Another Voice / Homelessness
Regardless of address, the Central Library is open and trying to help the homeless
Charity Vogel’s Jan. 12 column about homeless people using the Central Library has generated a tremendous response from our community. These offers of support are greatly appreciated; we are thankful for the calls, letters and donations.
As a public library, we welcome everyone who comes through our doors. The library is a public institution, and one of the only remaining educational and cultural institutions free and open to all regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity — or housing situation. All have equal access to our treasures and knowledge, and to the facilities that house them.
There is an inherent public trust in offering this service and the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System takes this to heart. We do not judge our visitors or the way in which they use the library — it is everyone’s library.
We strive to strike a balance between the many ways visitors use the library. Some seek help, some seek solitude, some seek enlightenment. Some are here to read or to watch the world go by. People may visit the library for any of these reasons or to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Some of our visitors are facing stressful or critical situations. Parents come to the library seeking information about schools, food stamps or affordable child care. Unemployed people visit the library for help with filling out job applications or finding information about unemployment benefits. People visit libraries for tax forms or health information. New residents struggling with language skills visit the library to get help learning to read and write. We provide referrals to service agencies when asked; we don’t presume to know or guess who should be approached with offers of assistance. We strive to offer confidential information and services in a safe and trusted environment.
Through new initiatives to address illiteracy and unemployment, we will provide opportunities for people eager to improve their quality of life. In 2009, literacy centers will be integrated into several of our libraries, offering basic reading and writing instruction for adults, emergent literacy programs for preschoolers and their families and after school tutoring and homework assistance for K-12 students.
We currently offer computer training and have extensive job training and career development information, civil service examination information, resume and cover letter software and small business resources. Employment assistance-related service agencies such as the Small Business Administration, SCORE and the Parachute Group offer services and meetings at our libraries.
Some people in our library may be without a home, and we offer them the same opportunities and services as we provide all our visitors. The issues surrounding homelessness are complex. And while we cannot offer an ultimate solution, we can be a safe haven.
Bridget Quinn-Carey is director of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System.
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