Libraries are among the few public spaces that feel safe and welcoming to everyone in our current political landscape. As librarians striving to provide equitable service, we are challenged to meet the needs of patrons whose life experiences are markedly different from our own. To address these challenges, we have much to learn much from social workers, who are trained to approach their clients with empathy while maintaining professional boundaries. Whole Person Librarianship draws from social work concepts to help librarians become more confident in learning from, interacting with, and serving diverse patrons. Learn basic ideas to build your empathy skills, such as cultural humility and person-in-environment, to apply right away to your library practice, as well as where to find more in-depth information and support.

Presented by: Sara Zettervall, Founder, Whole Person Librarianship, and Community Engagement Librarian, Hennepin County Library (MN); and Mary Nienow, PhD Candidate in Social Work, and beginning in August 2017, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)

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Related Resources and Links

• Whole Person Librarianship website: www.wholepersonlibrarianship.com
  • Blog with articles, updates, and opinion pieces
  • Community of Practice open to all
  • Zotero Library of relevant research
• National Association of Social Workers and Code of Ethics
• ALA's Core Values of Librarianship
  
• edX University of Michigan,"MicroMasters" Social Work: Practice, Policy and Research (Free to audit, lots of good introductory info)
• Cultural Humility: A Lifelong Practice, Melinda Hohman, Ph.D.
• Cultural humility versus cultural competence, Melanie Tervalon; Jann Murray-Garcia
• Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices - Parts 1 - 4, short film in 4 video segments
  
• The Danger of a Single Story, TED Talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them, TED Talk, Vernā Myers
• WebJunction list of Resources on Homelessness and Libraries
• November 29, 2022 WebJunction webinar, Social Work Approaches to Library Services