace.

NASW has consistently supported women’s issues and proudly acknowledges Women’s History Month. The NASW’s National Committee on Women’s Issue is responsible for developing, reviewing, and monitoring programs within the Association that significantly impact women. We urge governments, donor agencies, and other stakeholders to prioritize investment in women, especially in social workers who provide crucial and transformative services during crises. By collaborating with women leaders in communities, and providing them with necessary resources, support, and recognition, we can collectively expedite progress towards achieving gender equality, social justice, and sustainable development. Let’s take this opportunity to endorse our commitment to investing in women and advance their potential to create a brighter future for all. Let’s focus on the UN Commission’s Status of Women’s priority theme of “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

Yasoda Sharma, PhD, MSW, is Interim BSW Program Director and a professor in the  Department of Social Work at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

NASW national board members are mourning the loss of one of their colleagues, Anthony “Tony” Bibus, III, PhD, LISW, who died late last year while serving as Region IX director for NASW. He was 77. Region IX includes Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.

NASW Region V national board member Alice Kay Locklear, PhD, MSW, ACSW, noted Bibus always had a leadership book in front of him at board meetings.

“He would share with members of the board what he had read,” said Locklear, a professor and assistant chairperson of the Social Work Department at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. “He put the plug in for us to grab one of those books and read it because of what we would get out of it.”

Bibus could make a person feel valued, and he would genuinely listen to what people had to say, she said. “He asserted that we stay true to our profession.”

Anthony Bibus

As a board member, Bibus was a stickler for precision. “He looked at the most minute details and I think that is extremely important,” Locklear said. “He didn’t mind pointing those details out.”

“He was a phenomenal person that I will never, ever forget,” she added. “The impression that he has left us with, we will all take with us. He will not be forgotten.”

For board colleague Michelle Pliske, DSW, LCSW, RPT-S™, Bibus will be remembered for his deep compassion and kindness.

“I think he was the first person to welcome me as a new board member,” said Pliske, assistant professor at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., and Region XII director for NASW.

“You knew he genuinely cared,” she said. “He had that quality that we work so hard to teach in schools of social work.”

Pliske said Bibus set the bar for excellence in what it meant to be a professional and a leader in the field of social work.

“He came prepared to every single conversation,” she said. She noted that he had done the reading with a fine-toothed comb and came to the board meeting with challenging questions and opposing viewpoints.

He also knew when it was time to be lighthearted.

“I remember Tony saying, more than once, during these long conversations for hours and hours, Tony would be the first one to say, ‘Brains need breaks,’” Pliske said with a laugh.

“He drove that self-care aspect of how we stay present and engaged,” she said. “We can’t do that if we aren’t taking care of ourselves.”

She has since incorporated that philosophy with her students and people in other board meetings she attends.

“He is going to be greatly missed,” Pliske said. “He was an exemplary social worker, but also an amazing human.”

Bibus held a PhD from the University of Minnesota School of Social Work and a MA and BA in English. In 2012, he retired from Augsburg University’s Social Work Department, where he served as the BSW director and department chairperson.

For three decades, he was an active NASW member, serving the NASW Minnesota Chapter as a member of the conference planning team or moderator at conferences/events and volunteering for multiple committees.

Bibus was a long-term member of other national and regional associations, including the Council on Social Work Education and Social Work England, and worked periodically with the Association of Social Work Boards.

He contributed to the CSWE/ASWB/NASW Curricular Guide for Licensing and Regulation. His practice and studies in child welfare, supervision, and ethics led to several publications, most recently on cultural humility.

In addition, Bibus received the NASW Minnesota Chapter’s Social Worker of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards.

Ryan Tolman is a clinical social worker in private practice who specializes in anxiety and stress, and sees clients online and in person in his Bellingham, Wash., office. He also practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and has taught a martial arts training course for kids. He says activities like jiu-jitsu can help “take you away from your troubles,” especially when you’re growing up.

Tolman’s therapy work is mainly with teenagers and young adults who have stress, anxiety and depression, as well as people with trauma history. “I address negative self-talk, like ‘I’m a disappointment’ or ‘I’m not good enough’ and work to replace this with ‘I can do my best’ or ‘I’m OK regardless.’ This might seem easier said than done, but I believe if thoughts are the current source of anguish, then thoughts can be the cure.”

Tolman went back to school at age 37 to earn his MSW and said he became interested in mixed martial arts after watching matches on TV.

“I was at a local gym lifting weights, and there was a guy there who ran a (mixed martial arts) gym,” he said. “He turned out to be a really nice guy, and we arranged for him to train myself and my daughters (then ages 9 and 13) in kickboxing. We all really enjoyed it, and eventually I switched to jiu-jitsu because my wife was worried about me getting knocked out.”

Jiu-jitsu doesn’t emphasize punching or kicking and is much more defensive than kickboxing, Tolman said. “You can control the space and stay out of range. You can get in close so the other person can’t strike you.”

That keeps both people safe, he said, and “even if somebody attacks you, you don’t necessarily kick or punch.”

“I practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which was originally intended to neutralize physical attacks without harm to yourself or the attacker,” Tolman said. “If someone says ‘tap’ or taps you, you let go. It’s all about consent. It’s like stop, no matter what, and if you don’t, there’s no second chance. You’re just gone.”

Pictured is Ryan Tolman, MSW, LICSW, left, and Allan Hillaire of Lummi Nation (Photo by Ambur Tolman.)

Read the full story in the NASW Social Work Advocates magazine.

Wildfires on Hawaii’s Maui Island in August killed at least 114 people, forced tens of thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate, and devastated the historic resort city of Lahaina. Major news outlets on August 21 called it the “deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years.”

Amid the chaos, social workers stepped up when the American Red Cross asked them to help, said NASW Hawaii Executive Director Sonja Bigalke-Bannan, MSW, LCSW. When someone from the Red Cross asked her the range of problems and challenges social workers usually help with, Bigalke-Bannan said she replied: “Everything.” So, the Red Cross asked the chapter to take on a management-type role, including community engagement, staffing and shelters.

“Because the public has cultural conditions,” they asked for assistance from NASW, said Bigalke-Bannan, who then emailed the NASW Foundation, because “this clearly was not in our budget. They said, ‘Absolutely, yes. We’re there for you.’ We were so grateful for this help.”

Displaced survivors were staying in hotels and Airbnbs. Many others could not get around because they lost their cars and bikes. People sought various shelters, including gyms and community centers, Bigalke-Bannan said. Many homes burned, and the chapter tried to assess things, like if folks knew of friends or family members who needed medication, or if housing was needed.

Read more in the NASW Social Work Advocates magazine.