This one's about an IKEA study that shows people don't always consider "home" the most comforting space, and the group that doesn't is growing. So, what role could the public library play for those people?
When I was in Seattle, I attended a session from the Strive Together group in Tulsa. They've designed an Equity Index that I'm lobbying our local Strive Together group to recreate with Kenosha County data. If we map out where the greatest inequities in the community lie, and we overlay data showing where people have library cards, we could target services to neighborhoods with low library engagement and high equity needs and make the greatest impact.
Growing up in a house full of books is major boost to literacy and numeracy, study finds (who knew, right?)
This week's Bright Spot Award goes to Michelle and Sandy who brilliantly and compassionately guided a woman to the social services she needed. The downtown location for our Admin Offices presents us with several visitors a week who need directions not only to a full service library but to various government or social service agencies. Sandy is the person you would dream of meeting if you were faced with an seemingly insurmountable problem and had nowhere to turn. She is relentless in her efforts to help, and her kindness is a great comfort to everyone. This morning, a woman walked in dragging a garbage can and speaking loudly with a dramatic speech impediment, wondering how she might transfer her senior apartment voucher from Zion to Kenosha. She didn't know where to turn, but when she saw the library sign outside, she thought "they have information."
She was right. Sandy and Michelle both have degrees in social work, and between the two of them, they tenaciously hunted down the right agency to help. Then Sandy walked the woman two blocks to KHDS and accompanied her to the correct office before saying goodbye.
The conversation in our office when Sandy got back was passionate and uplifting. There were tears as we shared how much the incident reminded us all of why we work for the library.
The woman who walked in today was very lucky that two social workers were in our office. Knowing which agency provides what service is not an easy task and Sandy and Michelle's experience really helped. But what about our staff at our four branches? Do you know enough about the local government to easily refer people to the correct agency? In the case of the woman who walked in this morning, sending her to the wrong agency would have been a disaster. She did not have the ability to navigate the system on her own.
We talk a lot about diversity, equity and inclusion at the library, and most of the time we think of equitable service to people of color. But today's incident reminded us that service to people with disabilities is an equal challenge to us all. She was loud, she said odd things about Jesus and skirts, yet Sandy and Michelle never flinched. They saw right through to her humanity.
Anne and I will be working to coordinate special training to help front line staff answer "information and referral" questions from people who need help from government agencies. I hope you will attend. It is KPL's goal to provide equal outstanding service to all members of our community, no matter how challenging it might be. The more we know, the more we can help.
Thanks, Sandy and Michelle, for your exemplary service today!
Barb
