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Have You Been to the Library Lately?
Article

Have You Been to the Library Lately?

Librarians once worried about shushing patrons. Now they have to deal with mental health episodes, the homelessness crisis, and random violence

Nicholas Hune-Brown
The Walrus, 2023
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Eye Opening
  • Overview
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

The local library is no longer used only for its conventional function as a place to find a book, do research or use a computer. Libraries have become one of the last free resources for those in need and that has shifted their focus and the demands on their staff. Nicholas Hune-Brown’s deeply reported story in The Walrus explores the pressures on Canadian librarians who now have to act as untrained social workers, often finding themselves in dangerous and potentially violent situations. Hune-Brown dives into the new evolution of the library and the issues confronting this necessary, beloved institution as “the last public space.”

Take-Aways

  • Librarians are now dealing with situations far beyond their expected jobs, including mental health crises and violence.
  • Libraries are hiring social workers and adding security.
  • With limited funds and distressed personnel, Canadian libraries are beseeching the government for more support.

About the Author

Nicholas Hune-Brown is a writer for the Walrus, Toronto Life, Hazlitt and The
Believer.

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