Howdy!
There are two interesting surveys that I wanted to share with all the library staff out there.
1) Survey of Homelessness in Public Libraries
In June we sent a survey developed by David Conforti, a master’s student at Maastricht University.
Thanks to your awesomeness, David received over 3,600 responses! His report includes his findings and a breakdown of all the responses.
Click HERE to take a look.
The most significant finding:
Having a nearby shelter increased the police / paramedic calls (and expulsions) at that library. Having nearby public parks and community centers lowered police / paramedic calls (and expulsions). (This is not encouraging, but it isn’t surprising either.)
2) New Jersey Library Association “Library Cards for All” Survey
The New Jersey Library Association did a study on homelessness and library cards.
The most significant finding:
“Patrons without permanent addresses are 50% more likely to be responsible with library materials than the average patron.” (This is encouraging!)
Click HERE to read their survey and findings.
Have a great week!
Ryan
